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Don’t give kids BB gunsTue, 12/05/2006 - 5:22pm
By: Letters to the ...
In the movie, “A Christmas Story,” Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB gun from Santa. Even the Santa at the department store tells him that he could “shoot his eye out.” His teacher at school and his mother join in the mantra of the movie with “you’ll shoot your eye out.” This is sage advice. Guns can injure and kill, even BB guns. This Thanksgiving, while I was visiting my aunt in Atlanta, her grandson asked me to look at a little tabby cat which he and his friends found injured in the Whispering Pines Mobile Home Community. He thought that I might know what to do as I lobby for animal welfare legislation in Tennessee and have many rescued animals. I knew immediately that she had a spinal injury. She had no control of her bladder, but her back legs did respond to stimulus. She purred and ate and tried to get around. She must have been in this condition for a week or more before she was rescued by these kind young people. Calls were made and the Flat Creek Animal Clinic took her in for evaluation. X-rays showed a BB lodged in her spine. There are numerous other kittens at the trailer park. They too could become victims of cruelty. I told these young humane citizens to report this cruelty to authorities. Experience has shown those of us in working with cruelty and animal abuse cases that often the perpetrators brag about what they have done. Several high profile cases in Franklin, Tenn., where I live, were solved by young people coming forward with information from the people who committed the crime. And yes, shooting an animal causing death or physical harm by rendering a part of such animal’s body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal is a crime in Georgia. (Georgia law 16-12-4c). Her rescuers have named her Sally. Sadly, Sally will probably not make it to Christmas. Unless she regains her bladder control, a happy ending for this kitten who came into our lives at Thanksgiving is not likely. She has endeared herself to everyone who has met her. Sally’s story is painful to those who care. But her short life will not be in vain if people learn the lesson that BB guns are dangerous. BB guns can maim children and animals. Sally’s Christmas story would have some joy if authorities would be able to stop whoever is breaking the law by shooting cats with a BB gun and getting the rest of the kittens living at Whispering Pines spayed and neutered and placed into responsible loving homes. Remember, if you see or hear about someone doing something to an animal that makes you feel uncomfortable, tell someone. People who harm animals may continue in that cruel behavior and escalate to targeting children, the elderly or the disabled as their next victims. Our gift to our communities should be to be good caretakers of all creatures great and small. Laura Turner |