NY teenager held over hamster's death
A New York City teenager has been arrested following the death of a younger sibling's hamster.
Joseph Pentangelo of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said the creature, which belonged to a nine-year-old, died during a domestic dispute last June.
The 19-year-old is accused of choking and squeezing the four-ounce hamster and throwing it on the floor. It was then thrown across the street, though tests concluded that the animal was probably already dead by the time that happened.
Mr Pentangelo says the charges include aggravated cruelty to animals and child endangerment. He claimed three children witnessed the hamster's demise.
The Brooklyn teenager was arrested on Tuesday night. If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison.
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Joseph Vassallo
Mar 11th 2011, 15:32
She should ask to be tried in Malta where this week, a drunk driver who killed a motorcyclist and seriously and permanently injured the pillion rider was sentenced by an appeals judge to a €1054 fine and a THREE MONTH driving ban.
This week also, a 20 yr-old driver who caused the death of his 20 yr-old passenger and seriously inured four other passengers also received a two-year suspended jail sentence and a 2-year driving ban. Prosecution and defence agreed between them to consider that the charge of excessive speeding statute-barred presumably because a speeding ticket (€30 fine) is statute-barred if enforcers do not follow it up within one year.
Unbelievable but true.
Mario Grungo
Mar 11th 2011, 10:02
I am in full agreement with Kevin Camilleri. Abortion is a horrid selfish way of killing innocent unborn, defenseless beings. And we worry about a hamster! Animal have rights of course, but human beings are more worthy of our concern and care, and we should give it to them.
darren paris
Mar 11th 2011, 07:59
Killing a hamster may lead you to 2 years in prison while treating an animal like a car is the law.
Ill call my dog Honda from now on, it gets chipped too
Robert Zammit
Mar 10th 2011, 18:40
HUMAN ARE NOT ALL GOOD
GO SEE TRUTH http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=450691891688&set=a.472640286688.252568.516556688&theater
Samantha Debono
Mar 10th 2011, 18:02
How on earth did you people turn this article into a fight against abortion?!?! This teenager did something which is wrong and cruel! And she was punished! RIGHT ON! Usually aggressive and violent behavoir actally starts with the abuse of small animals.... if the individual likes the feeling he/she gets from harming the animal, they move onto injuring larger animals! So yes! ALL THIS FOR A HAMSTER!
Kevin Camilleri
Mar 10th 2011, 18:19
My comment wasn't a fight against abortion. It was a comparison to show that today's society has lost its values and priorities.
OK the girl should be punished in some way for her action, maybe some 50 hours working with a dog's home or something, not a maximum of two years in prison! Come on, let's get real and concentrate on real problems and issues!
Peter Borg
Mar 10th 2011, 19:35
Kevin Camilleri and do you think that anyone in this world has some form of self-earned recognition and credit for being born as a human being and not a hamster? Do you think this about yourself? Do you think that you deserved in any way to be born human and not something else.... if yes, on what basis? If not, then why should there be any difference between maltreating a hamster and a human being? Because if you happened, by chance, to be born as a thinking hamster, I think that you wouldn't complain about today's values and priorities no? Every living creature in this world we ultimately do not understand, has the same right to live a decent life and to be treated well, especially if it is harmless towards us humans. Any intelligent human being who mistreats an animal - especially a harmless animal much smaller and weaker than him/herself, deserves to be treated exactly the same. Nothing less.
Wilfred Camilleri
Mar 10th 2011, 21:17
How you ask? Because we make a huge fuss about a hamster being killed by a teenager but adults are responsible for the death of over 50 million babies in the US and no one seems to care. Now I don't condone what this kid did and I support some sort of punishment. But let's get things into perspective here. I don't see anyone being arrested for all the babies being killed. It's funny that many people seem more concerned with animals than with human beings!
C.Portelli
Mar 10th 2011, 16:00
This article really disgusted me...as when its too much its too much!
@ Kevin Camilleri...well said... I fully agree!
I love animals too but always but humans come first...lately many seem to put animals in first place....and thats scaryyyyyyyy.....do not understand such persons...am confused :)
R. Delicata
Mar 10th 2011, 15:01
Attention Authorities!!!!!
Some people may say "all this for a hamster"............ Yes a hamster, it's an animal too and clearly someones dear pet.
Kevin Camilleri
Mar 10th 2011, 15:00
I'm completely against any form of harm on animals... but arresting a teenager for killing a hamster is just non sense.
As time passes by I'm getting more concerned that the world is giving much more care to animals than to other human beings.
Killing a hamster is not accepted but aborting thousands of unborn fetuses that's just fine! What a sad world!
D Schembri
Mar 10th 2011, 14:47
and in Malta, maybe you get a eur 10 fine....
A Bonett
Mar 10th 2011, 13:20
quote ..
If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison
unquote
Up to two years !! Enough said !