Dogged by oddballs

Toronto Sun ^ | 2007-08-25 | Michael Coren

[Clive]

Dogged by oddballs

By MICHAEL COREN

Last week I wrote a column arguing that people who are obsessed with animals to an extreme and irrational degree are mentally ill.

I wrote that we need to care about animals and should never abuse them, but that people matter more. Even bad people.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize. I was wrong. People who treat animals as if they were human and have an animal rights fetish are not mentally ill. They are psychotic and dangerous.

In the past week I have received hundreds of supportive letters, but at least as many that disagreed. No, not disagreed. Perhaps 10% made some sort of argument, but the rest exhibited an anger, stupidity and sheer craziness that I have only previously encountered from neo-Nazis.

All of the e-mails I now present have been confirmed as genuine. I have retained the original spelling, but used asterisks in most of the foul language.

Bill wrote: "Someone who cares about something else is definitely not mentally ill. We are the voice of the other species, protecting them from insanity of the likes that froths from your venomous mouth. You shame all religious people with this column.

"Your self-serving, fanatic, lunatism, thankfully isn't mainstream in the Christian world of today and tomorrow. I really think that you should take your ugly faggot face and go to hell. But then again, people from your cult are to evil, even for hell. If it is a fact that peole who are cruel to animals go on to abuse women and children, you should be locked up ... with Bernardo. You two would probably have a great time comparing notes."

Liz wrote: "You've p***** me off several times before but never quite like this....Are not ALL creatures God's creatures??? Come on buddy, being the f***-head christian that you are, you should know this!!!...you go on believing that we humans are better than animals -- we are NOT, and you're the perfect example of how stupid MOST humans are.

"Oh and by the way, I have NO pets but unlike you god-fearing a*******, I treat ALL creatures, including us humans (and like it or not, we too ARE animals) with the same f****** dignity and respect.

"Go to hell you f****** no good for nothing piece of dumb a** s***!!!!"

Doreen was interesting. "You wil have a painfilled life now. We will find out were your children go to school, where you do shopping, everything. You will suffer."

Aggie agreed. "Now you will know what it is like to be a dog being abused you filthy Jew."

Then there was Drew. "i just finished reading your 'article' from saturdays sun where you refer to animal rights types as being mentally ill . just exactly who in the f*** do you think you are? animals have no rights?! i suppose you can justify micheal vick's actions of profiting from violent animal abuse as well, seeing as though you're so high and mighty. heres an idea, why dont you come over to my house and try to infringe on my dogs rights and see what happens you f****** dim witted piece of s***.".

In other words, the vast majority of people who wrote to oppose me were illiterate, abusive and nuts. Rather confirms my point really. And for that I sincerely thank them.

[GladesGuru]

Apropos your post about the author of the hate email confronting the article author, that might happen a tad different.

I was being loudly and rudely harangued by an animal rights whacko at my place in the Everglades. During the loudest part of the tirade, my Irish wolfhound walked over, eyeballed the whacko and without even a growl, not even a raised upper lip, walked her back towards her car.

I never said a word to Ian. But, I did think about saying to him, “Dinner time, Doggie” - just to note her reaction.

One must maintain one’s scientific detachment at moments like this. Carefully apply the stimulus and then record the response. Right out of Experimental Psychology 301.

;-)

[LibLieSlayer]

I wish that you had a video of that!!! What you say is true.

LLS

[stinkerpot65]

He’s right. There are plenty of people out there who value animals equal to or greater than humans. They are not sick. They are evil.

[gcruse]

“There are plenty of people out there who value animals equal to or greater than humans. “

You rang?

Would I rescue my faithful, loving pooch or let, say, Dear Leader of North Korea drown? No contest. Just call me evil.

[the invisib1e hand]

great title. the author apparently reads my blog.

[the invisib1e hand]

to wit.