Jackson Jambalaya

That looks like Jake, my dog. That is absolutely disgusting what he did. Good riddance. Three years is not enough. But, on the other hand, punishment as a felony offense lets others know, this guy is BAD NEWS.

David, shame for opposing a well written law.

I was missing these updates. It's a crime anyone opposed this law in the first place. Plenty of Shame for Farm Bureau!

God bless you, KF. Keep it up.

No matter how many excuses MFB comes up with for fighting proposals concerning animal cruelty felony laws, we and THEY know that most people can see through their ruse.
They need to remove their blinders, the ignorant fools. They just make me absolutely sick.

Three years prison isn't good enough for a criminal like this. He should be tied behind a truck and dragged til his last breath! Farm Bureau's excuses are a joke, as David Waide, and they can't seem to back up any of their reasons with facts! I am glad David Waide is out and PRAY the new president has some sense and a heart!

I am not in any way affiliated with or a customer of FB. However, I agree with them. Most of the proposed bills to stiffen animal cruelty penalties define cruelty very broadly, such that anything that might injure, cause pain or cause death could be included. In other words, fishing, hunting, branding, inoculating, training, stray control, etc.

7:15, perhaps you did not read the bill that was put before the MS legislature., SB2623. If you would have read it, you would know that cruelty and neglect were very specifically defined, as well as describing farming, animal husbandry, and veterinary practice. It defined self-defense as well an most any other scenario that could have been imagined. Which leads me to believe that perhaps you might be affiliated with FB and Mr. Waide. It is a proven fact that animal abusers generally move on to abusing women, children, and the elderly. I want me, my family, neighbors, and the people of Mississippi to be protected from these violent criminals, the way the 46 other states have done.

I think its a stretch to imply that Farm Bureau is not against animal cruelty, just because they
dont support a certain piece of legislation.

Pay attention. I did NOT state MFB or Waide was for animal cruelty. What I DID state was they are against making it a felony on the first offense. Big difference.

Mississippi Farm Bureau does not think this crime should be a first-offense felony


Here is your inference. If this issue didnt have nexus to
agricultural/farming activity, then you cant infer that farm bureau would not want to throw the book at this guy.

KF, if I were on a jury, determining slander, I would be open to the idea that you should cease and desist pursuing your true goal of animal rights awareness at the expense of FarmBureau... regardless of your interpretation of the law.

Shut the hell up. Read the Columbus Packet article. Waide and Farm Bureau flat out opposed making it a first-offense felony. period.

10:05 AM: Of course they would want to throw the book at this guy. A misdemeanor book.

10:05, KF did not infer, nor did he imply. I was one of the people involved in trying to get that bill passed and David Waide lied to EVERYONE involved, including the Mississippi Poultry Assn., MS Cattleman's Assn. , who did not oppose the bill, and Lt. Governor Bryant. These people who abuse animals move on to people. What exactly is your problem with the passage of laws that 46 other states have and Mississippi does not? Certainly you cannot be implying that we know something that 46 other states do not.....

10:13, you need to not be on a jury. Slander is, by definition, something that is spoken. KF, did you give a speech about Mr. Waide and we all missed it? 46 other states .. and MS is the only Southern state without... have laws to protect these people from moving on to commit violent acts against people. Or are you suggesting that everyone else in the nation is an idiot for having laws that protect women from rape and sexual homicide, children from molestation, and the elderly from violence?

Please dont take out our aggression against me.

Calm down before you go on a rampage.

Supporters and members of Farm Bureau (and their paid lobbyists and co-participants in what they call 'family farming') essentially argue that never do bad things like this.

Furthermore, if they or their employees should 'make a mistake' or 'fail to follow the proper procedures'; then they ought not to be subject to appropriate prosecution and punishment upon conviction.

If other citizens happen to abuse animals, and are not subject to the appropriate punishment; that is the price you pay for cheap meat.

If my interpretation of the circumstances surrounding the failure of the legislature to pass this law, and opinion do not fit your lobbying position- then I say too bad.

I do expect an anonymous rebuttal to this, will you claim to have a family supported by corporate confinement animal production?

If that is is how your family farm stays in business, then inform the readers here of that too.

I don't think animal cruelty should be a felony offense either. Sorry but I just don't. I love pets and animals.

I don't think animal cruelty should be a felony offense either. Sorry but I just don't. I love pets and animals.

Another future serial killer amongst us.

It should not be a felony on the first offense. Even domestic violence is not a felony on the first offense, excepting aggravated assault.

Animals should not have rights equal to or exceeding humans.

A familiar thought, envoked in various forms by Mahatma Ghandi (against the caste system), John Paul II (against abortion), and others goes something like this: "A society is measured by how it treats its weakest." Unfortunately most instances of animal cruely would be considered aggravated assault and probably attempted murder if perpetrated on a human...setting them on fire, feeding them poison, allowing larger animals to attack them for sport, other sadistic inventions of a sick human mind, etc. I'm not condoning domestic violence at all, but I can only wish we were talking about lesser injuries in these situations. And I'm as rock-ribbed conservative as you can get.

I happen to think burning a dog to death, dragging a dog to death, or torturing a cat by sticking sharp objects in its eye deserves more than a five hundred dollar fine or six months in jail.

As for domestic violence simple assault, I think there should be a felony version of that crime. That is where I think most of those fighting domestic violence in this state fall short is they don't push for a felony version or change the law regarding anger management.

I think it should be a felony offense to say that someone is a future serial killer simply because he doesn't think a neutralizing a starving stray mangy cat should be a felony.

11:31, you want to make the exercitation of 1st amendment rights a felony? I won't even go into the stupidity of seeking a moral equivalency between euthanasia and torture.

The serial killer crack was meant in a satirical sense.

john35216, those "1st Amendment rights" in that instance are called libel you moron. That's already illegal, and not constitutionally protected. 11:31 just wanted to make it a felony offense, just like you want to make misdemeanor cat-kicking a felony. Go back to 2nd grade.

I'll save you a seat.

8:25, I'm suing you for calling me a moron.

Don't waste your time. You weren't damaged and the label is accurate.

Why would you think that livestock should have a first offense felony (which Farm Bureau supports) and dogs and cats should not? They are equally as important and more a part of a family than a chicken. FB's reasons for not passing such a law are totally asinine. I also those who sit back and criticize a piece of legislation that they obviously have not even read as stupid and blind as FB's excuses!

Readers, please read the proposed legislation before you comment. The law that David Waide and Farm Bureau opposed was specific to aggravated, intentional cruelty to dogs and cats ONLY. Hunting, fishing, farming, self-defense, euthanasia, and protection of property were all specifically excluded. Cruelty to livestock, swine, chickens, and other farm animals is ALREADY a felony crime in Mississippi. This law simply would have afforded the same protection to dogs and cats. Waide has never been able to provide a single factual, logical reason for opposing this law and has never answered direct questions as to why he, and under his "leadership," Farm Bureau, opposes it. Chalk it up to ego.

Well, I used to call it vermin control, but if the bill passes I will call it "hunting." If you don't think they're vermin, keep them at your own house.

Interesting article in the CL about puppy mills.
In my opinion, there is more abuse / suffering caused by these
"breeders". Futhermore, negligent owners are responsible for thousand times more suffering.

I am a hunter, and have a close
connection to the natural world,
and I hate to see so many pets
suffer from irresponsible owners.
Also, I hate zoos. No animal should be caged.

I agree about the puppy mills but they are hard as hell to stop. I obtained a few months ago a six month old cavalier king charles spaniel. Great dog, great temperament. Came from a puppy mill in SE Mississippi. I've been to this one. Nothing can be done about it. The mill owner has two cavaliers and apparently they are passing on hip dysplasia to their offspring. This one is six months old, toes are cow-hocked, right hip already poking out but he gets around fine and is in no pain at all. But you know one day he will have to have hip replacement surgery. Gave him to someone who knew all this up front and can afford to pay for said surgery if needed but not every dog or owner is so lucky. Something needs to be done about puppy mills but being this is a rural state, I think it will be years before something happens on that score.