Monday, June 09, 2014
Residents and animal advocates involved in verbal clash at vigil for cat
Hundreds of residents of Paterson, New Jersey, and animal advocates clashed verbally on Thursday night during a memorial for a cat that was tortured by a group of schoolboys last month, the continuation of a heated debate over whether the children should face criminal charges.
The scene was contentious - with some Patersonians holding signs reading “Go the hell home” and yelling at the top of their lungs to a crowd gathered a few feet away for a candlelight vigil outside the police station. At one point, the two sides - separated by barriers and watched over by police - chanted competing messages: “We love our children” on the left, “Quattro” on the right.
As many as six boys allegedly cornered the grey-and-white male cat in an alley on May 7, and pelted him with stones and chunks of concrete, according to two boys who said they intervened to stop the attack. Renee Olah, an animal rescue worker, later took in the badly injured cat, who came to be called Quattro. Police have said they want to question other boys who may have been involved and that the investigation is continuing. At least some of the alleged attackers were suspended by the school district and are to receive counselling. Olah said the purpose of Thursday’s vigil was to memorialize the cat and other animals that are abused. It was also an opportunity to promote “Quattro’s Law,” a proposal to clarify the reporting process of animal abuse in towns across New Jersey.
The family of two boys who rescued the injured cat said they called police twice the night he was attacked, but they did not see any police units arrive. Quattro’s injuries were so severe that he eventually became unresponsive and was euthanized. In the days after the attack, Olah started “Justice for Quattro,” a Facebook group that has supported animal cruelty charges prosecutors filed against three boys, ages 6, 10 and 12. The group organized the vigil and has helped raise more than $7,000 for the family of Quattro’s rescuers. A throng of Paterson officials and the city chapter of the NAACP are calling for the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office to drop the criminal case, and repeated that message with vigor in their protest of the vigil.
YouTube link.
A group that rivalled the size of the animal advocates said prayers, sang gospel music and argued against the “demonization and criminalization” of the cat’s abusers. More than 250 people showed up for the vigil and protest. The racial divide between the conflicting sides was stark – the protesters being mostly black and the animal advocates mainly white. The protesters said the “outsiders” wanted their children punished. Participants of the vigil said their event was about honouring Quattro and putting a spotlight on animal cruelty. The protesters yelled at them to go home. For all the contention, the two sides came together on one point – condemning hateful online comments, including racial epithets, about the cat’s attackers.
As many as six boys allegedly cornered the grey-and-white male cat in an alley on May 7, and pelted him with stones and chunks of concrete, according to two boys who said they intervened to stop the attack. Renee Olah, an animal rescue worker, later took in the badly injured cat, who came to be called Quattro. Police have said they want to question other boys who may have been involved and that the investigation is continuing. At least some of the alleged attackers were suspended by the school district and are to receive counselling. Olah said the purpose of Thursday’s vigil was to memorialize the cat and other animals that are abused. It was also an opportunity to promote “Quattro’s Law,” a proposal to clarify the reporting process of animal abuse in towns across New Jersey.
The family of two boys who rescued the injured cat said they called police twice the night he was attacked, but they did not see any police units arrive. Quattro’s injuries were so severe that he eventually became unresponsive and was euthanized. In the days after the attack, Olah started “Justice for Quattro,” a Facebook group that has supported animal cruelty charges prosecutors filed against three boys, ages 6, 10 and 12. The group organized the vigil and has helped raise more than $7,000 for the family of Quattro’s rescuers. A throng of Paterson officials and the city chapter of the NAACP are calling for the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office to drop the criminal case, and repeated that message with vigor in their protest of the vigil.
YouTube link.
A group that rivalled the size of the animal advocates said prayers, sang gospel music and argued against the “demonization and criminalization” of the cat’s abusers. More than 250 people showed up for the vigil and protest. The racial divide between the conflicting sides was stark – the protesters being mostly black and the animal advocates mainly white. The protesters said the “outsiders” wanted their children punished. Participants of the vigil said their event was about honouring Quattro and putting a spotlight on animal cruelty. The protesters yelled at them to go home. For all the contention, the two sides came together on one point – condemning hateful online comments, including racial epithets, about the cat’s attackers.
Young orangutan rescued at Indonesian airport
A young orangutan was saved from traffickers by officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, about 12 miles from Jakarta, on Friday.
The endangered ape was among several animals found in two cramped suitcases. Two Kuwaitis and one Chinese national were arrested for the smuggling attempt.
The endangered ape was among several animals found in two cramped suitcases. Two Kuwaitis and one Chinese national were arrested for the smuggling attempt.
