Crime

Man Avoids Animal Cruelty Charges Despite Eating a Live Baby Rat

SALT LAKE CITY (The Blaze/AP) — If you’re eating breakfast, you might want to stop for a moment — at least until you finish reading this story. A Utah man who is no longer facing charges for eating a live baby rat says the act was grotesque, but shouldn’t be considered as animal cruelty.

Prosecutors charged Andy Ray Harris with animal cruelty in April, after authorities viewed a posted Facebook video of him eating what appeared to be the baby rat. The 31-year-old Tooele man says he ate the rat on a dare. Deseret News has a recap of what the footage exposes:

The video shows a small rat, about 2 to 3 inches long, on a notepad. Harris then picks up the rat, puts it in his mouth, chews, and then take a drink from a straw out of a giant mug. He then high-fives someone off camera.

Watch the video, below (caution: language):

After the gross act was posted online, it didn’t take long for a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to catch wind of it. The individual subsequently sent a link to the clip to the Tooele City Attorney’s Office.

While Prosecutors argued the baby rat deserved protections because it wasn’t wild and it was killed in a way that is not an accepted fashion, Harris disagreed.

He explained that it was not animal cruelty because the rat was going to be eaten by a snake. He also says rats don’t have legal protections because they are pests.

Comments (76)

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  • TammyChicago
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:42am

    Good Lord. The story was enough. No need to give sick freaks the tingles by promoting the video on here. W

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:43pm

      Obama campaign ad, millions of Americans are going hungry, forced to eat baby rats,
      While millionaires and billionaires are on private jets eating lobster…..like potus and flotus

      Report Post »  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:14pm

      animal cruelty only applies to a pet… not food.

      Report Post »  
    • Bloody Sam
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:22pm

      I call BS. The video does not show him eating the rat. It shows him…or someone…picking up the rat.
      There is a gap between where we see someone picking up the rat and the guy putting “something” in his mouth. There’s no proof that it was what he says it was.

      Report Post » Bloody Sam  
    • Black Manta
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 3:48pm

      Where’s the real news? Come on blaze this is ridiculous…

      Report Post » Black Manta  
    • Middle Finger
      Posted on October 6, 2011 at 1:28am

      I would only do this to survive, not for kicks or “high fives.” Leave the rat eating for the snakes.

      Report Post » Middle Finger  
  • cranberry
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:39am

    ctrnashville, you must consider cruelty. Why do you need to treat an animal with cruelty. The same end can be accomplished without being nasty and cruel. I am so glad i don’t know you, you weren’t brought up correctly, to respect the living, whether it be human or animal. Read your bible. It doesnt matter what species it is, it deserves not to be in pain. Just like YOU.

    Report Post » cranberry  
    • CTRNashville
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:23pm

      and that is where you need to read your Bible. Humans have souls. That’s what makes them special. How you treat a human is very different than how you treat an animal. An animal, according to Scripture isn’t a Living Soul. It was the breath of God into the dirt, that made man a living soul, and separates him from animals. According to scripture, mankind is not a part of the animal kingdom, but oversees the animal kingdom. I believe in private property rights. I’m not saying the guy should do things that makes him a bad steward of his own property (the rat), but it’s his to do with as he pleases.

      Report Post » CTRNashville  
    • Tradition Dies Here
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:51pm

      Which only solidifies my hatred for the Christian religion. The notion that the earth exists for us to be exploited and and used as we see fit is a very dangerous one. Living, breathing, sentient, non-human animals are capable of suffering, and shouldn’t be subjected to cruel habits.

      Tradition Dies Here  
    • WhatsYerProblem
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:52pm

      I guess we’ll start prosecuting all carnivorous animal species for putting all of their prey in pain right before they feed themselves and their babies… Meanwhile, let’s start a campaign to go out to the jungles and convince the tigers to become vegetarians! I’ll start on the brochures!

      Report Post » WhatsYerProblem  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:01pm

      This is nauseating, but it’s not actually any crueler than glue traps, rat poison, or feeding them to your pet snake, all of which are perfectly legal.

      Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:25am

    Sorry, not buying this at all.
    At 23 seconds the rat leaves camera view.
    At 24 seconds you see his hands in front of his mouth with no rat in sight.
    At 25 seconds he takes a bite of air.
    And finally at 26 seconds, he pulls his hand away without showing the uneaten rat body.
    Like I said. not buying this slight of hand magic show at all.

    Report Post » randy  
    • mrpenguine
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:49am

      Correct Randy…. Big fake…

      Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:06am

      What do you want to bet this same member of “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” is pro-choice. Translated – pro-abortion… gives it a little perspective.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • JimmyP
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:08am

      Dang poor slight of hand, at that!
      No blood, no residual tissue, no evidence of the dismembered rat body.

      Just another You-tube sphincter-wipe looking to get his 15 mins of fame.

      If, however, this obsenity is true, this guy needs to be checked out; didn’t I hear that many/most serial killers were guilty of perverse animal cruelty early on?

      If PETA is truly for the ethical treatment of animals, why do they abuse women with propaganda that exploits/objectifys them as sexual objects and panders to voyeristic perversions?

      If PETA is truly for the ethical treatment of animals why are they not joing the pro-lifers (opps, I meant anti-abortion, ah er opps again, I really really meant anti -CHOICEers) in protecting the life of pre-born HUMAN children from being visiously slaughtered by dismembering at abortion “clinics” every day?

      Report Post » JimmyP  
    • anAmericanVet
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:29am

      you mean that poor man is still hungry ? ?

