UPDATE :: One reason I *don't* like IU students in general (ABUSE WARNING)

Student calls guinea pig's flight a 'prank gone bad,' admits role
Teen says he tossed his pet, attached to makeshift parachute, out of
eighth-floor dorm window
by Bethany Nolan, Herald-Times Staff Writer
December 18, 2004

A 19-year-old Indiana University student has admitted to police that he
tossed a guinea pig wearing a makeshift parachute out of an eighth-floor
dormitory window.

David E. Feldsott, who could face a felony charge of animal cruelty in
connection with the Thursday incident, told IU police it was a "prank gone
bad."

Feldsott told police he'd intended to retrieve his pet once it floated to
safety, but it got stuck in a tree on the way down.

That's when freshman Laura Robinson spotted the guinea pig and enlisted the
help of janitors at Briscoe Quadrangle to rescue the animal.

After it was shuttled to the city's animal shelter, IU police began
searching for the animal's owner.

Officers spoke with Feldsott, who admitted throwing his pet out the window
of an eighth-floor dorm room across the hallway from his own, IU police
officer Brice Boembeke said.

Other people were reportedly in the room at the time, but the room's
resident has denied any involvement, and Feldsott has taken full
responsibility for the incident, Boembeke said.

"It seemed like one of those things where somebody had an idea, and it was
taken to the next level," he said. "It definitely got out of hand."

A felony charge of animal cruelty has been forwarded to the Monroe County
prosecutor's office for review, Boembeke said. However, no charge had been
filed as of Friday afternoon.

Jason Eller, an animal control officer with the city's shelter, said
Feldsott also could be ordered to pay a $500 fine by the city for cruelty to
an animal. Boembeke said the student might also face some type of
disciplinary action from IU.

And the guinea pig, who was taken to the Bloomington Animal Shelter after
her rescue, has been checked out by a veterinarian and is doing fine,
shelter manager Leigh Ann Hoffacker said.

In honor of the holiday season, the guinea pig been dubbed Noel by the
shelter staff, Hoffacker said.

While the shelter had several calls Friday morning from people wanting to
adopt Noel, Hoffacker said

Robinson has already signed up to be an "angel" for the animal, which means
if its owner doesn't claim it, then she can adopt it.

Eller, the animal control officer, said Feldsott told him he didn't want to
claim the animal.

As of press time Friday, no phone listing was available for Feldsott, and he
hadn't returned an e-mail seeking comment.

Reporter Bethany Nolan can be reached at 331-4373 or by e-mail at
.




Magic Mood Jeep© wrote:
The site this is on is a pay site (our local papers web site) so I am
cut-n-pasting the story here. There was a picture, but this is a NON
binaries NG:

-----------------------------------------------
Guinea pig's flight could land someone in trouble
Rodent in good shape at shelter after harrowing parachute experience
by Michael Koryta, Herald-Times Staff Writer
December 17, 2004

She was cold and scared, missing some fur that had come off with the
masking tape from her parachute, but she was alive.

A guinea pig that was hurled from an eighth-floor dormitory room at
Indiana University Thursday afternoon is at the Bloomington Animal Shelter
today, and those who sent her airborne could be facing some stiff
penalties.

"What happened was some young men on the eighth floor of a local dorm
decided to throw their guinea pig out a window," said Leigh Ann
Hoffacker, the shelter manager.

"They used dental floss and masking tape and a garbage bag to create a
parachute, and the poor thing got hung up in a tree."

Enter IU freshman Laura Robinson, a Pendleton native who spotted the
descending rodent.
"My friend and I were on our way to get some lunch and we looked up
and we saw her fall into the tree," Robinson said.

Robinson considered calling the fire department, but janitors at
Briscoe Quadrangle decided they could rescue the guinea pig from a
third-floor
window. They succeeded, and handed the small creature over to
Robinson.
"I took it to the animal shelter," Robinson said. "There was string
and tape tied around it and it had some hair ripped out from the tape. It
was
really sad. I think it probably would have died if it hadn't gotten stuck
in
the tree."

Hoffacker agreed that it was sad - and an example of animal abuse.

"We contacted the IU police but I don't know if they'll do anything,"
she said. "Once they can find out who was responsible, our animal control
office can issue them a $500 ticket for animal abuse. Whoever did this did
it in broad daylight - they just didn't care, and I think it is quite
disturbing."
Hoffacker said the exact identities of the young men who threw the
guinea pig had not been confirmed as of Thursday afternoon, but explained
that the dorm administration had narrowed the list.

The guinea pig was reportedly in good shape following the incident.

"She was scared and cold and shaking when they brought her in,"
Hoffacker said. "But now she is eating some alfalfa and seems just fine."

Robinson said it was against dorm rules to have such an animal in a
room, let alone toss it from a window. She said if no owner comes forward,
she will claim the guinea pig and take it to her parents' house.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guinea Pig is a pretty thing, white with tan around it's eyes/ears. And
I'm not big on Guinea Pigs.


--?
The ONE and ONLY
lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy
former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)©
email me at nalee1964 (at) insightbb (dot) com
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--?
The ONE and ONLY
lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy
former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)© email me at
nalee1964 (at) insightbb (dot) com
http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep