Cat Torture Film?

[Artemis]

Ive been reading news snippets tonight about some big controverisal documentary in which 3 young men torture and kill a stray cat, which apparently they are going to show at the Toronto International Film Festival, despite the outrageous protests from just abuout every animal rights group you can think of. Apparently the deal is, they left out the really hideous parts for the documentary itself, but there is an existing tape which includes the actual gory torture and death. I'm all for artistic freedom and all that, but it saddens me to think we can now consider animal torture a subject worthy of the label of 'art."

If this is for real, these kids deserved more than house arrest IMHO.


http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/mini/CTVNews/1093971253737_89380453?s_name=filmFest2004&no_ads=

[Samba]

Reading that story actually made me cry... to think that an animal, minding his own business in the world, could have such a horrible death in the hands of humans, who think this is artistic expression??

Humanely putting an animal down, and torturing it, by forcing it to endure horrible pain by being skinned and disemboweled alive are too very different things... I can't even believe that Power's lawyer actually argued that this film was "made as an art project showing it was hypocritical for society to kill some animals for meat, but not others." Did they eat the cat after beheading it?? Even farm hogs and cows go quickly.

I think I'm going to be sick. I am really going have to work hard at composing myself here at work...

What a sad, sad story. This isn't however, the first time animals have been killed as "art". A few years back there was a man who killed rats and mice by placing them on a canvas (laid on a flat surface), and squashed them with a heavy object (the details are murky). He actually preserved and sold the dead rats on canvas as art. Even still, his rats wouldn't have suffered as much as this cat did...

[hooter]

Sick people.

[treegirl]

That's NOT art---but quite clearly the work of three very sick and disturbed HEARTLESS morons. Shame on the T.I.F.F. for even considering viewing this kind of cruelty.

Makes me ill.....

[treegirl]

...I really hope they suffer from regret and guilt of their actions for the rest of their natural lives.

[ladyluck]

Eye for an eye is what I say.

They should be put through what the cat was put through.

No more, no less.

I'll film that and make a f***in documentary about it. Oh wait, isn't that called 'SNUFF'?

I'd pay to see a film where these three degenerates get tortured and killed for what they have done!

[bistrobob85]

Killing an animal for a justifiable reason can go, even thought it is sad, but killing one for no good reason with sadistic ways and meant cruelty is one INHUMANE thing!!! A cat or a pet is defenseless towards humans, if i ever find someone mistreating voluntarily an animal in such a way, i think i might go out of my mind... That would get me in such a rage ( i'm actually never angry and never hurt anybody ) that i would surely injure the guy severely and there would be nothing in the law to protect me... Hope this never happens. If you don't love animals, then just leave them be as they are with you.

phil.

[TheRedDragon]

How can torturing and killing an animal be considered art? Those men are a despicable excuse for human beings and they should not be allowed to show such a distasteful and disgusting display. I hope the animal rights groups and others eat them alive. Something like this enrages me and makes me want to vomit.

I mean, what's next for them? Will they move up to torturing and killing human beings for the sake of 'art'? They're a bunch of sick, twisted sadists, and should be incarcerated. :mad:

[bistrobob85]

Incinerated.

[spidergecko]

Originally posted by bistrobob85
Killing an animal for a justifiable reason can go, even thought it is sad, but killing one for no good reason with sadistic ways and meant cruelty is one INHUMANE thing!!!

Originally posted by TheRedDragon
How can torturing and killing an animal be considered art?

The question becomes "Is art a justifiable reason to kill an animal?" It would seem logical that the answer would be no. But following the mentality of the video makers, "Is fashion a justifiable reason to kill an animal and wear its skin?" and to follow this up, "Is the taste of animal flesh a reason to kill an animal?" Let's be honest, even many of our food animals suffer a great dead before they are killed (e.g.: factory farmed chickens - think KFC; MUCH seafood).

