Friends, here in Middle Tennessee we have once again seen the - TopicsExpress

Friends, here in Middle Tennessee we have once again seen the tragedy and continuing aftermath of a dog fighting ring. The dogs were again the victims of brutality and greed. Most of them greeted their rescuers with wagging tails and relief, or fear, unsure of what fresh hell these humans would subject them to. What we didn’t see were the ones that have been brutally killed, not just in fights, but in the training of the fighters. The sub-human cretins who fight dogs need victims to train the dogs to kill. These victims are called “bait”. For bait, they use kittens, cats, puppies, small dogs, elderly dogs, or any other dog that could be mauled to death. Since dog fighting is a business, they try to get the bait animals for free. They will steal animals off the street, out of your back yard, and scoop them up when an unsuspecting owner offers the bait up to them, “Free to a good home”. It might as well say, “Free bait dog and cats ready to torture!” Also, be aware that certain breeds such as Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes are prime targets for training to fight and for strong bait dogs. You must be extra careful re-homing these breeds. Don’t be fooled. These scumbags can look like fine, upstanding people and have a compelling story about how they just lost their beloved Fluffy, so they will cherish your “free to a good home” sacrifice. It is their job to make you believe and trust them. It is YOUR job to do your best to be certain that you are not turning your animal over to a life of torture, pain, brutality and then a violent death. How? Don’t believe a potential adopter unless you personally know them or check them out first. Here’s how you check them out: 1. Never offer an animal for free. Fighters do not want to pay for animals. They will pay a minimal fee as the cost of doing business, but they prefer free. 2. Demand veterinarian references and then actually call the vet. At a minimum you want to know: • if the potential adopter/rescue is a breeder (say NO to a breeder), • if their animals are up to date on their vaccinations, and • if any of their animals have been treated for injuries that could be from fighting. 3. Call your local municipal shelter and ask if they know anything about the adopter/rescue. You should follow the same guidelines for re-homing dogs to keep them out of the hands of breeders. Breeders will have the same guile as fighters, but will abuse the dog by breeding him or her until they are physically depleted and unable to breed, and then will discard the animal. Breeding animals are often stuck in cages with little or no love and attention. They are simply money-making tools and useful only as long as they can make the breeder money. That is no life for a pet. So besides not helping fighters and breeders by providing them with the lifeblood of their cruel business, what can you do to help stop animal cruelty? If you see something, report it! If you see what looks like what could be a dog fighting operation, call your local law enforcement immediately. Here are some signs of a dog fighting operation: • A lot of dogs kept in a certain area that seems to be hidden out of public view. • Pit Bulls on heavy chains. • Dogs in your area or shelter that have scars on their faces and body. • Several Pit Bulls in an area on chains with just a dog house for each one. • Odd-looking contraptions in the yard that look like poles with things hanging off of them, tables, a merry-go-round set-up that would fit dogs, open wooden boxes, or treadmills. • Outdoor washtubs and hoses. If you see it, REPORT IT! Each and every one of us can help avoid animal abuse by being careful when we re-home pets, and we can also be on patrol looking for animal abuse. Leave the intervention to law enforcement, but you can be an integral part of snuffing out animal abuse. Let’s shut down animal abuse in Middle Tennessee! Feel free to share this. ~ Jacki