A puppy harness/leash that is a similar style to the one in the video. Do you use a leash?
Have you seen this video of the mom in Alabama dragging her son around a Verizon Wireless store on a leash? Not the smartest thing to do in a store with cellphones that have video recording capabilities, as some savvy salesperson or customer quickly taped the mom as she walked around, with her son being dragged on his back behind her. 37-year-old Catherine Smith-Means was arrested in Rome, Alabama, back in April for felony first-degree cruelty to children. She remains in jail without bond and is awaiting trial.
Her son, and there has been no information yet on how old he is, was wearing a backpack leash. The police report stated that he had visible marks on his neck from the incident. That's not surprising, given how fast she was walking as she dragged him along.
Backpack leashes have been controversial since they were first introduced to the public. There are those with the opinion that children are not animals, and therefore should not be leashed and walked as animals. On the other hand, leashes can prevent children from running away in large crowds, thus ensuring safety and a parent's peace of mind. This video will no doubt spur on the debate some more and will provide anti-leash parents with plenty of ammunition against leashes.
There is no word on why Smith-Means decided to drag her child around, but it could very well be that he had a tantrum and she snapped. Her behavior is unacceptable, but it is also not the typical action of a parent who chooses to use the backpack harness and leash for their child.
What are your thoughts about leashes? Do you use them and why? Are you against them and why?
You watch the video here, it's short but also disturbing (and has no sound).
Source: Best Week Ever
Comments
I saw this! And, it quite literally made me sick.
If adults would imagine themselves in some of these situations where children are treated as "less than," or simply remember their own childhood mistreatment, maybe their eyes would be somewhat opened to the constant "adultism" and humiliation to which children are subjected every day. They forget that these children (and they themselves) carry around the hurts of childhood in adulthood. Then if they are lucky with years of work they can rid themselves of some of these hurts. The adults who perpetrate this or condone it are themselves out of touch with how it must feel to the one it is done to. The hurts they suffered have hardened them to the pain of others.
What makes me sicker is that no one did anything but tape it.. big whooop how about saying something to her. or stepping on the leash so she falls her fat ass down and he quits getting dragged.
I almost cried, I felt the tears backing up here. I am not saying I agree with the leashes. That is not how you use them! You don't drag a dog! This is so disturbing.
When I saw this the only thing I could think is 'I hope the government steps in and rounds up all of our children and decides who can and cannot be a parent.' Clearly this 10-second video with no sound and no context is enough to try and convict this woman. But aren't we all guilty--at least those of us with kids? I mean the government clearly needs to step in and arrest any parent that is less than perfect and let's face it, that's every parent. You think you're perfect? Let's follow you 24 hours a day with a video camera. That should be no problem unless you have something to hide. Hooray for the police state!
Why didn't someone in the store step in? When we do nothing to stop child abuse, we are just as guilty.
The kid is gliding across a smooth surface. He doesn't look like he's crying or kicking up a fuss. Looks like something my kid would think was fun. The mom was arrested and charged with felony child abuse for giving her kid a slide. I doubt the kid minded either the slide or the toddler harness. He WILL mind being stuck in foster care now that CPS has him on their radar and will be running his life.
Disgusting. If you can't control your child...please leave them at home. I hate seeing children on leashes. Once again, some people should not be allowed to reproduce!!
I think some people are completely overreacting to this situation. I don't think she thought of how this looks but I also don't think she intended to hurt her child. If in fact this child was being disruptive, I applaud the woman for removing her child from the store. I think it is extremely rude for parents to allow their children to cause chaos in a store when people are trying to shop and enjoy themselves. I went shopping at JC Penney's last Sunday and a child was throwing a full blown tantrum right in the middle of the store. The mother just kept on shopping and just tuned her child out. When I was a child and if I behaved that way, I would have been escorted from the store and given a quick swat on the behind. It is ashame that you can't discipline your children (not abuse) and fear that you will be turned in. I learned to behave and my children have learned to behave. My children are grown and they know how to behave.
My sister used a harness on her toddler when sis was very pregnant and having horrible back problems. She couldn't lift or hold her daughter. Once, we visited a zoo that had ponds without fences, and all of us just felt safer knowing that little toddler was attached to a leash. She could explore the water's edge, but not get herself into trouble. My sister lives in a highly populated area, and I think for safety's sake, traffic, getting separated from a parent, and other risky situations like that, a harness is a decent solution for active youngsters who like to explore while keeping them a little safer and giving them some exercise.
The whole things makes me sad. The poor kid, of course, and the poor mom. Knowing what to do and how to parent doesn't come naturally to everyone, obviously. I don't like leashes (or strollers), not for pets or kids, but I'm not inclined to pass heavy judgment. It's often frightening to be out with kids in crowds and around traffic.
please all you people hateing on this mother. If any of you have children I'de like to watch every single move you make on camera and pick you apart. The child is obviously not screaming, and if no one stepped in at the time, it couldnt have looked like that horrible of a crime being commited.
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