[silent_truth]

Can anyone find out the location of the theatre that this film is being screened at on Tuesday at 6:00 pm? Maybe a bit of a scene needs to be made in front in order to demonstrate that this kind of "art" or whatever they call it, is NOT acceptable. There is a time to be politically correct and defend the rights and freedoms of individuals but there's also a time for good people to take a stand and say that enough is enough. We don't have to sit back and accept despicable actions such as profitting from the skinning and disembowlment of an innocent creature.

If anyone could find a location for that screening time, that would be great.

-Adam

[Artemis]

I agree- I thought petitions and an onslought of emails from the public at large might make TIFF rethink its decision.

I agree that animals are indeed killed in inhumane ways for fashion and food, but at least those animal death's in some ways have a legitimate function. Moreover, this glorifies the intentional act of torturing (not simply slaughtering) the animal for NO functional reason whatsoever, other than to have it on film. That to me is completely unjustifiable.

[treegirl]

The men defended the video for a school project as a work of art -- a comment on the death and suffering of animals used for meat.

During their trial, courtroom spectators were brought to tears when the gruesome tape was shown.

Ontario Court Judge Ted Ormston told the courtroom he didn't sentence the men to the maximum time allowed because he felt their crime was not the worst offence possible.

A Toronto detective said the 17-minute videotape was the most difficult thing he has ever watched


wonder what the 'worst offence possible' is? how much worse could've it have gotten?!

stupid judge.

[treegirl]

tiffg@torfilmfest.ca


send them emails here...let them know how you feel!

[Kury]

When I first read that, I thought it was a hoax... even though the website doesn't look like one to hold hoaxes. A couple google searches for hoax busting websites, and apparently this is a true story.

The people who did that, are putrid beyond words. I wish the "eye for an eye" punishment was legal. I can't believe that three people could do that as a school project- the fact that they carried out the torture shows that they are DEFINITELY sick. They aren't young enough to be excused as foolish young guys, they are adults. Now I'm so angry... I want to go open my window and swear really really loudly.

And as for the Toronto International Film Festival- they deserve to be tortured the same as the people who made the film. Heartless b*st*rds.


I hate people... people are so stupid, and cruel... they should all have their eyes impaled by pickle-forks.

[concept3]

get real kury. the people who run the toronto film fetival didnt do anything to be tortured for. The three people who did it deserve it. I think its sick but if the film festival shows it or not, I dont really care it is not going to change what happend.

[Kury]

No, it's not going to change what happened. But showing it as a work of "art" is pretty crude...

On the other hand, it will get it into the public. Which could be a good thing.

And your right, they don't deserve to be tortured. I wasn't really thinking when I wrote that... I was kinda upset.

[chappy]

As far as I have heard and seen on TV, there is NO footage of the video these three teens made.. This is a documentary with ZERO footage being used from the original video....

[Enter]

karmas a bitch it will get them one day they will get attacked by a cat and the scracthes will get infested and they will, well i dunno

[Katt]

All I can do is just cry. I remember when that whole story hit the news a few years back.

The video of Kensington is not being shown per se, but a film where cats have their insides taken out and worn as hats is shown. Which is also pretty disgusting, if the cats weren't put down in a humane way.

I feel really sorry for the owners of Kensington. Even years after their pet is tortured they must endure the fact coming up again and again.

[herpslave]

I think these people deserve to be skinned alive and cooked alive! This is messed up ****! If you want art draw something, or show images from other people doing this kind of crap whle making a story and a movie! Cows and chickens are killed fast... Heads off, good bye they are dead. They may run around or twitch but they are still dead. there is not really much if any suffering as they are fed really well. But skinning alive would make me want to throw up, cry, cause chaos to the people who did this, and want to do more bad things. if I were a cat and saw a movie like this I would make sure my paws were full of disease, virus, and infections and claw the crap out of them.

[herpslave]

Some day I believe a bigger smarter species or a large group of small more intelligent animals will be doing this to us. Or aliens... We will be the next meat of the world.

