Possesses a child to be cruel to, or torture, an animal?
I live on acreage in a tiny village of 600 people. Everyone knows everyone else, and what you eat for breakfast each morning. Sometimes it's great, and sometimes, not so great. Just like city life. With less traffic. And less anonymity.
I mentioned in an earlier blog, that I, once again, had horses on my property and how much I loved seeing them graze in the pasture. There are three of them, Tari - a rugged, large boned, sorrel 20 year old. He's built like the proverbial brick s...house. He has kind eyes and an equally kind temperament.
Then there's Rooster - a very dark, blue roan. Rooster's more assertive and not quite as stocky as Tari, but a well built 19 year old. He's a little more wary than Tari, but still extremely kind.
Peppy - well Peppy's four and is learning his manners from the two older gentlemen. Peppy is still a bit skittish and shy, but still very sweet. They are all extremely well-bred quarter horses, and an absolute delight to have on my property.
Most of the time, they can be found in the middle of the pasture, nibbling at the sweetest blades of grass. Occasionally, like today, when the skies turn black, and thunder crashes and booms - reverberating off the house, they can be found huddling together in the shelter.
They don't bother anyone. They don't whinny or run the fence line. Sometimes they'll gallop and play - but mostly, they just eat. They mind their own business. Sometimes when I'm out on the lawn tractor moving the irrigation, they'll come over for a pat. Mostly, they keep to themselves.
So what would possess an 8 year old kid to fashion a lethal looking bayonet and entice the horses to the fence with grass, only to stab at them?
The older couple that witnessed this yesterday, handed me the "bayonet" this morning while relaying what they saw this young boy and his sister do to the horses. They watched as the kid whistled for the horses, and then, when they came to the fence to take the handful of grass he held out, he jabbed them in the chest with the "bayonet".
I wonder how he'd like it if I held out a piece of candy for him and did the same thing to him? Fortunately, in this small town, my neighbor knew exactly which kid it was, as he had spoken to him as he walked by his property. I have no idea who this kid is, as I've never had any interaction with him at all.
I was, and still am, incensed that a young child would be so cruel to such a beautiful, trusting creature. It was mentioned that the kid has problems. I agree, he has serious mental problems. But that is absolutely no excuse for cruelty.
I didn't hesitate to contact the police and offered up the weapon to them. The officer was shocked when he saw it. It was like a long broom handle, only thicker - and the kid had tied a kitchen knife securely on the end of it with numerous loops of nylon cord. Guaranteed to injure, and not have the knife slip down the cord or otherwise move.
As far as the kid having mental problems - I really don't care. Get the kid help, and keep him away from me and my property. Heck, when I was a kid, there was no way we would have done anything like that. Not because we were afraid of being caught by the police, but because we were afraid of being caught by our parents!
But it wouldn't have crossed our minds to deliberately hurt an innocent animal anyway. I will probably never understand how anyone, regardless of age, can be purposely cruel to an animal. 
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Wing_Zero_75
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Sep 6 @ 8:56PM
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I could hurt a human before I could hurt an animal. I have never understood how anyone could do something like that. Its a shame your horses couldnt kick him. I think one shot to the chest would make that little *&%$#ng c*#&$ng a!@#^e think twice.
Larry
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Fayvorite
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Sep 6 @ 9:09PM
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I'm sorry to hear that. A kid like that would scare the hell out of me especially since so many serial killers start off with animal cruelty backgrounds in their child hoods.
How is your horse?
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Loreli
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Sep 6 @ 9:14PM
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That's horrible 
Something is wrong with ANYONE that would do that
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SimplyImp
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Sep 6 @ 9:23PM
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The horses are fine, fortunately.
Anyone that is deliberately cruel and would fashion a bayonet at EIGHT years old to use as a weapon, has bigger issues than just "problems".
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signme
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Sep 6 @ 9:30PM
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That's terrible. As an animal lover, it totally incenses me to hear about things like that. However, I read an article today that said many schools are beginning to teach kindness to animals. I've always tried to do that with my classes. In fact, the past 2 weeks at my bus line, several boys (1st and 2nd grade) have been helping me come up with a solution to get rid of my racoons under the house. I keep telling the boys I do not want to hurt them, I just want them to leave. Right now, I'm feeding the outside cats in the house every night, hoping the racoonies will leave if there's no food around anymore.
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Fender
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Sep 6 @ 10:01PM
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That is terrible...that little boy needs help...
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Jankia
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Sep 6 @ 11:53PM
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So what would possess an 8 year old kid to fashion a lethal looking bayonet and entice the horses to the fence with grass, only to stab at them?
His being an 8 year old boy.
