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Boy Admits To Torturing, Killing Hamster

by Matt Van Hoven

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December 7, 2007

ENGLAND – A North Yorkshire teen admitted to torturing a hamster to death this summer, by putting it in the freezer and through a washer and dryer.

The 15-year-old, whose name is being held for legal reasons, was one of six teens at the Harrogate home when the incident occurred. The owner's daughter was watching the home while her mother was away.

A few hours after she and her friends finished playing with the animals, the owner's daughter noticed that a hamster named Poppy was missing. The owner later found the animal in the trash.

She also found droppings in the freezer, washer and dryer.

An inspection of the deceased animal revealed torn claws and lesions on the feet – indicating it had probably tried to claw its way of of the freezer and cling to the dryer walls.

Poppy finally died of severe respiratory or cardiovascular damage.

The teen, having admitted to the crime, has been banned from keeping animals for four years and was ordered to pay just over $800 in fines.

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cruelty, abuse, hamster, torture, small pets

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Norrie
Norrie (norrie43)
5 months ago
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Banning him from having pets and a fine is not even close to enough of a punishment nor cure!
 
jackie
jackie (doogzo7)
5 months ago
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i think they are very disturbed These are our future seriel killers.
 
trixable
trixable
6 months ago
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what a stupid teen!! torturing animals.. she should be tortured too.!
 
Norrie
Norrie (norrie43)
5 months ago
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The girl didn't torture her hamster, her brother did.
 
juliarae86
juliarae86
7 months ago
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These sorts of incidents are disgusting and are always taken entirely too lightly. No animals for four years, and a laughable fine which his mummy and daddy probably shelled out?! That's nothing but a shake of the finger and a slap on the wrist to a fifteen-year-old. Sick people like this need serious intervention. No life is too small to be brushed off like that. The more helpless the victim, the sicker the killer.
 
PocketPets
PocketPets
8 months ago
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Reading this was so sad and made me feel just awful. Poor, poor, poor little hamster. Just to think if that child can do those type of things to an animal what might he do to a human someday?
 
barb a.
barb a. (redneckbarbie)
8 months ago
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that was a grusome death, and it is horrible how this animal died, I think the teen got off pretty easy,
 
Helena P.
Helena P. (monarcbfly)
8 months ago
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This was painful to read. But one thing I must say is this kid needs to be locked away from society. It is proven that serial killers have started out this way. Too sad!
 
colleentk
colleentk
8 months ago
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A horrible story with an equally horrible underlying problem. This boy needs immediate medical attention.
 
Dewitt G.
Dewitt G. (dewittg)
8 months ago
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I agree with others that this kid also needs therapy to address his underlying problems. Otherwise, his propensity toward violence is likely to escalate.
 
JoAnn C.
JoAnn C. (jcass43)
8 months ago
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This kid should have been banned from keeping animals for life. Isn't that how some serial killers get started by torturing animals? Get this sick kid some big time help!!
 
Christy M.
Christy M. (mallingc)
8 months ago
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How horrible. This kid needs EXTREME help! Wonder if he got it.
 
Darcy H.
Darcy H. (Haimer1)
8 months ago
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How scary. This boy needs to be punished and he needs help. He seems to have a problem and I'd hate to see what he'd be like when he gets older if he doesn't get help now.
 
Kaitlyn L.
Kaitlyn L. (klSavetheworld32)
8 months ago
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I think he should get a does of his own medicine!
 
sandy h.
sandy h. (sandy5)
8 months ago
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This guy needs to pay and it is scary to think this is how serial killers start out.
 
Norrie
Norrie (norrie43)
8 months ago
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The boy needs punishment, yes, but he needs evaluation and help or confinement before he moves up the food chain. Is he hurting, id he being hurt or does he have no consience?
 
Donna V.
Donna V. (DONNAMARY)
8 months ago
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I hope that this boy had to pay for what he did to the pet. I just do unstand why kids do mean things to animals.
 
nicrac
nicrac
8 months ago
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that's sooooooooo sad why would you do that to an inocent hamster what did the hamster ever do to him?
 
Anuhya G.
Anuhya G. (Anuhya)
8 months ago
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that is absolutely horrible! this should not be done to animals no matter how small they are
 
Em C.
Em C. (ghosthunter13)
9 months ago
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That kid needs more then a fine he needs to go to prison and pay for what he did.
 
Liz C.
Liz C. (ElizaJane87)
9 months ago
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This is terrible. I think he needed a harsher punishment than what he got. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about someone ever hurting my little hamsters.
 
Dalton W.
Dalton W. (mariobro)
9 months ago
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Okay, this kid has some serious issues. For starters he needs his behind kicked and he needs more punishment than not being allowed to own pets for 4 years. He should have to do volunteer work at the shelter or something for 4 years under close supervision of course! mom of mariobro
 
melissahobil
melissahobil
9 months ago
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Animal torture leads to human torture.
 
Alexandra1312
Alexandra1312
9 months ago
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how mean that boy has serious problems.But wat i dont get is y the bot is fined the parents will have to pay it anyways so wat will the boy learn
 
Terry F.
Terry F. (TZFitch)
10 months ago
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This is most likely the beginnings of a serial killer. Start small, then move up to cats, dogs, horses and then people.
 
Veronica K.
Veronica K. (Bunny16)
10 months ago
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That is a shame. They all should have done some community service and had a bigger fine.
 
hamtaro1
hamtaro1
10 months ago
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This is sooo cruel! That hamster was so inocent and had nothing to protect itself, he should of picked someone his own size like a huge stuffed bear! or something. Wait...but stuffed bears are inoccent too....well just don't ever hurt any creature living or non living...k?
 