[RobV]

Here in Winnipeg, a couple years ago, some artist lady strung up a bunch of dead rabbits in her back yard, and it received notoriety as a "work of art." (I think its ridiculous)

One thing about the article cited, is that the claim is never made whether or not the documentary supports or opposes the actions of these disguting kids. Although it does show an equally disgusting "performance art" piece of making cat hats (i also love the way that the author of the article seems to be making fun of certain kinds of "art", which is just some sick way of passing the buck - imagine what the makers of the hat video were thinking - "Oh, la te da, i just filmed myself killing cats and making them into hats, I'm not a sick piece of sh*t, oh no! I'm an......ARTIST" - seriously, give me a bloody break).

[daver676]

I'd like to meet them just once. :hammer:

[CamHanna]

Originally posted by Artemis
I agree that animals are indeed killed in inhumane ways for fashion and food
Really? How are they killed?? It's a good idea to have some knowledge on the topic, or at least the benefit of a google search, before you post.

I believe that this kind of uneducated fanaticism is unacceptable in any arena. I'm certain that some people do have genuine arguments against food animal production but far too many choose to blindly call it 'inhumane' and wait for the naive masses to rally behind them.

I work in a 'hog factory' (I normally call it a barn) and buy my meat from butcher; I have yet to see or hear of anything in either place that I would consider inhumane.

Incidents such as the infamous KFC 'stampings' are no doubt incredibly rare (and performed by employees of a KFC supplier, independent of KFC). Dumb-asses akin to those guilty in this case exist in every forum of society; unfortunately in this case they were given some responsibility beyond wrapping 'burgers at McDonalds or mopping floors at Walmart. As a result the entire agricultural industry has suffered.

Of 2000 or so pigs at 3 barns in which I work none have been skinned, disemboweled, beaten, abandoned or dragged under a pick-up truck; yet somehow food producers seem to be labeled as the cruel and sadistic masterminds of animal cruelty while pet producers receive no ill effects. Really, neither industry should be impacted as a result of these dumb-asses; I feel the same way about the reptile industry and it's less responsible members.

This post is a response to a pervasive attitude I've noticed recently and is not directed solely at Artemis; certainly it is not meant as a personal assault.

Cam Hanna

[emilsmee]

my mother did a project when she was in college a few years ago about farm animal cruelty and it was definately despicable. i've had a couple friends who have worked at turkey farms also. what they do to those animals is just as cruel, though it is still a means to a useful end. i've seen videos of pigs getting beaten to death with crowbars. and my friends were the low paid people who bludgeoned turkeys to death and threw them in a pile in the corner of a room while they bled to death. most are kept in appauling conditions (veal anyone?). so yeah, it's just as cruel, but at least we can say there's a reason, and they're never raised to think they're loved or that they're anything other than food. at least they shouldn't have a sense of betrayal while this is happening.
and i mean lions don't worry that they hurt the antelope they hunt and eat. you'll never see a lion with a sign, protesting the other lions hunting and killing zebras. meat eaters eat meat, thats life. but to kill a cat that was born for no other reason than to be a companion and loved pet and to love people, thats horrible and downright evil.

on a side note: anyone ever watch "animal cops" on animal planet, it's all about things like this. it's an awesome show, but really unbearable to watch sometimes.

[concept3]

emilsmee, What ever your mom did her project on must have been out of date. Ihave seen animal slaughter houses (their is no nice way to put it) and they are so scared of tree hugging people jumping up their A holes that they do everything in their power to make it "acceptable" . I dont agree with this cat slaughter bs, but dont bring in your moms 15 year old project when you dont really know what your talking about. I live in rural Alberta, best farmland in Canada I have seen It all and they do try to make It painless for the animal, beleive it or not

[DiamondDave]

This really has nothing to do with farming and slaughtering animals for food. It boils down to 3 sick F#%ks who get off on torture. Those are the types of people who become serial killers later in life.

As soon as things like this are labeled as art people think it's more important to protect it from censorship...rights and all that. That sort of thing isn't art, those people aren't artists and the whole thing makes me sick!

And before someone says it's the same thing (killing animals any way) it's not. I have slaughtered hogs, I take deer and turkeys in season, all of them are dead in seconds, that cat SUFFERED, farm animals don't. The difference is the people who slaughter farm animals don't get off on watching them die.

[spidergecko]

Originally posted by CamHanna
Really? How are they killed?? It's a good idea to have some knowledge on the topic, or at least the benefit of a google search, before you post.

Here are some videos of animals being killed inhumanely. PeTA has a number of videos available to view; whether you agree with the organisation or not. Do they focus on the rare cases? Sure, but the cat killing was pretty rare, too.

I had some great undercover VHS videos from the ALF (nasty stuff) but I got rid of those years ago; some VERY upsetting images of farming but most were from medical labs.

I believe Artemis meant to say, "I agree that [some] animals are indeed killed in inhumane ways for fashion and food."

Trapping:
http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=cull_of_the_wild&Player=wm&speed=_med

Infamous KFC:
http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=pilgrims_web&Player=wm&speed=_med

Here is an investigation the PeTA did on hog farms:
http://www.peta.org/feat/invest/indexold.html

I wanted to link the fox-fur farm video but I can't find it. Anyway, it's a little too disturbing, even for me. The electrocution really bothers me.

[joeysgreen]

It's one thing to attack the TIFF for showing it, but what school are these guys making the project for?

[Samba]

I've read some pretty interesting points here, and I think you've all made good arguements, but I think we ALL agree that displaying the murder of a cat and calling it art is sick.

I'm an artist, I draw, paint, photograph. I don't kill animals and say what I did is a performance piece. These men are just looking to be excused from something they know was wrong.

I know that we all love and respect animals here, particularly reptiles, which bonds us all... but every year (probably several times within different counties) rattlesnakes are harvested, abused, and tortured as well. Most people don't think much of this because snakes are 'evil' and 'gross.'

I'd like to see more action against the roundups that are portrayed as 'family events.' Rattlesnakes are skinned and disemboweled ALIVE, just like Kensington. They do feel pain just like any other animal, and it is JUST as inhumane. Their body parts are removed while they struggle to breath and survive; it's just sick and almost impossible to think of what they go through.

As for the farm animals; I have seen them in bad conditions, but I've also seen farms that take excellent care of their livestock before they are slaughtered. These animals are asked only to eat and reproduce basically, then (most) are given a quick and painless death; if you look at it in a different light, that would be the perfect life, right?

Just like not all pit bull owners fight their dogs, you can't say all farm animals suffer before and during slaughter...

My thoughts are really jumbled and emotional now, so please excuse my rant if it's not understandable. I'll post later when I'm calm enough. It's really nice to see that everyone is interested in protesting this, and trust me, if I lived in the city where the film is planning to be shown, I'd be there.

[emilsmee]

concept3, you assume the timeline for when my mother did that project. my mom went back to college and graduated 2 years ago for environmental engineering. a far cry from 15 years.
the larger ones yeah they're in the spotlight, but the smaller ones out in the rural area's are still like that. i know, i just moved out of one of those county's only a year ago (after living there for 7 years).

[concept3]

because I havent been to everyone, I do beleive you 100 percent that their is places that treat the animals bad. But for the most part its a pretty heavily regulated and watched industry, and for the most part they treat their animals humanely.

[emilsmee]

you're right and i agree that they've improved most places in leaps and bounds, but there are still places out there that should be shut down.

