Some good news for a change.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law new, safe humane legislation that prohibits convicted dogfighters from owning unsterilized or vicious dogs, making it more difficult for offenders to return to the illegal activity once they have served their time. Read full story
It may not be as tough as we might wish or go as far as we would like to
see it go but at least it’s a step in the right direction. My only dispute with this is the label of “vicious dogs”. Those of us who have been following the path of the Vick dogs since they were rescued by Best Friends know darned well that these dogs are NOT, by nature, vicious. I’ve seen the videos and I know they are just normal dogs who were forced to ACT vicious. Given a chance, they’re rather play, lick your face or cuddle just like any other dog. In fact, they are among the biggest loveable babies I’ve ever seen.
I think the wording of the law should have been “prohibited for life from owing ANY dogs”. They’ve proven they can’t be trusted with the animal so a lifetime prohibition of owning one is the only way to protect the animals.
So no, the law doesn’t go far enough but then laws never do it seems. But it’s something and it sets an example for other states as well so let’s hope that this is the beginning of a trend towards stronger and longer penalties for dogfighters.
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