AR-News: The Inhumanity by Humans

[jim robertson]

The Inhumanity by Humans
By PHILIP FEROLITO
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC



SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Senior Serena Watlamett, 18, and Stanley Wentz, 17, feed two of her pigs who 
were injured Friday when children broke into the White Swan High School FFA 
barn and tortured the animals.
WHITE SWAN — Parents and students shocked over the recent bludgeoning of 
about 35 FFA show pigs — in which two died — urged school officials to take 
swift and stern disciplinary actions.

"I want to feel reassured that you as a school won't look the other way in 
terms of pressing charges," said Colleen Wentz, whose children's pig died in 
the tragedy.

The five children who broke into White Swan High School's barn Friday and 
tortured the pigs with canes, axes, knives and hammers could face charges of 
first-degree animal cruelty, a class-C felony, and second degree burglary, 
said Mike Laws, supervising attorney for the juvenile division of the Yakima 
County Prosecutor's Office.

However, Yakima County Sheriff's deputies must conclude their investigation 
before charges are filed, he added.

"I think we'll probably get something filed by the end of the week," Laws 
said.

Meanwhile, parents and students upset over the incident packed Monday's 
school board meeting and asked the board what measures could be taken to 
prevent the attacks from ever happening again.


SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
A pair of pigs peer out from their stalls in the White Swan FFA barn Monday 
afternoon.
They also voiced concern that the incident could spawn still more violence 
and said those involved need counseling.

"This is not childish behavior; this is much more serious than that," said 
resident Jim Morford. "This is a wake-up call and we better deal with it for 
everyone."

"Their purpose was to torture them, sodomize them," Colleen Wentz said, 
noting that her daughter, Kayla, hasn't slept since the incident. "When I 
saw them in the police car afterward laughing, waving ..."

Four of the students involved were only 12 years old, and one was 13.

School officials assured that disciplinary measures would be taken but 
couldn't comment on the extent pending the investigation.

"I really feel that it is our responsibility to take care of your stuff and 
make sure it's safer," said school board member Kip Ramsey Jr.

The school is currently looking at reimbursing students for their losses, 
Ramsey added.

Kevin Higginbothan, a student who owned one of the slain pigs, figures he's 
out about $310 for the loss of his pig.

"I've had the pig since December, and I worked with it ever since."

Not only does that include spending time with the animal, but also cost of 
feed and straw.

Students and parents filtered into the school barns Monday, helping nurse 
injured pigs back to health. Two pigs are receiving antibiotics for their 
injuries.

One of Kayla Wentz's pig, Stevo, died. However the other, Weeman, who was 
hit several times on its hind end with an ax, survived.

"We didn't expect him to pull through, but he did for me," she said.

After receiving its medication Monday, Weeman crouched in the corner of its 
pen, shaking as if it were cold.

"It's pretty disappointing," she said, while staring at her pig. "You know, 
it's different — it's almost like taking care of your own kid. It's almost 
like them killing your own baby."

The two pigs that died were found brutalized in their pens while the others 
were scattered throughout the area, Lewis said.

One couldn't stand because its hind end was torn open and head beaten with a 
hammer, Lewis said.

Another pig had roughly 10 to 15 penetrating wounds to its rectal area, 
Lewis added.

Several other pigs bore scratches, scrapes and bruises, and students aren't 
sure how many may be accepted into this week's livestock show in Toppenish.

"I'm thinking that a good portion that are here will be fine," said White 
Swan agriculture teacher Scott Lewis. "Ultimately, it will be the 
veterinarian's call."

Shortly after 6 p.m. Friday, parents and students showed up to help corral 
the pigs, clean up the blood that was smeared throughout the barns and 
comfort the traumatized pigs.

"This is bad representation for White Swan," said senior Serena Watlamett, 
who has two pigs and requested that students meet with the school board to 
come up with ways to prevent such instances. "Right now, there are a lot of 
people who are angry because (the suspects) are so young. You can't just put 
them in jail."

Despite the tragedy, folks in the community have supported the students, 
donating straw for new bedding and offering to hold fund-raisers to help 
compensate students' losses, Superintendent Mary Hall said.

"Everyone's going to pitch in so the kids aren't left without anything," she 
said.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/?storyid=280372478191597


Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to 
embrace all living creatures.            Albert Einstein

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