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Our View
Arresting
cruelty
Elsewhere in this week's edition of the
Rappahannock News is an article about inhumane
treatment of animals, in this case, horses.
There are laws on the books to protect animals from the kind of abuse and neglect that these horses suffered, and we hope that the investigation is thorough, and justice served.
The 2003 Virginia General Assembly is studying a bill that addresses another, more subtle form of animal cruelty. House Bill 2689, introduced by Delegate Robert B. Bell (R-58th) of Charlottesville, closes the remaining loopholes in state law prohibiting animal fighting.
The bill makes “owning, training, transporting of selling dogs for the purpose of dogfighting” a felony, and prohibits “hosting or attending animal fights.” In addition, it raises the penalty for cockfighting from a Class 3 to a Class 1 misdemeanor.
It is hard to believe that anyone could enjoy watching animals — especially dogs — tear each other to pieces. And the cruelties involved extend beyond the crazed dogs that find themselves in the ring. Other animals — sometimes strays, but often stolen companion animals — are used as “practice” to make the fighting dogs even more vicious.
HB 2689 passed the House by a 99-to-0 margin, and is now being studied by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. It should become law.
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