[crazy4reptiles]

As far as weather Slaughter houses are cruel or not to the animals... Can't speak for them all but I work for probably the largest Beef slaughter house there is, and I can assure you the prceedures are very good... They have CFIA crawling around there 24 hrs a day. But I'm sure there are alot of smaller places who get away with things.. As for the whole cat thing, I totally do not like what those men did.. It is sick and dusgusting, but I don't think showing a film about it is that bad, they didn't use any original footage... It isn't really any different then the documentry Bio I watched on Ed Gein on A&E the other night?... Maybe we should all right them letters for showing that? It's a cold world, sad but true.... Now I'm waiting for it.. Come on give it to me!! lol

[Artemis]

I dont think every place that slaughters animals is inhumane. However, like the videos samba put up illustrate, there are certainly animals who meet their demise in ways they shouldnt for our consumption, one way or the other. I did not mean any offence by my comment, and in fact, Cam, Im actually really glad to hear people work in the meat industry and find it to BE humane. At least some places have responsible practices.

Im not a vegetarian, or anything like that. I believe we have canine teeth for a reason. (not meaning like dog teeth, but meaning the name for the pointy teeth we have on either side of our front teeth meant for ripping up meats). I do find, as Samba illustrated, that many animals are killed in inhumane ways in the meat and animal goods industries, but I hope that you guys are right, and some places do make sure their slaughtering practices are as humane as possible.

And crazy- the serial killer analogy is cool, except we watch that, and it is presented, in such a manner where the actions of the serial killer are understood to be WRONG!

This docu film, while not the film about the most hardcore parts of this cats torture, is making a point about "why is it ok to kill animals for food, but not just randomly kill one on the streets for fun." It glorifies, and in a way justifies the actions of these boys, while downplaying their severity. That is why I feel the documentary also should not be shown.

[Samba]

Exploiting an innocent animal's cruel death for profit or recognition is the problem...

If a man (or woman) killed another human being in a sick and unusually cruel way and video-taped it there would be a lot more outrage in the community concerning the footage, and whether or not it's art. I know a cat is not a human, but we are all animals and we should respect all creatures on this earth.

We are no better than any other species, including the ones we keep as 'companions' or work/livestock. My thoughts are still jumbled, so please excuse me while I go throw up...

[crazy4reptiles]

The article never stated wether the film condoned the boys actions in toturing and killing the cat.... I think until any of us wached it ourselves, we can't come to a conclution to what it is really saying..... and it could be against such an act... just letting the public be aware of such haness crimes... just like any newspaper, news etc etc... they let us know the bad things to..

I'm not sticking it for them, just saying until we have wached it, we can't really judge somthing from hear say, and one article we read. I just think somtimes when somthing bad happens people tend to see it as horrible, wich in this case it is ..VERY... but only want to keep looking in that direction, with a closed mind that everything pretaining to that event is indeed horrible.

[treegirl]

well see, that's just the thing for me-----I ~couldn't~ watch it even if I wanted too... this kid of **** gives me nightmares--for life.

[treegirl]

.....and I know that slaughter houses are HORRIBLE for any animal. There are better ways to get the public aware of cruelty other than making another animals suffer needlessly to make a point.

[crazy4reptiles]

Originally posted by treegirl
.....and I know that slaughter houses are HORRIBLE for any animal.

Please amuse me?

[treegirl]

go amuse yourself.

[herpslave]

Originally posted by crazy4reptiles
As far as weather Slaughter houses are cruel or not to the animals... Can't speak for them all but I work for probably the largest Beef slaughter house there is, and I can assure you the prceedures are very good... They have CFIA crawling around there 24 hrs a day. But I'm sure there are alot of smaller places who get away with things.. As for the whole cat thing, I totally do not like what those men did.. It is sick and dusgusting, but I don't think showing a film about it is that bad, they didn't use any original footage... It isn't really any different then the documentry Bio I watched on Ed Gein on A&E the other night?... Maybe we should all right them letters for showing that? It's a cold world, sad but true.... Now I'm waiting for it.. Come on give it to me!! lol

So if some one skinned your whole family but did not show full footage you would be fine with that? Wow, that is ignorant. They skinned the cat alive! They made is suffer to death in very painful and long situation! Showing a video of full, short, or even no footage they deserve to be locked up for years or skinned alive them selves and left to die in some corner!

