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Handling Websites that Promote Animal Cruelty July 15, 2007 12:26 AM

In response to the rising number of websites that promote, glamorize
or trivialize cruelty to animals, this information is to help you to do something to stop it. Much of what you see on the Internet is created for the purpose of drawing attention to the author's website. They are so disassociated with society that it doesn't matter to them if what they are displaying has any moral value. All they are concerned with is the attention -- whether good or bad -- motivates them to continue their effort to increase their hit count or reputation. To those types of sites, please ignore them. Hopefully, without the attention that they crave for, and the lack of interest in their site from others, they will go away.

In the past, we provided petitions and worked to have the sites removed. Even though this process was successful, it has also helped to draw attention to those sites. This has indirectly given support to those sites to make it eventually come back or encouraged others who thought alike to start one of their own cruelty websites. Now, we have several more, and efforts to remove them gets harder and harder everytime. That's why it is in the best interest of all concerned that we handle these things in another manner.

Should you find a site that is promoting animal cruelty, here is what you can do:

  • Do not contact the website. The author isn't interested in how you feel about him/her and what he/she is doing.
  • Do not provide website links and/or send emails to all of your friends and associates telling them about the site. Doing so would be promoting the site and, thusly, giving them what they want -- attention. It is what they crave and you would only be fueling their fire. Don't give them any satisfaction. If you have concerns about a web site, contact your elected officials but please do not contact friends and neighbors. Many well-intentioned individuals believe that the best course of action is to tell all of their friends and relatives about such web sites. Sometimes online petitions against a site will be generated. Ultimately, such petitions or mass emails will only increase the number of visitors to a website, encouraging the site's creator.
  • Contact the ISP who hosts the website to let them know about the abusive content. The administrative and technical contacts are who you should be sending your complaints to. The registrant is most likely the website author. To find out who is the ISP and other relevant information, you can use any one of the WHOIS tools available on the internet such as this one here: http://whois.domaintools.com

    However, sometimes the origin of the site, the name and address under the site is registered could be inaccurate, incomplete or false. So far, it has been an uphill battle, as the only law that even remotely covers issues like this is a law that covers e-mailed obscenities; therefore, if the site is not in violation of the host's user agreement, no law is being violated, and the site can remain up. Some other sites similar to this one has been closed down several times before but continues to reappear with different Web addresses. Thus, in addition, you can also file a complaint at the reporting center website set up by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for Internet fraud and other forms of Internet crime here: http://www.ic3.govKnow the Laws in your Area

  • If you know of a real animal abuse in your community, contact your local authorities. Provide as much evidence to support your complaint as possible.

Animal cruelty hurts everyone, and it most certainly it is not funny.

"I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end." ~ Albert Schweitzer

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 July 15, 2007 12:26 AM

If you are wondering on how you can generate more complaints to the FBI without promoting the sites, well, you could still do so by describing the websites and tell people what are the contents without providing the links, and also tell them why you can't provide it. I'm sure people will understand and cooperate.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
What the HSUS is doing about animal cruelty on the Internet July 16, 2007 8:19 AM

We at the HSUS realize that this is becoming more and more of a problem as well. Nick is absolutely right; the more we draw attention to these sites, the more we fuel the fire. We are in the process of creating a form that people can submit these types of sites to, and we're also building relationships with the major sites like MySpace and YouTube, so that we can address this in the most appropriate manner possible.

Everyday I get MySpace bulletins and emails forwarded to me by people who see this kind of stuff and are encouraging their friends to go on the person's site and write a nasty comment, asking them how they could do such a thing. While we know your intentions are good, please please do not do this! Instead, for now, please just click the "report inappropriate content" or similar button at the bottom of the page. You can also send me a message on our MySpace page if you don't feel comfortable reporting it yourself (myspace.com/thehumanesociety).

I'll keep you posted with the progress that we're making with addressing this very important issue. Thanks to everyone that is doing all they can to help stop this kind of unacceptable behavior.
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 August 04, 2007 12:34 AM

Thank you Carie...

Remember... provide the relevant website links only to the FBI and relevant authorities. Not to the public. Thanks.  

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We are working on offendergrid.com and daily protectionticket.org tips August 04, 2007 6:58 AM

We are working on offendergrid.com and daily protectionticket.org tips

We have pro actors to start on these daily videos this next week.

please stayed tuned, as these idiots have no idea what will happen, when we implement our solution to threats of violence to women, children and animals.

Our daily protectionticket.org tips video will bring all groups together for a letter to congress with a very simple basic plan to stop violence, zipcode by zipcode.

God bless!
xoxo,
Jaclynn
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 August 04, 2007 10:55 AM

I know of a couple that have such website that were on another site of mine. It is legal what they do here, they buy liscenses for big game and mostly US hunters come up. Their reasoning is culling, because there isn't enough space for the heards their are in northern Winnipeg! And that they give a portion of their profits which are major, to animal welfare, so they say but didn't say to whom.

So let's be clear here. I've never posted it, although I am against it. The thing to do would be to have the laws changed, good luck

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 August 04, 2007 12:57 PM

Thank you! It was turning into a lose-lose battle. It's hard to responsibly oppose something one hasn't check... but how does one do it without increasing the site's traffic? Personally, I can't go by simple descriptions or the amount of outrage it may cause. As much I could dislike (even hate) it, I don't want all opposing views to vanish or to be outlawed. Besides, pushing something into the "clandestine" world only seems to increase its appeal!

For the majority of these people, being ignored and dismissed is the worst blow they can receive!

There has to be a sensible line between legality and censorship. Let's make our laws better and more compassionate, and leave those who decide to break it face the consequences.

A good "updated" outline on how to proceed when encountering such sites will be a good start... And our energies could be re-directed into more constructive or productive endeavors than hunting for and shutting down these websites.



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Additional Information August 05, 2007 12:04 AM

A show only happens when there is an audience so it's better to not ask people to go and see it. It will encourage abusers to create more shows.

Moreover, websites like these also contain tracking devices, hidden spywares, virus programs etc., that secretly enters people's computers which can seriously damage their computers and/or steal information without anyone knowing. In addition, websites like these can also have sponsors who place their advertisement and other obvious or non-obvious things, so everytime people click to go to their website, the sponsor will pay the owner more money. Other than being mentally disturbeb, this is another reason why some people do it, while others fake it because they know they will attract the general public including animal caring people to go to their website. That's the whole idea. So, please don't fall into their trap!

Please understand how important this is to help animals. You will only make it worst for the animals by helping the abusers to promote their website for them, thus encouraging them to do more shows since you are bringing audience and support for them.
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anonymous  August 28, 2007 3:38 PM

Thanks for all the info guys...Very useful!!  [report anonymous abuse]  [ accepted]
 
 August 28, 2007 4:23 PM

Thank you for the info.  We all have a lot to learn about predators..  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
anonymous THANK YOU! September 17, 2007 7:25 PM

Thank you for this information and the proper procedures.  I understand now about ignoreing and how effective it really is.

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hello all.... October 01, 2009 7:32 PM

I just watched a movie called UNTRACEABLE.. and was compelled to come here to urge others to watch it.  Obviously it is relative to this thread as well as how serial killers start with victimizing animals.  And how some people ignore the early warning signs, as in this movie an FBI agent early on said "Its just a cat" - a tortured cat.  I urge you to see this film.  It is on Netflix to view online but only until Oct. 15.

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