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Posted on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.

Man charged with kitten drownings in Ypsilanti Township

By Cindy Heflin

An Ypsilanti Township man has been charged with drowning 5 kittens, WXYZ reported today.

The man, Jerry Hagerman, faces five felony charges, accused of knowingly killing the kittens, WXYZ said.

WXYZ reported earlier that the kittens were drowned June 1 in a tub of water in the Lakeview Mobile Home Park.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley confirmed earlier this month that it was investigating the case.

Comments

Kevin McGuinness

Sun, Aug 7, 2011 : 3:21 a.m.

We are going to have to build more jails if this keeps up. My wife killed a mosquito tonight, what news statiion should I call?

marlean leach

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.

It seems as though animal incidents get more folks outraged than human ones. Don't get me wrong, I have riding livestock and domestic animals that I dearly love and value to the max, but we just saw a little girl's killer go free......Why??? Let's get our priorities in order and puts some needed value back into human life as well.

OLDTIMER3

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 11:41 a.m.

And if the man had let the kittens live and turned them loose people would have been complaining about all the FERAL cats in the neighborhood. Or turning him in for having to many cats in his house. A better alternative would have been to ask local farmers if they needed any cats.Most farmers at least dairy farmers use cats for rodent control.

paxsolace

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 6:35 a.m.

He is innocent until proven guilty. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."--Mohandas Gandhi. If you don't agree with this, just remember there's a strong correlation between animal abuse and human abuse. Just something to think about.

magicxtian

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 1:21 a.m.

For those unaware of current HSHV practices, the HSHV has a progressive no-kill policy. As for the savage who felt compelled to drown these "surplus animals", I contend that he is a "surplus biped" of no real value to his community or society at large.

Jennifer Hart

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.

Although HSHV's "save rate" is an impressive 81%, they are not a No-Kill Shelter, it is not their mission to be "No-Kill". It is hard to know what the fate of the kittens would've been had they been turned over to the shelter, if they were healthy, they would've most likely been sent to foster if not old enough, or put up for adoption. If they needed to be euthanized they certainly would've been put down in a more humane manner than drowning if that is indeed what happened to them.

djm12652

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.

The article says this person has been charged, not convicted....so as far as I know, he will remain innocent, until proven guilty. I am surprised your post remains up.

ypsicat

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:13 a.m.

...not to mention waste of oxygen.

lynel

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 12:55 a.m.

I'm a little nervous that I use mouse traps. I would hate to end up a leading news article on this site.

Charlie Brown's Ghost

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:59 a.m.

It's OK to use mouse traps, as long as you check what's going on in the news before you Tweet about it.

djm12652

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.

only if they are cute....then you may be "news" fodder

David Briegel

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.

Just don't swat a fly or a mosquito! I had a ground hog/woodchuck eating my flowers today. Wish I had a trap!

Peter

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.

Congrats are due to the right wing echo chamber for showing up and outdoing themselves in successively more revolting comments!

WhyCan'tWeBeFriends

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 5:44 a.m.

Thank you Peter. If you want further evidence how this attitude of conception is everything (and erroneous in my opinion), look no further than the Monty Python song of, "Every Sperm Is Sacred". I guess that leaves every man who pleasures himself, wasting his sperm, or even has a nocturnal emission, guilty of a killing! There is a line. I think exiting the host certainly means the line has been crossed in "OK to kill". I don't pretend to know where the line is; maybe that is a decision for the host. In the case of a cat, that decision lies with the guardian of the cat.

eagleman

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.

I believe he is referring to xmo's post. But I don't see anything revolting about them, just a sarcastic crack about progressives. Apparently Peter is a sensitive lad.

djm12652

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.

I don't get it. What makes the comments political?

a2citizen

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.

How do you know they are right wing?

Mike Martin

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.

That doesn't really make a lot of sense Peter. The comments aren't right or left.

Mike Martin

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.

Oh man, have the number of crimes against animals increased significanlty in the last 3 months? Or have the police made a special effort to crack down on this sort of thing? Or, is aa.com just reporting everything that comes in on this topic? I am astounded by the number of stories like this.

stunhsif

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:47 p.m.

If found guilty he should spend enough time in jail to set an example for others with similar disturbing behaviors.

djm12652

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:53 a.m.

@dot...huh?

Dot

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:48 a.m.

like Casey Anthony

David Briegel

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:08 p.m.

This will be good for about 400 hits to A2.com, AnimalPlanet.com. And WXYZ is our source for "local news"! xmo, did you find them homes?

Charlie Brown's Ghost

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.

Swans. Ducklings. Geese. Bears. Dogs. Kittens. Welcome to "Mutual of Ann Arbor." Where's Marlin Perkins? Good Night and Good Grief

stunhsif

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.

He's been fertilizing daisy's for a long time now !!!

free

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.

I expect any day now to find out that the Animal Planet cable channel has become a corporate sponsor of AnnArbor.com.

Will Warner

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.

So, what is the fate of kittens taken in by the Humane Society and not adopted out? Does turning the killing of surplus animals over to the Humane Society somehow make it possible to avoid facing the fact that life is pointless?

WhyCan'tWeBeFriends

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 5:28 a.m.

@ Will Warner, did you mean, "What is it?" Kittens are easily adopted, generally, by stats I have read. It is the older animals that face euthanasia, but I am no expert.

Will Warner

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:10 a.m.

"I happen to believe my life has a very important purpose." What it is?

Jake C

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.

"life is pointless"...? What a depressing outlook on life. I happen to believe my life has a very important purpose.

Roadman

Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.

I fully understand that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty, but I would hope that anyone who may be convicted in the circuit court of such charges receive some time of incarceration to emphasize that animal lives have value.

scott

Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 9:03 a.m.

yes I understand people want justice for this crime. we are sending real criminals free due to overcrowding. so y not make him do time washing litter pans at the animal shelters.. just no interaction with animals..