SteveAndersen.com

So, OK – here is the deal. This is obviously trying to be a funny clip (below). Or, perhaps I should say, the author of the clip was trying to create a funny clip when he put this together and posted it on YouTube. Of course now that the clip has made it on CNN and the folks from the local ASPCA can’t be far from his front door (to say nothing of the folks from PeTA) he is trying to pass himself off as (never mind the cat) the victim of ignorant store employees.

OK – maybe he was poorly advised by some minimum wage pet-store lakie. Maybe he was not out to get a laugh out of people by traumatizing his cat. Maybe. But if that is the case – explain 2 things:

• 1) Who videotapes themselves washing their cat?
• 2) Who sets the video of washing their cat to music from “The Little Mermaid” and posts it on YouTube?

A sadistic punk does.

The thing that is perhaps most disturbing, is that if you go to the web site of the genius that sells this “pet spa” contraption www.petspausa.com, and you watch their cheesy flash intro, or click on the FAQ link; you will find that the company clearly states that the machine, or as they call it “The Cabin” is for both cats and dogs – and that the experience of being hosed off “hydro-massage showered” will relax the pet. Dogs, probably. Cats? Fat chance.

But I think the thing that is most disturbing is how many people sent me the link to this, assuming that I would find it amusing. And, I admit it is sort of amusing in a sophomoric sort of way. But that does not make it funny, or OK. Clearly I need to talk more about humor here.

Ok – for future reference, here is a crib sheet, and it is not exhaustive, just a rule of thumb: Pranking humans = funny; pranking animals = not funny.