Tape Shows Teens Lighting Possums On Fire
Tape Shows Teens Lighting Possums On Fire
Authorities Investigate Incident
POSTED: 4:42 pm CDT June 22, 2005
UPDATED: 6:27 pm CDT June 23, 2005
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Webster County Sheriff's Office is preparing to charge four teenagers with animal torture after the incident was caught on tape.
he tape shows a possums being doused in lighter fluid and lit on fire.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals gave the videotape to Tom Colvin, the director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
PETA obtained the video clip from a Web site, which got the tape from the Webster City teens, NewsChannel 8 reported.
"I think it's the most disgusting thing I have seen in 31 years of animal welfare work," Colvin said.
"This was the first time I've ever seen somebody lighting an animal on fire. It was horrendous. It made me physically ill.
The act does not happen to just one animal, there are at least two and maybe up to five animals tortured on the tape, according to the sheriff's office.
Perhaps more upsetting than watching the video, is hearing the voices on the tape.
Colvin said there's taunting, jeering and a party type of atmosphere on the tape.
The tape shows that no one steps in to put out the flames, even as the animal runs off in to the distance.
Colvin wondered what the group could be capable of next.
According to Iowa's animal cruelty laws, a person can face one year in prison for animal neglect. A person can get up to two years in jail for animal abuse and animal torture.
Second or subsequent animal torture offenses are considered a felony, and a person can face up to five years in prison.
Copyright 2005 by TheIowaChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tape Shows Teens Lighting Possums On Fire
Authorities Investigate Incident
POSTED: 4:42 pm CDT June 22, 2005
UPDATED: 6:27 pm CDT June 23, 2005
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Webster County Sheriff's Office is preparing to charge four teenagers with animal torture after the incident was caught on tape.
he tape shows a possums being doused in lighter fluid and lit on fire.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals gave the videotape to Tom Colvin, the director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
PETA obtained the video clip from a Web site, which got the tape from the Webster City teens, NewsChannel 8 reported.
"I think it's the most disgusting thing I have seen in 31 years of animal welfare work," Colvin said.
"This was the first time I've ever seen somebody lighting an animal on fire. It was horrendous. It made me physically ill.
The act does not happen to just one animal, there are at least two and maybe up to five animals tortured on the tape, according to the sheriff's office.
Perhaps more upsetting than watching the video, is hearing the voices on the tape.
Colvin said there's taunting, jeering and a party type of atmosphere on the tape.
The tape shows that no one steps in to put out the flames, even as the animal runs off in to the distance.
Colvin wondered what the group could be capable of next.
According to Iowa's animal cruelty laws, a person can face one year in prison for animal neglect. A person can get up to two years in jail for animal abuse and animal torture.
Second or subsequent animal torture offenses are considered a felony, and a person can face up to five years in prison.
Copyright 2005 by TheIowaChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
:22_yikes:
