Mans' Best Friend

Well, Marsha, since you asked...I deliberately held back commenting on this disgusting sideshow called Dog Fighting because the case was ongoing and did not want to give those who disdain animals (SMunsey, have any humorous interjections regarding letting dead dogs lie?) something to make sport of on these pages. Since Vick has plea bargained, I suppose I can comment now. I only hope he gets the maximum. Unless he gets a judge like Tim Collins in our own back yard, I expect to see some justice for a change but I am not betting on it.

My take is probably identical to yours. At the risk of overusing the term "outrage", I feel it is fitting here. I wrote earlier about Michael Vick's apparent swindling by Virginia Tech in that he doesn't seem to have been educated one iota. But perhaps it really comes down to a lack of personal character. The FBI has written extensively on children who torture and kill animals and how it is a prelude to these children who grow up to be serial killers. Perhaps the violence and blood in football is enough of a substitute for Vick or we might be reading about another John Allen Muhammad. Who knows? But I would hope that the issue is addressed more seriously in the immediate future. There was a time driving drunk was great material for stand up comedians. It took way too long but now it is addressed as it should be, an overwhelming danger to millions of innocent people. The slime that abuse animals should also be treated as dangerous criminals and locked away from decent people forever. Sadly, Clay County has but one single deputy to police the area for animal violations and the outcomes in court have been less than admirable. That is more the fault of the substandard jurists we have than the population at large so, hopefully, one day, that too will change.

As to the particular breed involved, it is a shame that pit bulls are associated with such savagery. I don't believe they are born evil any more than any other breed. I find it extremely galling when Insurance Companies place certain breeds on the "unacceptable" list. I had a mixed breed of Husky/Shepherd. She was the gentlest dog I ever owned. She was pretty much afraid of her own shadow and on numerous times after introducing her into the family also featuring a very territorial cat, watched the poor dog chased out of the house. Once she tore right through the screen door. The cat never laid a paw on her but the threat was more than enough. The funniest part was many people remarked on how scary she looked with one blue eye and one brown eye. Looks are definitely deceiving.  When shopping around for a new home owners insurance company, I found those pinheads, like every other form of bureaucrat, had a "One Size Fits None" policy of certain breeds and would not consider my commerce until I deported the dog from my home. Needless to say, the dog lived out her life in my house to the tender old age of 15 1/2 and I never changed insurance companies.

So, in summary, man's essential inhumanity to his fellow creatures is an old habit that will die hard if ever. I do what I can. I donate food to shelters, every stray animal that shows up at my door gets a home and I don't feel bad about it for a moment. It's another reason I would never live in a community with "rules". I have heard of communities, condo associations and more that have extreme restrictions on pets. Those people are the type I would not care to live near. My sister-in-law lives in a fascist neighborhood like that and they made her take down a hummingbird feeder. I am so perplexed about why she would want to live in such a place. But I have my own place to take care of and she is old enough to make her own decisions. I feel I may be rambling here a bit. If I missed anything specific you wanted me to comment on, please let me know.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

Marsha,

It seems we have one thing in common.  I also refuse to call rap, music, because I find nothing musical @ it.  As to your points.

From what I have understood, dog fighting has been going on for decades.  Using animals for cruelty, disguised as "sport" has been around for thousands of years.  I have yet to hear an explanation grounded in logic or even common sense.

We ocassionaly hear of dog fights, but I think a big deal was made of this because of a sports figure involved.  As to why, in the first place, why does someone like Pete Rose bet on baseball.  Why does a president have an affair in the White House with an intern?  Why does a president break the laws & lie to the people who hired him?  I guess it would be easy to say, "Stupid is as stupid does," but it would be inadequate.

Maybe the answer is that people think they can get away with something because some others have.  I think you probably know by now that there are many "maybe's," to go around.

Mankind's association with animals, particularly dogs, goes back thousands of years.  When man first began to show disrespect for animals, I don't know.  The recent situation with the postal service & dog owners is a good example.  I saw the interview with one of the residents on TV.  The woman was smiling as she claimed that it was the sworn duty of the post office to deliver the mail regardless of the conditions.  This is the height of stupidity & disrespect for this situation.  She is probably one of the people who has no respect for the person delivering the mail & no respect for her pet because she lets it roam freely.  This is the kind of person I would like to give a lick up side the head and ask, "Are you that ******** stupid?" I fervently hope that she has not contributed to the gene pool.

There are no easy answers & not that many answers at that.  It goes back to the same old story.  Teach the right values.  Enforce the laws when they are broken.  Man, I wish it were that easy.

RichK

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,"

From what I have read, the United State Postal Service does not claim this motto as their own.  Even if they did, in regard to the local news, you are talking weather conditions and darkness here, not life threatening situations.  I don't expect my postal carrier to risk death to deliver what usually turns out to be junk  mail.

Maybe it as simple as the way you are raised.  Did your parents present you with a baby brother or puppy and teach you to treat it gently because it was very vulnerable and needed help and love to survive, or did you grow up seeing a parent mistreat an animal? Maybe it got in someone’s way and they kicked it out of the way. That is also why I think that school is so important; education is so important.  It just might open up a whole new view of the world to a child when they are exposed to experiences not available at home.  Hopefully these new introductions are good and appropriate teachings, not the kind you too often read about where a child is violated by a teacher.   

Some people shouldn’t have pets, children or a spouse.  Some people have violent tempers and need help. In the case of Michael Vicks, he is probably like a lot of celebrities; surrounded by people after his money and possessing too much money, too much adoration without real accomplishment and not enough of an education to realize what a difference they could make by using the excess money in a more productive endeavor.  Who knows, steroids could have clouded his judgment as well.  He could have saved or invested his money because fame does not last.  A celebrity has to decide if they want their name published in the paper or their video shown on the news as something considered good or do they want to be known for something they have done that is illegal or immoral.  Sooner or later the truth always comes out when you are a well known figure.  Laws are passed to protect the innocent and the stupid. 

I for one do not appreciate celebrity news being a part of the news casts.  There are many entertainment type television shows devoted to that type of hype, why use the valuable air time for additional “star” information when you could tell me about the person robbed at the mall down the street so that I may be more watchful? 

As far as pit bulls go.  I have had some experience with them.  We once had one.  When the neighbor's dog came near it they would always fight.  They lock their powerful jaws and don't want to let go.  Our dog was around as a puppy; I don't know how the other dog was raised.  When we had children, the pit bull was given away to a man living on a farm.  

Perhaps I should clarify what I said about our pit bull.  Our's was a flop-earred pit bull that was a silly family pet.  We were living in an area where lots were around two acres.  The neighbor's dog was a pit bull as well.  The neighbor's pit bull had his ears clipped and even looked like a bad dog.  When the neighbor's dog would gain freedom from their fence it would come into our yard and the dogs would fight.  Our dog was given away because I would have rather been safe than sorry where my children were concerned.  I didn't want to be telling you here about a human/dog incident.