When speaking of justice and American politics, we often focus on the bigger issues of financial news and the foreclosure crisis. Today I want to highlight a story which may seem to affect only a few, but has social repercussions which reach out to affect all of us. And like many of these stories, it took one high profile incident to bring the entire issue to light.
The country may be divided on the guilt and subsequent punishment of Michael Vick. One thing we can all agree on, however, is that he brought dogfighting to the public spotlight. Today, animal advocates are asking President Obama to urge state governors to end dog fighting forever.
Dogfighting is much more than a cruel sport which results in the abuse of animals. It is a subculture which is involved in a whole host of criminal activities; drugs, firearms, gambling, interstate trafficking and more. It subverts inner city youth and escalates violence. It reaches across this country affecting all of us. It hits the pocket of taxpayers who foot the bill for fighting dogs in shelters and legal actions. It redirects resources for animals. It endangers the public who can become victims of abused fighting dogs and other criminal activity.
Dogfighting is not an animal issue. It is a human issue. It is an accepted precept that animal abuse leads to human abuse. A subculture which advocates for animal abuse contributes to a disregard for the sanctity of all life.
I hope you take a few moments to view a stunning photo-essay series by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, Carol Guzy, in the Washington Post. Chapter by chapter, images and commentary capture a story which brought the secret world of dogfighting to light, Shelter for the Scarred.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/galleries/vickdogs/
Issues Daily Staff Article