I would never want to watch any animal get skinned alive, and hear the crying of mass pain and sadness.

And to your amuse me post, Go amuse you self by watching the movie when it comes out, considering you have not a problem with it.

[dia]

Even reading about that I feel violently ill.
"When the video of the torture was shown in court, spectators were overcome and some plugged their ears to block the cat's moaning."
Some of the worst sounds I ever heard was when I found my beautiful grey tabby after she'd been mauled by some creature outside. Her flesh was ripped from her side and I could see some of her little ribs. Poor dear was curled up in the front steps in a pool of her blood. She whimpered, moaned and seemed to be crying in my arms when I rode to the vet.

How could someone with any feelings destroy and torture a cat like that and hear it moaning in pain as you skinned it? The thought of a person like that being on the streets makes my stomach churn. As someone else said, if they can do it to animals - would they do it to people?

[After much time at the vet and 8 weeks of healing she survived and is fine now. She's my lovie, and sitting in my lap purring as I write this!]

[crazy4reptiles]

WOW... People cease to amaze me?... I DID not once condone anything that these people did... In fact in two seperate posts I do believe I said it was sick and dicusting.. or somthing to that manner.... I have read the article once again... and read it several times earlier... And I do not believe the person who made the documentry condoned the actions of the three young men. I did state that they did not use any footage... so nobody who watches the film sees it. Not that that made the crime any less discusting. So for Herpslave your comment on someone skinning my family was more iggnorant then my comments... I am mearly just stating a fact, that the documentry could be 100% AGAINST the actions of the people who tortured and killed the cat.

I would never want to watch any animal get skinned alive, and hear the crying of mass pain and sadness.

And nor would I.... Never said I would....


[Originally posted by treegirl
.....and I know that slaughter houses are HORRIBLE for any animal.

Please amuse me?

And to those comments... They had nothing to do with the cat situation... I was just curious how she knew slaughter houses are HORRIBLE for animals.... I worked at one of the largest beef plants in the world... So I was just curious as to how she knew this?

But I'm sure there are alot of smaller places who get away with things..

Just so you don't think that I think everyone is doing things right..
just because mine was doesn't mean they all are...

Maybe you should read my posts CAREFULLY before you come down on me... Because it makes you look stupid with the things you say... Because NEVER once did I condone anything, or stick up for anyone... Just saying that people need to look at the whole picture sometimes....and know the whole story... and know why things are done for what reason.. ie. the documentry, maybe it opened alot of eyes, as to what kind of a society we live in...

But once again none of us have seen it so we don't know..


So what ya doing next weekend? Dinner and a movie?....... lol...

I'm joking really.... People just get too damn mad somtimes, and speak without thinking, or understanding somones point.

[emilsmee]

i think that if they did show this it would make things worse. if these people get the attention, even bad attention, than other people seeking attention will become copy cats (no pun intended). they'll think 'hey all i have to do is skin this animal to get people to turn their heads, cool'. thats why most people do bad things to start with, recognition and attention.

[crazy4reptiles]

Originally posted by emilsmee
people seeking attention will become copy cats (no pun intended).

Hee Hee... Better watch it someone might snap on you for NO reason... Seems to be the thing to do around here lately!

[emilsmee]

hehe i'm used to it, there's a certain 'lady' on this site that is really good at that. hope she doesn't think i'm making an ad to sell kittens because this thread is about cats, lol.

[Samba]

Whether the film is Pro, Con or Neutral, I believe, as stated above, that showing a film about this film will only glorify these men in a sick way... people latch onto because of it's disturbing nature, and there are A LOT of 'copy cats' out there.

Look at human serial killers, and how the most prominant ones had 'copy-cats'. A lot of people where murdered just because someone wanted to mimic another's actions... Why? Who knows, but I believe making a documentary will not serve any useful purpose. If there is one, let me know; I sure wouldn't want to keep going thinking that this animal died in vain...