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dizzydoll
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Sep 7 @ 1:41AM
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8 year old kid
many kids only learn empathy later in life, some adults never learn it. and while on the subject of empathy, boys learn it quicker than most girls.... it really surprised me to learn that
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dizzydoll
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Sep 7 @ 2:04AM
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btw, it doesnt mean we were all cruel as kids before learning empathy.... just some kids are, but that doesnt mean they will be cruel in later life either. 
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chubs
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Sep 7 @ 2:51AM
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I kinda feelz sorry for the boy and his sister, because I think they must have been mistreated somewhere along in their young and impressionable lives and they are "acting out" their hurtz on an animal that, to their way of thinking, is just as innocent as they were when someone began hurting them too 
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SimplyImp
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Sep 7 @ 3:42AM
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Just a bit of background on this kid. Although I have never even seen him, as he lives with his grandmother in the US because his mother can't handle him. His sister is fine without him around.
They come from a typical welfare family, single mother, 6 children all under the age of 10. The boy has been a problem for years, to the point where the police have said that any misbehavior on his part, they want to know about. (I did not know this before today).
The mother makes over $3,000 per month, between child tax credits ($1500) and over $1500 in cash from welfare, and a housing subsidy. She just bought a new van.
This mother refuses to acknowledge problems or discipline her children. She plays the "victim" to the hilt, in order to gain sympathy and freebies from locals. This included a half side of beef, given free of charge, because the couple that donated it, felt sorry for her "situation". At $3,000 per month, many people could live VERY well.
Thanks to MY tax dollars, this woman lives better than the single working mother down the street. Or the disabled gentleman, and possibly even better than many on this site.
With a mother that won't even take responsibility enough to buckle her kids in the van, complains constantly about her "awful" life, I have absolutely no sympathy for her - and certainly none for the little s.o.b. she has brought into this world and won't parent.
The little boy has, apparently, not been "hurt" - simply been pampered and undisciplined his whole life - all 8 years. Apparently, the mother has been like this when she was on welfare with only 2 children.
No, there is no excuse for this kid's behavior - or his "mother's" lack of parenting. With free health care, including counselling and psychiatric care, free parenting classes, along with her $3,000/mo thanks to the taxpayer - I will reserve my sympathy/empathy for the real victims.
IMO, this kid needs a good stick across his backside, and an involved parent. What if the kid fashioned the "bayonet" and took it to one of your children at school? What if he slashed your granddaughter across her face? Or stabbed your grandson, just because?
It's quite possible, that if the child appears around here again, that a lunge whip might "accidentally" find it's way to snap on his nasty little arse.
Sorry folks, no sympathy here for this little bas turd.
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chevymn
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Sep 7 @ 3:46AM
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By the laws here that would be considered a deadly weapon and fall under consealed weapons laws. The kid is eight and just commited two felonies and not to mention animal cruelty. My question is where are the dam parents? My horse just turned 28. If I would have caught the neigbors kid doing this, look out world war three. My parents would have beat my azz with the weapon while the cops watched. Todays society, just get ready to welcome the new generation.
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Fayvorite
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Sep 7 @ 8:50AM
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The law's hands are tied by so many rules and regulations. Possibly a good reporter in need of a story could come up with a story that could enlighten all those that read so the community quits enabling this bad seed and his family.
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Tiramisu4u
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Sep 7 @ 11:54AM
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I agree with all comments here...if this isn't dealt with in every way possible, there will be more SEVERE issues later...*shudders*...
Whatever the reason for this behavior, it is NOT NORMAL!!
He needs to be monitored...at all costs.
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EternalFlame
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Sep 7 @ 1:21PM
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Wow...$1500 in welfare IN ADDITION TO $1500 in child support? That would never happen here, unless the person hides the child support.
In most states (I can't speak for all because I don't know all of the laws) if you are on welfare your child support goes to the state, not to you, and then they pay you your welfare money.
My sister recently lost her job...she's been trying to find a new one with no luck in this economy. She was forced to go on welfare for the first time in her life. She was getting $200 a month child support from her ex-husband for my 12 year old niece.
The state of Kansas figured her welfare payment at $350 a month based on her $200 child support, and is now requiring the child support go directly to them.
Her rent is $395 per month.
How people "live" off of welfare I will never understand. They HAVE to be cheating the system to do it 
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SimplyImp
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Sep 7 @ 1:43PM
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There is no child support from the father. $1500.(cash) comes from the federal government and depends on how many kids you have and what level of income you have.
The other $1500 (cash) comes from the province, also depending on how many kids you have. On top of that, a housing subsidy, food subsidy, free medical (that everyone else pays a monthly fee for) free dental (not covered under our medical) and free school supplies for both kids and parent, if she decides to go to school.
I have no problem in my tax dollars helping out, if she was attempting to make more of a life for herself and attain work and schooling. But she isn't - she's got a free ride - and she's taking it to the end.
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