Showtime is currently running a promo for its new television series,
Shameless, that includes a clip of a teenage boy holding a screeching cat in one hand and a blowtorch in the other, with the clear implication that he is about to torture the cat by burning her with the torch. The
offensive scene is meant to be humorous, but compassionate citizens everywhere agree that cruelty to animals is not a laughing matter.
Cruelty to animals (including the burning of cats and dogs) happens each and every day in this country. Executives at Showtime might be surprised to learn that
depicting animal abuse on television encourages potentially deadly "copycat" actions.
This promo reminded many viewers - and our cruelty caseworkers - of numerous real-life instances in which animals were tortured with fire. Earlier this year, a teenage boy in Rochester, N.Y., was charged after using hair spray and a lighter to set a 2-month-old kitten on fire. The kitten was so badly burned that she had to be euthanized. In 2009, three teenagers in Miles City, Mont., were charged after choking a cat and then throwing him into a bonfire while he was still alive.
We the undersigned are extremely disappointed with Showtime for airing a promo for 'Shameless' that depicts a teenage boy seemingly about to torture a cat with a blowtorch. Cruelty to animals is no laughing matter, and this troubling scene could encourage potentially deadly "copycat" cases. Animals are tortured and killed every day (including real-life instances of cats and dogs being severely burned), and there's no excuse for promoting violence toward animals.
Please cut this offensive scene out of the 'Shameless' promo immediately and make sure that similar scenes of cruelty to animals are not included in other promos or episodes of the show.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
