Quote Originally Posted by lindsayshocking View Post
It's unfortunate for the toad. I'm not trying to negate the problems they have caused in Australia, or even state that something doesn't need to be done to stop the ecological disaster they've created. However, what we all need to remember is that they're just animals. Even if the toads are creating awful problems, it's not like they're consciously doing it. They don't set out every day asking themselves what trouble they can brew at that point; they're acting on instinct. When I did my research on the Cane Toad problem mitigation, I was horrified to see how many people handled the problem. On Youtube (at least 3 years ago, I'm not certain if they're still listed) several locals filmed videos of people abusing these toads: using them as target practice, mutilating the toads, torturing them. THAT is wrong. It is animal cruelty. If you're on this website, I'm assuming you love frogs. How would you like it if someone was torturing your frogs, regardless of the reason? I'm not saying that they shouldn't be exterminated, but it should be done with dignity, and with the least amount of pain to the toad.

I don't know how they are killed when they are used for purses. If it's through freezing or some other humane method, then I'm not necessarily opposed to it. It's weird, to me, for the face to be attached, for you to always be acquainted with the animal that was killed to provide you with your purse. But I have a leather purse so I acknowledge that sometimes it just comes with the territory.

I just wish people would remember that these are living creatures as well that have feelings. They're not acting malicious; they're acting out of instinct.
Did you actually read what I wrote before quoting me? I argued that it's not bad per se to make a purse of something instead of letting it go to waste (when it will be killed either way). I never said that I like that people torture them. In fact, I clearly stated that all killing if animals should be done in a proper way (regardless if it's for food, clothes, purses, extermination or whatever).

And no, of course is doesn't wreck havoc on purpose. But that doesn't mean that they're harmless and that nothing should be done (even though it might be too late already).
Also, since you are trying to somehow make this about "our love for frogs", my passion about amphibians is one of the reasons why cane toads in Australia is something that would be better of exterminated, considering how many amphibians they have effectively made threatend.

EDIT: Slightly unrelated, but freezing isn't really a acceepteble way to kill amphibians. Please read SkeletalFrog's posts in this thread foe further information about this:
http://www.frogforum.net/showthread.php?t=15729