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Thread: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

  1. #1
    Veteran Member JettaNyx's Avatar
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    Default had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070129/...RpBHNlYwM3NTc-
    By WILSON RING, Associated Press Writer
    Mon Jan 29, 5:28 AM ET



    WINDSOR, Vt. - At the Southeast State Correctional Facility, inmates are subjected to head counts several times a day. Not Ziggy, Marmalade, Smokey and Shane, though — they come and go as they please. They're prison cats — but only for now. They are being involuntarily paroled by the new superintendent of Vermont's largest women's prison, to the chagrin of inmates who feed them, pay for their care and cherish them.

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    "It is not a physical plant that is conducive to a pet program," said Superintendent Anita Carbonell. "I know a lot of the inmates consider them pets, but they aren't really."

    Cats have been fixtures at the farm-turned-prison since the 1980s, sleeping in warm garages and nooks and crannies on the 22-building campus and keeping it mouse-free. The number fluctuated as the prison became a dumping ground for unwanted felines and they found their way under fences, into barns and into the hearts of inmates.

    Caring for cats "teaches empathy, teaches responsibility, teaches compassion and it's a great educational tool," said Sue Skaskiw, director of Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society. "These women have taken on these animals. To take them away is unnecessary and insensitive to their situation."

    Inmate Susan Margiotti, 47, says the cats make her feel better.

    "When I was depressed or something I'd go out and spend time with them," she told the Valley News, of Lebanon, N.H., in an interview. "I could go outside and yell to the cats and they'd come running to me, just like a dog."

    But the cats have caused problems, too.

    Inmates have been scratched, and some are allergic to cats, or just don't like them. Recently, an inmate used a cigarette lighter to burn the fur off one of them. That cat has since recovered and is now living with a staff member.

    "They see the benefits, they see the therapeutic part of the animals, but they don't ever see the cost or they don't ever see what happens when things go wrong," said Correctional Officer Mark McGuire.

    Carbonell said the cats are inconsistent with the mission of the facility, which is to help the women shake their addictions, learn to control their tempers and get educations.

    About a month ago, the prison started giving away the cats, first making sure they were spayed or neutered and up to date on immunizations. About six have already found homes.

    One cat placed with a staff member a few weeks ago disappeared the first time it was let out, McGuire said.

    "Some don't realize that these cats are nearly feral and you need to keep them in the house for the first six weeks or so," he said.

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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    Ugh, this makes me so mad... don't they care about how any of the women are going to feel? I'm sorry but "nearly feral" cats won't come when you call them as described by the inmate in the article. And seriously, my cats love me but accidents happen and I have scratches and claw marks on me all the time... just from them playing, as well. If you don't like cats or are allergic to them, just avoid them, seems easy enough. The only good thing about this is that the cats are getting spayed/neutered and given to (hopefully) good homes. But all around, what BS! </rant>

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    God/dess Chrissy68's Avatar
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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    ^ side note, that is the part of vermont that i vacation in and spent a LOT of my childhood in. they would do something like this... lol. hippies!

    and yea, i'd be freaking out because im overly allergic to cats.

    Love it!

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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    I think that is pretty fucked up, I mean give these ladies a damn break! They are in prison for godsake, let them have the tiniest bit of affection even if it is only a cat! I bet alot of these women dont have anyone in the world who gives a fuck about them, but these kitties will love them unconditionally, prison or not. I actually saw something similiar to this on MSNBC investigates one sunday night but it was a male prison...they cared for these cats, brushed them, loved them and gave them parts of their meals...I think its theraputic for these inmates and to take them away is just being an asshole on purpose. "Lets flex our authority even more so these inmates can completely miserable" Its stupid and mean.

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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    Oh yeah and like Vegasorbust said, a "nearly feral" cat is not going to come to you when you call it. A feral cat doesnt want anything to do with humans at all, so I think that stupid prison bitch needs to look up the definition of feral...

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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    Having pets teahes one to be selfless and giving. I think the women in prison could use the company and the cat cuddles, in all honesty.

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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    Eh I'm very allergic to cats like Chrissy, I think they're great animals but one swipe against my leg and I'll be in bed for the next two weeks with red eyes, itchy all over, and a fever. Not fun. Perhaps they could keep them as outside pets so the state doesn't spend two million bucks on allergy medications and medical treatments?

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    Default Re: had to share this...stupid prison stuff...

    The impression I got from the article is that the cats are kept outside, in barns, or in garages, not in the actual prison dorms... so I don't think allergies would be too big of a problem if you learned to yell and scare them away from rubbing on you if you were outside. Having pets, for most of the inmate population who can/want to participate in caring for them, is a rewarding experience. It gives them something to concentrate on besides beating themselves up about their past mistakes, and hopefully gives them some motivation to change, by learning to care about other living things instead of only themselves, which can help them stay out of prison in the future.

    But oh well, guess the Vermont prison system is more focused on punishment and not rehabilitation. The women that do wanna change have to suffer because "it's not a physical plant that is conducive to a pet program." If the cats have been there since the 80's, why are they just deciding this now?

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