Jeff Alu on November 06, 2009, at 07:03AM – #2

Seems to me the punishment for these folks shouldn't be prison time anyway, but should involve some sort of community service in which supervised caring for animals is involved. Maybe at an animal shelter of some kind.
I wonder if these people are all truly animal haters?

E. on November 06, 2009, at 10:56AM – #4

No legitimate I.D. is shown?! How does that happen? City Hall checks my I.D. when I go to the Observation Area. Police would check my I.D. if I was given a ticket for jaywalking, right? What is going on in this mickey-moused, third-world city?! (And by third-world, I am not referencing any cultures or races, just pure LAWLESSNESS.) What happened during the "felony arrest"? Did officers politely take the vendors to the side and say, "Oh, you don't have any identification? Oh, okay. Well, here are your animals"?

anthony on November 06, 2009, at 10:40PM – #6

These folks do it for money. Give them an incentive to find another job.

out my window on November 06, 2009, at 10:43PM – #7

These people wil get off free as a bird. They will continue to mistreat animals and now they will laugh at the American system. In times of financial depression animals and children become victims. Jail time big time.

Jasmijn on November 07, 2009, at 09:02AM – #8

"Without any legitimate ID being shown"?! I agree w/ E. How come I can never get out of having to show legitimate ID -- and that's for noncriminal activities -- but they have a blank "get out of jail free" card?

Thanks for following up on this and letting those of us who hoped that raid would actually make a smidgen of difference know how it really works. No wonder they keep doing what they do. There's nothing to stop them, not even the pretense of defending/explaining their actions to anyone in authority.

Joe on November 07, 2009, at 05:07PM – #9

Keep in mind that not every one, not every class and not every culture wants to dress a dog in a $ 50 sweater with four legs and consider it "my little baby."

There is animal cruelty, without a doubt, that most deem inexcusable. But many urban 1st worlders also engage in grotesque anthropomorphism that often clouds reality of how much of the world views animals, their care, their use, mmm techniques to how best to cook them (e.g. goats are cute, but really, they're incredibly flavorful) and their worth. When you live in an international city, especially one whose populations includes many 3rd worlders, expect varying sensitivities when it comes to animal well-being. You know these people arrested from selling little turtles, albeit ones baking in the sun, are going to continue to think, "they're turtles! who cares?" whether they're held for a few hours in a cell or not.

The joke about protecting your beagle from the Chinese restaurant isn't that far.... fetched. But at least it was wearing a cute ego-boosting sweater before it disappeared.

Davo on November 08, 2009, at 08:10AM – #10

When a large majority of Californians are quite permissive about underaged girls being able to have a major surgical procedure (and I'm obviously not taking about ear piercing) without the consent of a parent or guardian, it seems rather laughable and artificially sentimental to suddenly become so heartbroken over the way that some people treat (and sell) animals.

Hoovton on November 08, 2009, at 07:33PM – #11

Joe - although we live in a city made up of people from many cultures we DO NOT live in the countries they came from. We live in America and in America we do dress our pets in cute little outfits, and we do treat them like members of our families. If someone comes to this country and does not feel “sentimental” about dogs, cats or horses - that's fine - they shouldn't have pets.

Regardless of how anyone may feel about animals it is unacceptable in OUR culture to treat animals poorly or to eat DOMESTICATED animals such as dogs, cats or horses. Furthermore, it is against the law to sell DOMESTICATED animals for this purpose or to treat ANY animal with cruelty. Any person who lives in the country and treats animals this way should and WILL be prosecuted. Period.

Furthermore, I would never travel to a place like India and eat beef. As a RESPECTFUL human being that would be immoral and INSENSITIVE.

Davo's comparison between the abortion issue and animal cruelty is an illustration of how “wacked” people can be. God help us all.

Sylmar on November 09, 2009, at 12:57AM – #12

^ Sorry, but we live in a multicultural society, and the motto is "live and let live." And with the budget for things like the police and judicial system being increasingly squeezed, the "live and let live" spirit will apply to even those criminals -- or certainly arrestees -- below the level of Jack the Ripper or Charles Manson.

Actually, it's been a variation of that for quite awhile now, budget deficits or not. One example being the paroled convict who a few months ago killed a young woman and, after following her to an ATM machine, left her body to rot in a car parked in the Arts District.

If someone like even that young girl is vulnerable, animals ain't got a chance.

Joe on November 09, 2009, at 11:49AM – #13

Hoovton, "OUR culture" (your emphasis) is not a unified, single-thinking culture. "OUR culture" is an amalgamation of cultures, including those from the 1st and 3rd worlds. And don't be so quick to think that the "others" I was referring to only come from outside of our borders. Those busted in the Alleys for selling turtles are nothing when put up against factory farming and the fur industry. You do understand how livestock is treated on a daily basis, right? Because the US food industry is corporatized, you're going to let that go unaddressed? I'm not a vegetarian, by any means, but every time we shovel meat into our mouths in this country, those animals have been been treated far more cruelly than being forced to wear a stupid holiday sweater.

Defend this part of "OUR culture," would you.

Diversity is the Antithesis of Unity on November 09, 2009, at 12:33PM – #14

The heavy burden of third-world cultures bring our progressive culture down. It's supposed to be the other way around. Primitive cultures have got to be brought up to speed; by the law if they won't assimalite willfully.

Joe on November 09, 2009, at 05:46PM – #16

"Primitive" cultures? Guess the death (and work) of Claude Levi-Strauss escaped you, dear.

And Eric, immigration and 3rd world countries are more than relevant to this topic, without question. As a responsible editor, you might consider that these issues should have factored into the original story.