I read the local newspaper today and I stumbled upon a sad article about something that had happened recently to someone in my community. Here's the story: Someone was walking his dog in the park, someone else walked his ferret in the park. The dog killed the ferret. The dog owner isn't charged with any crime.
Why? The police said "This isn't a crime as a ferret isn't a person, it's a thing." This really upset me. For one thing, anything you say about others applies to yourself as well, so saying "they aren't people because they're not like me", equals "I'm not a person because I'm not like them". If you say someone isn't a person, don't make excuses when you get the same accusation.
The second thing is that, although you cannot keep animals in the wild from killing each other, animals that live with humans, in a way, are human. They are not wild animals in the forest, they are our beloved, protected family members that we try our best to keep safe.
Also, we have the responsibility that our animals don't hurt anyone. So, if by your negligence, your dog causes harm, you are the one guilty of a crime. In conclusion, if, by your negligence, a dog that you keep as company, kills a ferret that someone keeps as company, you are responsible for a death.
Besides, even if your dog only ruined a "thing", as opposed to killing a person, it would still be a crime. Destruction of property, you know.
I do dislike quoting people from forum discussions as opposed to taking quotes from an article, but I think these words just say so much more than any article would.
----------------------2010-04-02------------------"Today something horrible happened! I feel like vomiting and it wasn't even my ferret. He* was a half brother of my Sn*. Anyway, I was out with my four ferrets in the Haga park with He* and his human Jo*. Jo* holds his He* as well as two of mine, Si* and Mu*. Me, Mi* and Se* are walking nearby. Suddenly I hear a ferret scream so loud. Then I hear Jo* yell 'damn dog' to a German Shepherd, that is shaking his head with a little ferret in his jaws. Finally the German Shepherd drops He*. I pick my two ferrets up and run up to Jo* who's holding He* in his arms. There's blood running out of He*'s mouth and his body is limp and he's barely breathing. We were helped to quickly get into the car with all the ferrets. Sadly, He* died from inner hemorrhage, in my arms. We went to Danderyd's animal hospital where we left him to be cremated. It was so hard to leave without him. Jo* pressed charges against the dog owner, but whether he gets paid damages or not, nothing in the world can replace his He*. R.I.P. little He*, I hope you're with your brother Sn* now! We love You!"
----------------------2010-04-02------------------"Thank you all. Yes, it was awful. I've never seen Jo* so sad. He* was Jo*'s first and only ferret. It could just as well have been one of mine being bitten and while I'm relieved that mine are alive, it feels so terribly unfair that I have four and Jo* has none. I can't see any purpose in this tragic event. There's nothing good that could come from a thing like this. He* was truly wonderful, I'm so sorry there was nothing we could do to save his life"
----------------------2010-04-02------------------"Yes, Jo* needs all sympathy now. He's isolated himself completely and doesn't want to see anyone, doesn't want to answer the phone and doesn't want to open the door when you come over. He wants to be alone and I can understand that. I hope he has the strength to make it through and that this traumatic experience doesn't stick to the memory of He*. It was so horrible"
----------------------2010-04-03------------------"I forgot to add that the German Shepherd was unleashed. The owner was a couple hundred meters away. Everything happened so quickly, in a split second. By Jo*'s request, I would like to tell you that He* was the nicest ferret in the world. He was a sable male who would have been four years old now in May. He was so much fun and nice and really sweet to everyone he met. And he had such a sweet tooth. Did anything to get a little snack. We will never ever forget you He* and we'll never stop missing you! Hugs / Jo* and Je*"
----------------------2010-04-04------------------"Hi everyone, it's me, Jo* and I just want to thank you all for your nice words and especially Je*. I feel, in these circumstances, considerably good and will get a new ferret in the future. Yes, it was horrible having to see your own ferret get bitten to death, but unfortunately there is nothing to do about what happened. I'm gonna talk to the police on Tuesday, so I'll see what this leads to. He* lives in my memories. Rest In Piece, He*. Your human. Jo*"
----------------------2010-04-09------------------"Things went quite fine at the police, now I'm just waiting for someone to start on the case. The police have more acute cases to deal with now, but someone will start on the case in a week or so. Thank you for all the nice words, it helps against my grief over losing him. Jo*"
----------------------2010-04-16------------------"Well, so much for the police. They cancelled the investigation without actions. He* died for nothing, the police said a loose dog biting a ferret isn't a criminal act. The dog owner walks free, without responsibility and I get nothing when my beloved He* died. Jo*"
----------------------2010-04-16------------------"Here's the law for dogs and cats. https://lagen.nu/2007:1150 Excerpt: #1 Dogs and cats shall be kept under such supervision and be cared for in such a way that considering their nature and other circumstances needed to prevent them causing damage or considerable inconvenience. #2 A damage caused by a dog shall be replaced by its owner or keeper, even if he or she did not cause the damage. What the owner or keeper has paid for the damage, he or she has the right to have replaced by the one whom has caused the damage."
----------------------2010-04-24------------------"I've talked with the owner now and he thought this shouldn't be brought to court. He wants in writing all that it has cost me, euthanasia, new ferret and so on. He will pay me this. Thank you for your support. Now I will move on with a new pup. Jo*"
I think it's pretty obvious they're talking about a person and not a thing.
Peace, love and animal rights.
