[Vision2020] Daily News: "OUR VIEW: Dog fights have no place in society"

[Saundra Lund]

Visionaries:

The following editorial appears in today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

As an aside, I served on the City of Moscow's Animal (Care and) Control Task
Force in 2005, and I was shocked to find out from Lori Freeman from the
Humane Society of the Palouse (HSOP) that we have dog fighting right here in
Latah County  :-(  Unlike the example of Virginia in the editorial, Idaho
CONTINUES to be one of only eight states, IIRC, lacking any felony provision
for animal cruelty, no matter how heinous the cruelty  :-(


Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
- Edmund Burke


"OUR VIEW: Dog fights have no place in society
By Doug Bauer, for the editorial board
May 29, 2007

Brutality is as common in the world of sports as home runs and touchdowns. 
In some instances, such as ultimate fighting and even NASCAR, it's the
primary reason many choose to watch the sport.

Dog fighting is a far different animal - no pun intended.

The canines are pitted against one another in a battle that is bloody,
inhumane and often deadly.

There is absolutely nothing sporting about that. 

Police in Virginia are investigating whether Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Vick was part of what appears to be an organized dog-fighting ring.
Dogs and equipment associated with dog fighting were seized from a home
owned by the NFL star earlier this year.

Vick has denied any involvement, blaming relatives for taking advantage of
his generosity and insisting he's rarely at the house, even though he's the
owner.

Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter has said as many as six
to 10 people could be involved. Dog fighting is a felony in Virginia.

"I'm convinced from what I saw that dog fighting has occurred down there,
but who was involved in it I don't know at this point," said Poindexter,
noting that he saw what looked like blood splatters in a room over a garage.

The splatters were the "most suggestive evidence of dog fighting," he added.
"There were blood splatters, and somebody would have to explain to me how
you draw blood in the normal training of pit bulls."

You don't.

Dogs are commonly referred to as man's best friend. Those who take part in
dog fighting - at any level - are hardly reciprocating that friendship.

Dogs that are forced to fight one another don't get a posh retirement party
when their fighting days are done. Many eventually are euthanized, either
due to their injuries or because they're too aggressive.

Some are put down simply because they're poor fighters.

Vick plays in an arena where opposing fans cheer for his demise. They want
to see him harassed, chased and sacked - maybe even injured.

He's paid a great deal of money for his efforts, and he usually gets up
after he's been taken down.

Neither can be said of the so-called sport police believe has been occurring
at his home."