Woman set fire to haystack belonging to wrong person after being unfriended on social media
A Siberian woman set fire to large haystack after falling out with a friend on social media.
The woman went to her friend's yard in Transbaikal village and set a giant haystack on fire in her fury at being unfriended. She now faces up to five years in jail.
The act of revenge did not even hit the right target. The haystack didn't belong to her former friend. Konstantin Podoprigora, deputy head of the regional prosecutors office, explained: "The offended woman was banned by her friend in a popular social network.
"She was put on a black list after an earlier argument. That got her even more offended to the extent that she decided to get revenge. She went to her friend's house, set a stack of hay on fire and ran away. The revenge hasn't actually worked because it was somebody else's hay left in her friend's yard.
"The losses were significant to the owner of the hay. The Transbaikal prosecutors initiated an arson case and sent documents to the court. If the women is found guilty of the arson, the toughest punishment she might serve is five years in jail, according to clause 167 of the Russian Criminal Code".
The act of revenge did not even hit the right target. The haystack didn't belong to her former friend. Konstantin Podoprigora, deputy head of the regional prosecutors office, explained: "The offended woman was banned by her friend in a popular social network.
"She was put on a black list after an earlier argument. That got her even more offended to the extent that she decided to get revenge. She went to her friend's house, set a stack of hay on fire and ran away. The revenge hasn't actually worked because it was somebody else's hay left in her friend's yard.
"The losses were significant to the owner of the hay. The Transbaikal prosecutors initiated an arson case and sent documents to the court. If the women is found guilty of the arson, the toughest punishment she might serve is five years in jail, according to clause 167 of the Russian Criminal Code".
Male thief wearing wig, dress and crotchless pants attacked sex store worker with sex toys
A male thief wearing a wig, dress and crotchless pants attacked a sex store worker in Brisbane, Australia, with sex toys during a bungled burglary.
Police say the 34-year-old man forced his way through the ceiling of the store in the northern suburb of Aspley in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The female manager of the store was alerted when the man set off an alarm. When the owner confronted the man he allegedly threw a number of sex toys at the woman.
The thief then climbed back through the ceiling and onto the roof where he was arrested by police. The Murrumba Downs man has been charged with breaking and entering and possessing dangerous drugs.
Police say the 34-year-old man forced his way through the ceiling of the store in the northern suburb of Aspley in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The female manager of the store was alerted when the man set off an alarm. When the owner confronted the man he allegedly threw a number of sex toys at the woman.
The thief then climbed back through the ceiling and onto the roof where he was arrested by police. The Murrumba Downs man has been charged with breaking and entering and possessing dangerous drugs.
Woman locked herself in own car boot in bid to keep warm
Police were called out to Immingham, north east Lincolnshire, on Saturday after a woman locked herself in the boot of her car.
Apparently the female wanted to keep herself warm, so climbed into the boot of her vehicle. But unfortunately she was unable to get out.
The Immingham neighbourhood police team tweeted: "One of the Immingham logs a little amusing. A woman who locked herself into her own car boot to keep warm then could not get out.
"But police attended and she is safe and well." They also noted that alcohol may well have been a factor.
Apparently the female wanted to keep herself warm, so climbed into the boot of her vehicle. But unfortunately she was unable to get out.
The Immingham neighbourhood police team tweeted: "One of the Immingham logs a little amusing. A woman who locked herself into her own car boot to keep warm then could not get out.
"But police attended and she is safe and well." They also noted that alcohol may well have been a factor.
Hedgehog rescuer rescued by firefighters
A man had to be rescued after getting trapped on a ledge of a waterway that runs through Sincil Bank in Lincoln on Friday.
The man had climbed down to rescue a hedgehog and then needed to be helped from the ledge.
A team of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue officers with one fire engine attended the scene. The man placed the hedgehog in a firefighter's net before a ladder was set up so he could climb back onto the street.
Station Manager Dave Gilbert said: “On this occasion things turned out okay, but we would never advise the public to attempt to rescue an animal if it means putting themselves at risk.
“If you see an animal in distress, please ring the RSPCA and if needed they will contact us, and we’ll do our best to assist where we can.”
A team of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue officers with one fire engine attended the scene. The man placed the hedgehog in a firefighter's net before a ladder was set up so he could climb back onto the street.
Station Manager Dave Gilbert said: “On this occasion things turned out okay, but we would never advise the public to attempt to rescue an animal if it means putting themselves at risk.
“If you see an animal in distress, please ring the RSPCA and if needed they will contact us, and we’ll do our best to assist where we can.”
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