Horrible cruelty

I don't usually watch CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on Thursday nights but last night I did. That is, until I turned it off because I couldn't stomach it anymore. You see, the episode was about exposing what goes on in the dog fighting underground. As one of the characters started to explain how the dogs are trained (with vivid pictures) I was purely sickened and turned off the TV.

I don't know how to support the effort to prosecute people who engage in this so-called "sport" except to donate generously to animal welfare orgainzations. Maybe the outrage over the Michael Vick situation will help.

Here's something the Humane Society says:

The injuries inflicted and sustained by dogs participating in dogfights are frequently severe, even fatal. The American pit bull terriers used in the majority of these fights have been specifically bred and trained for fighting and are unrelenting in their attempts to overcome their opponents. With their extremely powerful jaws, they are able to inflict severe bruising, deep puncture wounds and broken bones.

Dogs used in these events often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion, or infection hours or even days after the fight. Other animals are often sacrificed as well. Some owners train their dogs for fights using smaller animals such as cats, rabbits or small dogs. These "bait" animals are often stolen pets or animals obtained through "free to good home" advertisements.

For heaven's sake, please don't ever give your animal away without doing a thorough background check on the potential owner.

And here's why dogfighting should be a felony everywhere:

Because dogfighting yields such large profits for participants, the minor penalties associated with misdemeanor convictions are not a sufficient deterrent. Dogfighters merely absorb these fines as part of the cost of doing business. The cruelty inherent in dogfighting should be punished by more than a slap on the hand. Dogfighting is not a spur-of-the-moment act; it is a premeditated and cruel practice.

Those involved in dogfighting go to extensive lengths to avoid detection by law enforcement, so investigations can be difficult, dangerous, and expensive. Law enforcement officials are more inclined to investigate dogfighting if it is a felony. As more states make dogfighting a felony offense, those remaining states with low penalties will become magnets for dogfighters.

In Oklahoma it is a felony to fight dogs or to own fighting dogs but it is only a misdemeanor to be a spectator at a dog fight. But there are seventeen states in which it is a felony to be a spectator. We need to make that happen here too. Come on, people. Let's write some letters!