# Woman gets a bloody fortune for "emotional distress" after her cat is mauled by a dog **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 10, 2005, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200 "2005-05-10T10:47:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/121 "2005-05-10T16:21:23Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Which of the following actions will _not_ get you arrested for homicide? > > A) Grab your sawed-off, 12-gauge shotgun and blow the sick fucker’s head off before he has a chance to escape. > > B) Call the police, report the crime, and allow the courts to pursue justice and mete out the appropriate punishment. You could go for C) which is to blast the guys kneecap with the shotgun, that’s the best of both worlds. I think the pet lover argument is in the idea that the owner should select B and be happy to get $200 to buy a new dog, if that, since they can get a dog just as good from the pound for free. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/122 "2005-05-10T16:23:04Z")
Please throw a 😉 in there next to my first line, I’m honestly just joshing a bit. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/123 "2005-05-10T16:23:36Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > No, firing someone because they’re gay is intolerant. Trying to force someone out of your neighborhood because they’re black is intolerant. Trying to get a mosque shut down is intolerant. If you think being called crazy is intolerance, then you, sweetheart, have led a charmed life. Enjoy it. Because most people have experienced _actual_ intolerance at some point, and you obviously haven’t. > > And I gotta say, it’s in really poor taste to try to hijack what some people have gone through because of their religion, or their race, or their sexuality in order to puff yourself up like a victim because someone called you “crazy”. Calling someone crazy because you don’t believe in the same things is being intolerant. Your purposely ostracizing them because “you don’t get it”. Questioning their mental stability is really low class because you don’t understand something. Putting them in a group and calling them ill is intolerant. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/124 "2005-05-10T16:23:43Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > If it was on my property that he ran over my dog, yes, I would kill the fucker. But my dogs do not leave my yard. So the reason for someone to kill my pet would be malicious only, so the bastard would get what he deserved. Period. And you should go to jail for that action. Period. And you would get what you deserved. ---
**Author:** ![Boldface\_Type](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@Boldface\_Type](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boldface_Type)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/125 "2005-05-10T16:25:06Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > Animals are not children, and anyone who thinks that the love for an animal is in any way comparable to the love for a child is deluded. Well, I think it is reasonable to hope that a parent will love their children more than their pets. However, I think it is irrational to love a random human over one’s own pets. Given the choice between one of my cats being decapitated and the head-lopping of a random child with whom I’m unaquainted, well, the kid’s mincemeat. Basically, why would I give a bungee-jumping fuck about little Tarquin in Anchorage who I’ll never see, and who will never sit on my lap purring. If you value the life of a random human over your pets then why have pets at all? Instead, send the cash you would spend on Fluffy to somewhere where it will help random humans. Maybe you can help Tarquin with the cash for dipiliatory surgery on his absurdly hairy buttocks. And 45k is not massively excessive. Purchase price of cat 100-1000, vet bills at 200-400 per year, food at c. 200/year, toys, cat condos, etc. After 10 years, the ‘investment’ can easily be 8-10k. Plus, this does not take into account the ‘value’ of emotional trauma when the cat’s minced in the jaws of death before your eyes. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/126 "2005-05-10T16:30:18Z")
I wasn’t complaining about the children who were loud at the outdoor exhibits and shows - it was actually fun to see how excited they were! I was upset at the parents of the children who allowed the kids to scream and talk at the top of their lungs in the indoor show where I wanted to hear what was being said, and in the indoor exhibits where the screaming in very enclosed areas was actually painful. I don’t dislike all children. My sister-in-law’s grandson is a treasure - if I thought I would have had one like him I might have risked it. However, my mother always threatened me with “I hope you have one who gives you as much trouble as you’ve given me.” Since she is in Heaven now, she might have some pull up there. She would send me Damien! ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/127 "2005-05-10T16:36:17Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > Calling someone crazy because you don’t believe in the same things is being intolerant. Your purposely ostracizing them because “you don’t get it”. Questioning their mental stability is really low class because you don’t understand something. Putting them in a group and calling them ill is intolerant. No, I’m not purposely ostracizing anyone. I’m _insulting_ someone. You might not like to be insulted, but as I mentioned before, that’s cotton candy and merry-go-rounds compared to what a lot of people have gone through. You have not been ostracized, you have not been “put in a group” ( 😕 ), you have been insulted. That’s what the Pit is for. And frankly, it’s not much of an insult, either. I see you are of a delicate constitution - normal people do not become so upset at such a mild insult. Despite your wounded feelings, however, I cordially invite you to stop playing the goddamn victim here. You’ve given as good as you’ve gotten, and this bigotry you’re implying is pure fantasy. There is simply nothing bigoted about insulting someone because they said something stupid. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/128 "2005-05-10T16:37:00Z")
[QUOTE=Snakescatlady] I wasn’t complaining about the children who were loud at the outdoor exhibits and shows [quote] Then your earlier post was not clear. > [@](#): > > was upset at the parents of the children who allowed the kids to scream and talk at the top of their lungs in the indoor show where I wanted to hear what was being said, So it’s the parents that you actually dislike. Again, a point not made clear in your first post > [@](#): > > and in the indoor exhibits where the screaming in very enclosed areas was actually painful. I’m going to have to go with **Happy Scrappy Hero Pup** here, you should kind of expect this at Sea World. Not that it’s right that parents can’t control their children, but, _Sea World?_ ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/129 "2005-05-10T16:43:17Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > And you should go to jail for that action. Period. And you would get what you deserved. No, I would be doing the world a favor and I would gladly sit in prison to take a murderer off the streets. These are the people who would kill you, your children, or anyone else because they were in a bad mood. It’s nice to see that you advocate murdering people’s pets here, in their own homes or yards. You must be the person who feeds poison to people’s pets. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/130 "2005-05-10T16:45:07Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > No, I’m not purposely ostracizing anyone. I’m _insulting_ someone. You might not like to be insulted, but as I mentioned before, that’s cotton candy and merry-go-rounds compared to what a lot of people have gone through. You have not been ostracized, you have not been “put in a group” ( 😕 ), you have been insulted. That’s what the Pit is for. And frankly, it’s not much of an insult, either. I see you are of a delicate constitution - normal people do not become so upset at such a mild insult. Despite your wounded feelings, however, I cordially invite you to stop playing the goddamn victim here. You’ve given as good as you’ve gotten, and this bigotry you’re implying is pure fantasy. There is simply nothing bigoted about insulting someone because they said something stupid. You and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I think it’s very low, trashy, poor class to call someone you’ve never met crazy because they disagree with you on something. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/131 "2005-05-10T16:46:37Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > No, I would be doing the world a favor and I would gladly sit in prison to take a murderer off the streets. These are the people who would kill you, your children, or anyone else because they were in a bad mood. > > It’s nice to see that you advocate murdering people’s pets here, in their own homes or yards. You must be the person who feeds poison to people’s pets. One can kill an animal. One can even maliciously kill an animal. One cannot murder an animal. Murder is the unlawful, premeditated killing of another human being. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/132 "2005-05-10T16:48:41Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I opened this thread a normal person and now I’m a homicidal psychopath with twin flesh children and two furbabies. Thanks a lot **Doors**! Tell me about it! It’s beyond me how anyone can get so worked up over how much people love their pets. I used to see that attitude directed at people with less conventional pets - rabbits, gerbils, etc. Now you can’t even proclaim your love for your dog or cat without facing the wrath of certain posters. ---
