Man Accused Of Tossing Son's Puppy Off 5th Floor Balcony

WFTV ^ | 8/2/05 | WFTV

[paltz]

MIRAMAR, Fla. -- A man was arrested on charges of killing his son's 2-month-old black Labrador puppy by throwing it five stories to the ground after it urinated and defecated inside their apartment.

Josper Sanon, 49, took the dog and flung it 25 feet through the air off their fifth-floor balcony, the arrest warrant said.

A police officer found Sanon's 16-year-old son Steve screaming and crying in the parking lot of their apartment.

Josper Sanon was arrested on charges of cruel death, pain and suffering of an animal, a third-degree felony. He was being held on $2,500 bail.

He faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

Miramar police spokesman Bill Robertson said the fact that the dog was found 25 feet from the balcony shows the animal was thrown and did not accidentally fall.

Sanon's two children were placed in the temporary custody of a family member. Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material

[beezdotcom]

The cruelty of the father should be addressed but the humanizing of animals has to be turned down a bit.

Eh, that'll fall on deaf ears around here...there are already too many people who have elevated animals above humans.

The reason to be against animal cruelty has little to do with the pain, suffering and death of the animal. The dog flung off of the balcony is just as dead as the hog that died to give me breakfast (and the hog was pobably smarter). No, the reason to be against animal cruelty is that it tends to breed a certain callousness of spirit, which isn't usually a desirable thing.

[linn37]

I agree.

[newfrpr04]

"They were taught compassion, but not weakness". Perhaps the teen was angry or expression his feeling by yelling and screaming and crying as a result of the death of a pet. What was he suppost to do say tough S--t and walk away.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

:)

[MotleyGirl70]

Before Balto bites, you might warn him/her that I might kick or shoot first.

Regarding your attitude throughout this whole thread you are a real crass individual.

[beezdotcom]

My wife & her liberal 'dog friends' don't believe in capital punishment -- but in this guy's case, they'd gladly make an exception. An interesting window into the way the liberal mind works...

That's my whole problem with all the "animal cruelty" legislation. Look, this guy deserves our scorn, he deserves for all of us to look at him with suspicion and a jaundiced eye, and he deserves to be bitten by every dog he nears. But, I just can't see giving him more jail time than the farmer who slaughters a squealing hog.

Yes, it's a different act - in terms of intent and pyschology. But in each case, an animal is dead. Since I still like to eat bacon, I'd rather not see the laws creep in the direction of branding me as an accessory to murder, just for my choice of breakfast.

[beezdotcom]

...er, 'psychology'.

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Hello Proud Dad.

I know where you are coming from, but there is a big difference between caring for farm animals used for labor and food, and animals cared for as pets.

This puppy that the article is about, was a pet. It was viewed (most likely) by the boy as a soft, cuddly companion to spend time with. Unfortunately, your comments did not take this into consideration.

Of course if you were on a farm you would learn to be less emotional in regards to the death of stock animals (think how Fern's father gave her this "talk" when Wilbur was first destined for the chop block). But this is a different situation.

On a completely different note, would this article have received the same compassion for the animal if it was a KITTEN thrown from a balcony? I don't think so. All the cat haters would be out in full force and we'd all be subject to the old "once I tied two cats tails together and threw them over a clothesline to watch them fight" tale.

[OldPossum]

Re one of your remarks on post 65: "You are one insensitive Dude."

That sums up this man. I feel sorry for the kid who has him as a father.

[Moonmad27]

Hope they find a TEN story building for that guy's punishment.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Yep.

[paltz]

ping

[GovernmentShrinker]

Kids now don't have a dad.

These kids are clearly better off without their sorry excuse for a father. And I'm not sure yours wouldn't be better off without you. Given the way you've raised them, it probably wouldn't occur to them to shed a tear if you took off for parts unknown, or died.

Heartlessness isn't a selective quality. It's an across the board thing.

[One Proud Dad]

KMA.

[sfimom]

I would too. My kids and I have sat together and mourned 1 day old kittens.

[sfimom]

Unfreaking believable! I certainly hope your children are able to rise above your callousness. Many prayers for them...and you.

[beezdotcom]

I know where you are coming from, but there is a big difference between caring for farm animals used for labor and food, and animals cared for as pets.

I'm guessing he would agree - he probably just has the same general objections that I do, but has gotten stranded in his own hyperbole.

As I've said before, cruelty to animals is objectionable for a variety of reasons - but it should result in societal stigma, not jail time. Any animal can be a companion animal, and any animal can be eaten. Dogs and pigs are both smart - some people enjoy pigs as pets, and in some areas of the world, dogs are good food.

I would posit that a hog being led through the slaughterhouse and killed would suffer as much as a puppy going airborne for a few seconds and then going "lights out" on the pavement. Treating one as acceptable and one as a criminal act is a lot like "hate crime legislation", where we punish people for "what's in their heart", rather than merely the end result. If you really want to charge this father with something, charge him with emotional abuse of a child - but don't go so far as to humanize animals to justify "getting" the guy.

In short: revile the dog killer, shun him, view him with a jaundiced eye - but jail him today, and you'll be jailing meat lovers tomorrow. And PETA will rejoice...

[Conservative til I die]

Compassion one thing blubbering for an extended period of time over a dog is another. So if this kid witnesses a murder ( which he did not in this case by definition ) instead of maintaining his bearing and maybe assisting or witnessing to the police he should just start crying and keep on doing so for several hours. I hope he doesn't start watch the news and seeing all the death and mayhem that happens around the world he will be incapacitated for life.

For those that want to pass a judgement on my compassion go ahead but you know not of what you speak, I am not arguing that dad did a good thing or even a bad thing, it was reprehesible, but I am commenting on a 16 year old boys extended mourning of the death of the puppy.

Good golly, another phoney hard-ass macho conservative. Probably a closet case. You and your family must lead an absolutely miserable set of lives. Lighten up.

[Conservative til I die]

OK, question.... What if it was a 16 year old girl who was still crying? Is it the action (tears) or the gender of the actee (boy) that bothers you so much?

I'm guessing OPD the closet case thinks "Only fags cry".

[Conservative til I die]

The reason to be against animal cruelty has little to do with the pain, suffering and death of the animal.

It has almost everything to do with the pain and suffering caused to the animal. Secondary is the idea of "property damage" and a general coarsening of the culture. A dog is less than a human but more than a common kitchen appliance.

The dog flung off of the balcony is just as dead as the hog that died to give me breakfast (and the hog was pobably smarter).

And a person beaten to death is just as dead as the 80-year old that passes a way in their sleep. The ends do not justify the means.