This is pretty scary. I hate to think of running into one of these while on the Prarie Path or Western Trail.
My favorite though was the pinhead who was complaining that the police fired too many bullets and might have struck a child. May be he should have stepped forward and offered to wrestle the cougar down until animal control got there. I'll refrain from mentioning his profession out of respect for those on this BB who do this job with some common sense.
Kudo's to the Chicago Police, it's not like they are trained to subdue cougars, so animal rights activist-STFU.
This morning I hear animal rights activist whining about the cougar being shot and one went as far as to state cougars are shy creatures and will not attack. Well if cougars are shy, why is one in the middle of a huge metropolitan area? And what about these statistics regarding cougar attacks-
I'm all for protection of animals and if you go into their natural habitat you run the risk of attack. But when a known predator sets up shop in a large human population, authorities are left with few options. Maybe instead of second guessing the police these cretins should volunteer to keep the cougar cornered until it can be tranquilized.
Lucy Bobby : So how was your day driving with you father?
Ricky Bobby : Well let's see. I got mauled by a cougar, my Crystal Gayle shirt is ruined, and I didn't learn d*ck about driving. Other than that, it was great.
My husband saw a LARGE coyote on his commute toward McHenry county. He said he was shocked at how large it was. Must be dining on some finely prepared goose.
"The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith. " -Bertrand Russell V. Delong
Posts: 3216 | Location: Glen Ellyn, IL | Registered: April 04, 2003
Well of course we killed the cougar. It's what we do. We're the the number one killers of other humans, we kill mink because we think it's cool to wear their skin and fur, we kill endless animals because we think their flesh tastes neat, and we kill thousands of stray dogs daily to make room for ugly-*** thousand-dollar pure bred frou-frou dogs... and we killed the cougar because it dared wander into our neighborhood. I wonder if it was a Muslim cougar?
You know I will love you until the day I die, Queen Vivian...but I am not certain what even the most vegan, Morning Dew-listening officer on the scene would have been able to do in that situation. You have a cougar...a cougar...walking amidst the populace of an urban neighborhood. Once it makes a move toward a human and it isn't purring, there is going to be a problem.
Pretty reasonable discussion in today's Trib, I thought. They observed that cougars can be very difficult to euthanize and transport. Commented that cops shoot to kill charging pit bulls, should cougar be that different? Also suggested potential liability if cops tried but failed to live capture, after which the cougar ate some kid.
Seriously Viv, if the cops waited for animal control and the cougar mauled some kid, what would you be saying then? This cat was jumping six foot fences, it jumps in someones yard where kids are playing, what do you think would have happened? You are aware of what cornered animals tend to do?
And before you drop the PETA agenda on me, please be sure that you are 100% sure you are not using one service or product that does not utilize animals.
Originally posted by Yossarian: And before you drop the PETA agenda on me, please be sure that you are 100% sure you are not using one service or product that does not utilize animals.
Wow. Just... wow. I'll take your original advice and just STFU.
Please understand it's easy to second guess a person's actions and think that they should have done better. If I were the cops I would have shot the cougar, but would have taken no pleasure in the act. Imagine though if you were one of those cops, you waited for animal control and in the meantime Snagglepuss have devoured the Kitner kid. I would have a hard time sleeping knowing a human died due to my inaction.
For the record, I have three (pure bred) dogs, two rabbits and a parrot.
I haven't read the Tribune story but from the Sun-Times: James Reynolds reports that he walked onto his deck, saw the animal and was shocked. He said the cougar made a feeble attempt to climb the fence to his backyard as well as the fence to his neigbor's yard.
"He really couldn't jump, so I think he was already injured," Reynolds said. He called to the police, "Hey guys, he's right there!" Officers told him to go back inside, and then he heard the shots.
I suppose the police did what they had to do, but it still makes me sad that it ended with that dead cougar.
Originally posted by Yossarian: Oh, now don't leave mad.
Please understand it's easy to second guess a person's actions and think that they should have done better. If I were the cops I would have shot the cougar, but would have taken no pleasure in the act. Imagine though if you were one of those cops, you waited for animal control and in the meantime Snagglepuss have devoured the Kitner kid. I would have a hard time sleeping knowing a human died due to my inaction.
For the record, I have three (pure bred) dogs, two rabbits and a parrot.
Clamato: I love you too, baby - but I just don't get Glen Ellyn sometimes.
Yossarian: Congratulations on your purchased animals. Please re-read my post. I wasn't dissing the cops so much as dissing humans in general. First you tell me (as an animal rights activist) to "STFU", then you try to engage me in the "you don't give a crap about animals unless you_______" game. Why wouldn't I be a little pissed?
Not everything is black or white, and no one can 100% avoid hurting animals.
For what it's worth: I completely avoid buying into factory farming. In fact I don't eat any animals at all, I try to stick to locally farmed cheese, drink no milk, and very rarely I buy "certified humane" eggs. I adopt my pets from animal shelters. I'm a member of PETA, the Animal Defense League, ASPCA, and I support ALF activities. I've sent numerous emails and made phone calls to congressmen/women regarding animal-related issues. I protest, leaflet, and donate. I avoid buying products from companies that torture animals (you wouldn't believe what Iams does to dogs and cats). Can I drop the "PETA agenda" on you now? Pleeeeease?
Originally posted by Clamato: ...but I am not certain what even the most vegan, Morning Dew-listening officer on the scene would have been able to do in that situation....
For a minute I read that as Mountain Dew-listening. I'd hate to have any soda-listening officer doing anything in my neighborhood.