**Author:** ![Calendar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@Calendar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calendar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/133 "2005-05-10T16:49:26Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > Well I would. Do you honestly thnk I’d just sit there and let someone commit murder to a family pet and not try to kill the fucker myself? They have lives, feelings, and mean the world to me and my family. There’s NO WAY IN HELL I would let someone come on MY PORPERTY and try to kill my pets. See this is where you slip into “Bat-Shit Crazy”. To **try and kill** someone brings your life into play as well. If you are honestly able to say that you would lay down **your life** for that of your pet… Well, yikes. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/134 "2005-05-10T16:50:56Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > No, I would be doing the world a favor and I would gladly sit in prison to take a murderer off the streets. These are the people who would kill you, your children, or anyone else because they were in a bad mood. > > It’s nice to see that you advocate murdering people’s pets here, in their own homes or yards. You must be the person who feeds poison to people’s pets. Somebody turn on some AC in here. **PinkMarabou** is melting. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/135 "2005-05-10T16:50:56Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Then your earlier post was not clear.So it’s the parents that you actually dislike. Even if she didn’t say so in that particular post, she’s actually said that several times so far in this thread. Just thought that should be made clear. > [@PinkMarabou](#): > > It’s nice to see that you advocate murdering people’s pets here, in their own homes or yards. You must be the person who feeds poison to people’s pets. Amend “crazy” to “batshit insane”. Anyone who doesn’t agree that it’s acceptable to commit murder in order to protect a pet “advocates murdering people’s pets”? Because **Who\_Me?** has taken a bold stance against _murder_, she poisons peoples pets? Help me out here, folks. Are there drugs that cause this kind of confusion with reality? Should we be staging an intervention? > [@PinkMaribou](#): > > You and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I think it’s very low, trashy, poor class to call someone you’ve never met crazy because they disagree with you on something. That’s fine. You are entitled to think that. However, it’s not true that “very low, trashy, poor class” and “intolerant” mean the same (or even similar) things. “Intolerant” has a specific definition, and the behavior you’ve cited has absolutely nothing to do with it. Again, if you have such a delicate constitution that you can’t tolerate being called crazy, I recommend you spend less time in the Pit because people are a hell of a lot crueler than that here. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/136 "2005-05-10T16:51:18Z")
> [@PinkMarabou](#): > > No, I would be doing the world a favor and I would gladly sit in prison to take a murderer off the streets. These are the people who would kill you, your children, or anyone else because they were in a bad mood. > > It’s nice to see that you advocate murdering people’s pets here, in their own homes or yards. You must be the person who feeds poison to people’s pets. Hahahaha… you _are_ a funny one! A couple of things… (1) Murder is the killing of a human. > [@](#): > > mur·der ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mûrdr) > n. > The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice. > Slang. Something that is very uncomfortable, difficult, or hazardous: The rush hour traffic is murder. > A flock of crows. From [Dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=murder) The killing of animals is a crime, but it isn’t murder. (2) I agree that you sitting in prison would be getting a murderer off the streets… you. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/137 "2005-05-10T16:53:47Z")
I see a middle ground here. The dog’s owner is an uncaring asshole. He let a vicious dog run loose in the neighborhood without regard for anyone who may have gotten hurt. What’s worse is that he doesn’t even seem to care. Is $45K enough? Probably not. The cat’s owner is a selfish bitch. Loss of her cat caused her to start smoking? I hope Marlboro and Camel never hear about this. I get that she lost her cat and was grieving, I would do the same if my cat died. Is $45K too much? Probably. This time everybody’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/138 "2005-05-10T16:53:59Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Because **Who\_Me?** has taken a bold stance against _murder_, she poisons peoples pets? I’m actually a he… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/139 "2005-05-10T16:54:10Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > **Knorf** , do NOT change the wording when you quote someone. Ever. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope Ok, I won’t. But, where did I do this? If it happened, it was totally inadvertent. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200/140 "2005-05-10T16:54:50Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > Tell me about it! It’s beyond me how anyone can get so worked up over how much people love their pets. I used to see that attitude directed at people with less conventional pets - rabbits, gerbils, etc. Now you can’t even proclaim your love for your dog or cat without facing the wrath of certain posters. Oh, knock it off. You know damn well nobody is complaining about how much others love their pets. People have commented on how odd it seems for some to equate their love for a pet with others’ love for a child. To me it’s kind of creepy, and, toward the fringes, loopy. Love your pets all you want. Equate them with children, and you’ll get some feedback. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-gets-a-bloody-fortune-for-emotional-distress-after-her-cat-is-mauled-by-a-dog/303200.md?page=8)