Melody M.
Melody M. (etherealmm)
10 months ago
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Some people are so cruel
 
Mary Beth L.
Mary Beth L. (sheltiemagnet)
10 months ago
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Only $800? If he would do this to a hamster, what else is he capable of?
 
Tim L.
Tim L. (zookeeper99)
10 months ago
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OK! I'll play devils advocate for just a moment. If the teen fed the hamster to a snake, would it still be cruelty? The suffering would have been the same or worse depending on what kind of snake it was fed to.
In reality though, I agree with the fact that this kid is sick. I don't necessarily think "jail" is the answer. But, serious inpatient pschyciatriac therapy... Maybe a few shock trearments?
 
Jonathon L.
Jonathon L. (parakeetstudios)
10 months ago
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What is this kid stupid? Your supposed to take care of your pet not give it cardiovascular damage.
I agree he should be in jail not just be fined!
If you wanna torture an animal try a stuffed animal
 
jack m.
jack m. (jackmac43)
10 months ago
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this teenager has a sick and twisted mind and should be in jail not be fined!
 
Annie H.
Annie H. (AnnieHudson)
10 months ago
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Wow. I kind of wish I didn't read this. My poor sensitive heart. I think this child should be put through some serious therapy. Something deeper is going on if this is how you get your entertainment. It it won't stop at hamsters if something isn't done.
 
Bryan F.
Bryan F. (bryaninaustin)
10 months ago
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I am with you on this one, Annie! Torturing animals is a sign that something is deeply wrong with you.
 
Tara P.
Tara P. (TaraParker)
10 months ago
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There are people in this world who should not be allowed to have pets and this is one of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Louise G.
Louise G. (louisegammage)
11 months ago
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This is the kind of news that makes nightmares! There has to be domestic violence in the house for kids to do this. It is just sickening.
 
Terry F.
Terry F. (TZFitch)
11 months ago
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I just don't see how people can get such enjoyment out of torturing animals this way. My gosh, a hamster! How much more defenseless can you get? It sounds like it suffered a horrific death too. This kid will move up to cats, dogs, horses, then people. This isn't the end of his killing career.
 
lori
lori (paawsproject)
11 months ago
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I agree. He should never be allowed to have a pet again. Disturbing.
 
reemmy
reemmy
11 months ago
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Very sad and I would like to think he will get help even though I seriously wonder if it will help him!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
11 months ago
This comment has been removed.
 
illbewaitingpet
illbewaitingpet
11 months ago
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Just horrible! I sure hope he gets help for his sick problem!
 
SchnauzerFan
SchnauzerFan
11 months ago
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I'm not a big fan of hamsters, but how on earth could anyone do such a thing?! Seriously, this boy is not playing with a full deck upstairs. I hope his parents took serious stock of this, because as other have said - serial killers start off torturing animals. Anyone who can willfully hurt any animal lacks a soul.
 
Barbara B.
Barbara B. (BasiaJune)
11 months ago
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Isn't that Michael Myers right there for you. I don't think the punishment is for long enough and he certainly needs mental therapy councling! That is horrible! And most serial killers start off doing this to animals! This child needs to be watched very carefully!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
11 months ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Rhonda T.
Rhonda T. (MrsRLT)
11 months ago
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I am not sure that the punishment was for long enough. He also needs some mental rehab I think! I can't imagine anyone doing this!
 
Lourie H.
Lourie H. (LourieH)
11 months ago
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This kind of a story brings tears to my eyes. That kid needs mental help. Don't most serial killers start out abusing and killing animals? They had beeter watch that kid.
 
oldmaidcatwoman
oldmaidcatwoman
11 months ago
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Banned for four years from owning an animal? It should be a life time ban.
 
funnygirl
funnygirl
11 months ago
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What a jerk. I cant even imagine why that happened to a poor defenseless hamster. The guy must of thought it would be fun to see what happens to the Hamster. I wonder what he would think if we tried that on him. Pretty funny huh. A fine is not enough punishment nor is not letting him have a pet for 4 years. He is the type who has no heart.
 
Katiemissy
Katiemissy
11 months ago
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He needs some mental health work or society is in trouble with another wacko later on...
 
Wesley B.
Wesley B. (MaProprePersonne)
1 year ago
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That is severely disgusting. What drives a person to do this to animals?
 
Tad D.
Tad D. (tadjr)
1 year ago
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Boy definitely has some issues. This time it was an animal, what next?
 
Pussy
Pussy
1 year ago
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THAT AWFUL BOY SHOULD BE NEVER ALLOWED TO OWN ANOTHER ANIMAL!! IT MAKES ME FURIOUS THAT THIS HAPPENED TO A DEFENCELESS ANIMAL,LIKE A HAMSTER!THEY SHOULD MAKE THE BOY SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS THE HAMSTER!!!!IT MAKES ME SICK THAT THERE ARE HUMANS LIKE THAT ON EARTH!!THEY SHOULD BE FINE 2,000 DOLLAR FOR HURTING AND KILLING INNOCENT CREATURES!!! >:( THIS IS PURE ANIMAL CRUELTY.(GRRRR)I WOULD LOVE TO MEET HIM AND YELL IN HIS FACE UNTIL HE IS DEAF!(i know I'm being harsh..but this is terrible.)
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