More severe penalty needed

Dogfighting is a vicious, cruel, disgusting practice perpetrated by morons who hide in the shadows and pretend it's a "sport." Another alleged dogfighting operation has been discovered in Calhoun County and felony charges have been filed against Dwayne Smith, 30, of Orma.

Chris Schindler, manager of animal fighting law enforcement for the Humane Society of the United States, said local law enforcement officers discovered 26 dogs chained and emaciated behind a house where the owner had been dead for weeks. Schindler said 19 of the dogs were American Pit Bull Terriers and the others were hunting dogs.

"It was very clear that the now deceased owner of these dogs had longtime ties to organized dogfighting and Smith was his partner in the dogfighting operation," Schindler said. "The dogs we found were suffering in the bitter cold and bore the scars indicating they were the abused victims of dogfighting.

The humane society found many of the dogs had scarring consistent with fighting. Other evidence of dogfighting such as training equipment, a converted dogfighting pit, blood spatter on walls and blood on carpet was also found.

Under West Virginia's new law, those convicted under the new statute can be sent to prison for up to five years, Schindler said. Animal fighting, as it should be, is a felony in all states now.

In Louisiana, it was cockfighting that was a huge problem. As one drove around southwest Louisiana there were numerous rooster pens clearly visible from roads. The pens were used to keep roosters from other birds so they wouldn't attack them. Those involved in the vicious fight-to-the-death, blood "sport, would attempt to justify it by saying it was part of their heritage, just as some West Virginians contend dogfighting is part of their "heritage."

Baloney! Such cruel "sport" is nothing more than evil doers taking advantage of animals and training them to kill for the "enjoyment" and "pleasure" of spectators. What "enjoyment" and/or "pleasure" such actions can give is beyond me and should be beyond any civilized person.

The penalties for such "sport" should be even more severe than it is.