      This video will make the Obama administration very nervous.
      What if eating baby rats becomes all the rage?

      Report Post » anAmericanVet  
    • Charlie Justice
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:25pm

      I can film myself doing the exact same thing without every having that animal within 2 feet of my mouth.

      I assure you that no animals were injured during the filming of that video

      Report Post » Charlie Justice  
  • thegodfather
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:24am

    It’s The Itchy and Scratchy Showwwwwww….

    Report Post » thegodfather  
  • ZengaPA65
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:12am

    He almost puked, wimp.

    Report Post » ZengaPA65  
  • LARR
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:11am

    No one has seen the video of them scalding/frying rats in china? Dunk em to get the hair off, put em on a stick and deep fry em..

    Report Post »  
  • CTRNashville
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:11am

    When are people going to stop treating animals as if they were people? It was a rat. It was his property, it belonged to him, it was his right to do with it whatever he liked, even if it was a stupid act of eating it. It‘s absolutely idiotic that we want to regulate people’s lives of what they do with their own property when they aren’t hurting anyone but themselves. And don’t tell me he hurt the rat. It doesn’t have a soul, it’s not a human being, it doesn’t deserve to be protected like a human being does.

    Report Post » CTRNashville  
  • Alan
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:07am

    Baby rats must die: nuf said.

    Report Post »  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:04am

    He must of been HUNGRY

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
  • SERUM
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:47am

    Next it will be newborn puppies with the excuse,”Oh, I live in a high traffic area, it most likely would have got hit by a car…”. Seek Help!!

    Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:06am

      I think folks would have been happier if this rat could of had a fulfilling life in a lab somewhere being injected with a virus or some sort of cancer cells. But no, all it was able to become was dinner.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • SERUM
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:33am

      I’m all for animal testing… this was done on a dare only to be outdone by another is my point. Convict this idiot would be absurd…he ate it!

      Report Post »  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:43am

    LOL, quite possible the BEST defense I have EVER heard !

    HUMANS need to be allowed to eat and hunt too!
    If a SNAKE is allowed to eat the rat, why not him?

    LOL

    Of course, my neighbor’s dog is “allowed” to crap all over my front lawn, but I’m not “allowed” to do that myself on my neighbor’s lawn… lol
    Which begs the question… why don’t we prosecute our neighbors for leaving feces on our front lawns? If it came from their own butt, you bet we would! lol

    Thank you, TheBlaze, this was funny!

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:03am

      oops, “possiblY” – mea culpa

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • CTRNashville
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:08am

      There are laws in many municipalities already existing fining dog/cat owners for their pet leaving “little gifts” for unwanting neighbors. We here in Nashville/Metro have such a law, and my neighbor was fined twice by local police for letting little “duchess” run through the neighborhood leaving her droppings.

      Report Post » CTRNashville  
  • DEITY
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:28am

    It’s a RAT,who cares what he did with it,all rats should be killed !!!

    Eating rodents will be popular under Obama’s plan !! High fuel/electricity rates….Get used to it people,its your new meal soon ,remember the “change” america voted for..you got it,now stop complaining and eat your rats…dont mind the peas eat the rats !!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • MOLLYPITCHER
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:49am

      I agree with you Deity, I absolutely hate rats. I’m sure that this is done all over the world, and in a place where it is legal to kill human babies, I really don’t see what the problem is with eating a rat. How is it really any different than eating any other animal? Although most of what we eat is not vermin.

      Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:26am

    I Encourage crazy people to eat vermin.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • psst
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:26am

    ameriKa!! What a Cunnntry as Yakov Smirnoff used to say.
    He’s 31 yrs of age. Not exactly some young college age idiot performing a youthful prank.
    No wonder we have a Moslem marxist in the WH
    And as for PETA. go fish.Ooops. Sorry,forgive moi, I forgot to remember PETA is trying to outlaw fishing. Cruelty to fish.
    The country is going down the tubes w/ a communist at the helm , deliberately sailing the US ameriKa on a reef, but the most important thing in the lives of sooo many are to be on facebook/Utbe showing pics of themselves taking a dump.
    Hey look gang,”Look at me, I’m wiping my kharsey w/ Asphalt shingles, bet you can’t do that.

    Report Post »  
  • DanWesson455
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:25am

    OK? Yuck… Now please so real stories. Enough on vampires or Ozzie wanna be’s.

    Report Post » DanWesson455  
  • Grapesofwrath
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:24am

    The Libs are pissed because they just lost their next presidential candidate.

    Report Post »  
  • aggiebrewer
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:23am

    Wow Blaze. Way to stay on top of the important breaking news that will keep us informed.

    Report Post »  
  • WireWizard
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:21am

    Mmmm mmmm good.
    Please pass the Bot bug

    Report Post » WireWizard  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:19am

    and how is this different than swallowing goldfish?

    Report Post » Meyvn  
    • SERUM
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:34am

      It’s comes down to the question… would you rather be eaten or swallowed?

      Report Post »  
  • Harold B
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:18am

    Is there no limit that our represenative will go to waste our tax money?

    Report Post »  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:17am

    So sad! The life of vermin trumps the life of unborn humans.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:14am

    That’s just….. disgusting….. Sick b@$+@rd……..

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:14am

    Rat’s last words: “Eat me”.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:13am

    It all depends on if the rat had reached viability, according to liberals.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:12am

    I wonder why Jeffery Dahmler didn’t use this defense?

    Report Post » Secessionista  
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