If people would recognize and understand the documented psychological relationship between animal torture and violence against the human species, perhaps animal abuse would be reported more often.  There is a direct correlation between aggressive behaviors directed towards non-humans and the tendency to walk into a high school, for example, and shoot your classmates and teachers.  The young men responsible for the Columbine High School shootings had a long history of animal abuse and torture.  They became desensitized to animal suffering and moved on to hunt “bigger game”.  The issue is not solely the belief that animals are helpless creatures that deserve our protection, but that this type of behavior signifies deeper, more serious issues.  Why do you think that Michael Vick is currently going through PETA’s empathy training course?  Parents if you have children and you see a pattern of cruelty developing, get counseling.  It’s not normal behavior.  And as for adults?  Well, any adult that tortures an animal should just be punished, plain and simple.

I hope that someone from the Mobile County Public School board reads this post.  The person I reported for possible pit bull fighting is also an employee of the Mobile County Public school system.  Perhaps they should do better employee screening.  I would hate to think that my child was in a classroom, under the guidance and jurisdiction of someone capable of such an atrocious and cruel crime.  The only way that the laws will toughen is if ordinary citizens raise their voices and concerns.  The media is one way.  I also routinely log onto the SPCA’s web site and sign petitions and write letters.  I would encourage you and other animal lovers to do the same.  Other states have harsh penalties and more stringent laws.  Alabama is way behind the times.  I encourage you to stay active on the abuse posts, here and with WALA.  The media has done a tremendous job.  Did you by any chance read the article on WALA Monday where a man intentionally ran over someone’s Jack Russell terrier because he was tired of having to slow down for the dog?  So he simply ran over it and killed it.  I doubt he will be punished either.

The state of Alabama needs a wake up call.  Around the nation, laws are much tougher and more animal abuse cases are prosecuted.  Whoopi Goldberg made the declaration that “dog fighting”, for example was a southern tradition - a part of our culture.  Yikes.  How scary.  So was slavery, but that didn’t make it morally right.  A living being, regardless of its species, deserves to have quality of life.  Dogs, cats, horses and other animals cannot speak for themselves.  It is up to the people in the state of Alabama to take a stand against this epidemic cruelty.

It will stop when people in this society take a more active role in identifying and reporting abusers.  If someone lived next door to me and drove around with a gun shooting dogs or other animals, you can believe I’d report it immediately.  Wake up people - it’s a sign of violence and not just towards animals - so many people go on to other forms of violence after being animal abusers.  Report it - it’s not normal and it’s cruel and IT’S A CRIME.

OK-so this is two dogs that were tortured that someone found out about-how many animals do we not know about? There needs to be an increase in public involvement, there needs to be public education, and enforcement of the laws. There needs to be tougher sentences and tougher prosecution. When someone is fined, basically a minimal amount of money or serves minimal time in jail, what lesson have they really learned and what has it really prevented?