“Only a punk would hurt a cat or dog”

The city of Baltimore has had some serious problems in the past few years with horrific cases of dog abuse by teenagers.

One case that drew national attention was when 17-year-old twin brothers doused a friendly one-year-old dog in gasoline and set her on fire for their own amusement. Other egregious incidents of animal torture have made the world wonder why there are so many sociopathic teenagers in Baltimore.

Now a campaign has been launched across the city in an effort to convince kids that real men love dogs and cats, they don’t torture them. “Hurting an animal is not a rite of passage to show your manhood."

The campaign features dozens of signs, billboards and leaflets featuring a local athlete with the message “Only a punk would hurt a dog or cat.” Raven, Jarret Johnson; Oriole, Adam Jones; and martial arts fighter, John Rallo have joined the effort.

Adams is giving his dog Eskimo kisses, Johnson calls his dog his best friend, and Rallo hugs a cat to his chest.

Nearly everything has been donated to the campaign, from the advertising expertise, photography, to media space as the city of Baltimore attempts to change their image to the world.

Thanks to Pam for the graphic

Comments

[Sara]

Sick to think of someone thinking they are big men when they torture small animals. The penalties for these crimes should be more than a slap on the wrist.

[Sam]

It's about time. These stories are horrifying and show a disturbing trend towards voilence in our young people.

Sam

[Bailey]

It is sick to realize this is considered entertainment. God help the community as these kids escalate.

[Pamela]

I hope the campaign does some good.

Having lived in the inner city and watched young men trying to grow up in tough situations, you have to feel sorry for them. Yes, the dogs and cats mistreated by these kids are the ones who pay the biggest price.

But these children (and yes, they act like children no matter how tough they try to be) didn't ask to be born either. And, unfortunately, they only feel some control in their lives when they can be powerful than someone weaker.

[Marion]

So glad people that youngsters look up to have donated their time to show them love for an animal does not make them sissies. I was astonished, as a farm girl, to discover people I considered friends of mine thought it great fun to torture animals. It never happened around me...people soon found out my revulsion about the whole thing. It seemed to be some kind of idiotic rite of passage...it's way past time to address this issue. Good post, Jan..xx

[cube]

Where does this nonsense come from? Mr. Cube grew up in New Hampshire with a large band of friends who ran relatively free and it never occurred to them that hurting an animal was a rite of passage.