[maxdog]

I also have to respectfully disagree with you. If they were hoarding paper and boxes it would be one thing but they were keeping creatures that feel pain, loneliness, happiness, jealousy and almost all the emotions that humans do. I agree they need help, but the same can be said for people who commit murder, assault and sexual crimes. The punishment should fit the crime and, IMO, it did not. The one factor on their behalf is that I think they were the ones who reached out for help. I am not sure if jail time would deter anyone else from doing the same since this is a psychological disorder, but again I think the punishment should fit the crime.