Take a stand against Animal Fighting in Indiana

Governor Mitchell E. Daniels
Office of the Governor
Statehouse
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797


Mayor Greg Ballard
Office of the Mayor
2501 City-County Bldg. 
200 E. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204


 Frank G. Straub, Ph.D., Director
The Department of Public Safety
200 E.Washington St.
Suite E220
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Dear ,
Govenor M Daniells,  
Mayor Greg Ballard
Public Saftey Director Frank  Straub,

We the undersigned, are writing to ask for your immediate and dedicated efforts to support and encourage the vigorous prosecution of individuals arrested for animal fighting violations. As citizens of Indianapolis, We want our city and state to be known as one that does not tolerate crime of any kind, even when the victims of violence are only animals.


The past twelve months have shown that animal fighting is happening in our state:


 March 26,2009  - Over 50 birds were seized as well as drugs, guns and money, resulting in the arrest of 3 individuals in Marion County

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-cockfighting-bust-on-indys-249540,0,2795241.story


 August 11, 2009   Over 100 dogs were seized and 2 individuals have been charged in Orange County

http://www.wlky.com/r/20360282/detail.html


August 4, 2010 One individual has been arrested for participation in a cock fighting operation resulting in felony charges and the seizure of 200 birds from his Shelby County property.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/24509304/detail.html


 August 6, 2010 , 9 dogs were seized and 22 individuals have been charged for a variety of animal fighting related charges as well as probation violations and illegal drug and weapons charges

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/24551092/detail.html


In this difficult economic time, many communities must carefully choose where to allocate limited resources, and how cases like these are prosecuted determines whether any resources are directed to anti-animal fighting efforts.
While the victims of animal fighting are just animals, many studies have shown that there is a connection between animal abuse and subsequent violence to humans.1, 2, 3 Even those who only attend become desensitized to violence and are at greater risk for participating in violent acts, not just against animals, but also against humans. These studies point to the importance of taking animal cruelty laws seriously, and strictly enforcing them.


Additionally, the charges in these cases parallel those from other major animal fighting busts across the county.
Animal fighters dont just abuse animals, they also participate in numerous other illegal activities such as gambling as well as possession and/or sale of illegal drugs and firearms.4


When asking politicians (and even some law enforcement agencies) to allocate at least some small part of their resources to combat animal fighting in our communities, anti-fighting advocates have been repeatedly told that Department of Correction Records showed few, if any, individuals serving time for animal fighting related offenses which leads the decision makers to conclude that animal fighting is not a problem and nothing further needs to be done to prevent these violent blood sports.

This reliance on DOC records for evaluating resource allocation makes it critical that animal fighting charges not be pled out, but to instead push for convictions.


Michael Vicks 60 Minutes interview highlighted another reason that law enforcement, prosecutors and judges need to take animal fighting seriously. During the interview, Vick explained that when police saw and turned a blind eye to street fights,it taught him that fighting dogs isnt really a crime. He went from street fights where he abused one or two pets to allowing the abuse, torture and killing of numerous dogs at his Georgia property.5


It is time to send a clear message that participation in animal fighting at any level will not be tolerated, whether you are only attending or you are actively promoting and engaging in the fights, you will face consequences in Marion County or ANY county In Indiana .
 As a society & a State  we must end the acceptance and blind-eye tolerance of animal fighting by ensuring that those convicted of animal fighting related charges receive more than a slap on the wrist.
Additionally we ask  that " attending of an animal fight" be seriously considered  to be made a FELONY in Indiana for the first offense. 

Its true that the victims of animal fighting violence are not humans. Unlike humans, these cruelty victims truly have no means of escape and no means to cry out for help. To allow individuals guilty of perpetrating such cruel acts to go unpunished or not sufficiently punished, would be to sanction these horrific crimes, and do nothing to deter future violence against animal or possibly even against innocent people.


Thank you for your time, consideration and service to our community.

References


1.   Ascione, F. R. (1998). Battered women  reports of their partners and their children cruelty to animals. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 1(1), 119-133.


2.   DeViney, E., Dickert, J., & Lockwood, R. (1998). The care of pets within child abusing families. In R. Lockwood & F.R. Ascione, (Eds.), Cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. (Reprinted from International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems, 4, (1983) 321-329.)


3.   Merz-Perez, L., Heide, K. M., & Silverman, I. J. (2001). Childhood cruelty to animals and subsequent violence against humans. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 45(5), 556- 573.


4.   USDA Press Release, August 9, 2010: Pit Bull and Cock Fights Used as Networking Tool for Drug Traffickers; http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2010/neworleans080910.html  


5.   http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/10/60minutes/main5231257.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody