Huge TX dogfighting ring broken up: NY Times

[sixmile]

Dog fighting subculture is taking hold in TX.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/07dogs.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
"Over 17 months, the agents from the Texas state police penetrated a murky and dangerous subculture in East Texas, a world where petty criminals, drug dealers and a few people with ordinary jobs shared a passion for watching pit bulls tear each other apart in a 12-foot-square pit.

Investigators found that dogfighting was on the rise in Texas and was much more widespread than they had expected. The ring broken up here had links to dogfighting organizations in other states and in Mexico, suggesting an extensive underground network of people devoted to the activity, investigators said.

Besides a cadre of older, well-established dogfighters, officials said, the sport has begun to attract a growing following among young people from hardscrabble neighborhoods in Texas, where gangs, drug dealing and hip-hop culture make up the backdrop.

The investigation here led to the indictments of 55 people and the seizing of 187 pit bulls, breaking up what officials described as one of the largest dogfighting rings in the country."

I say death from a thousand cuts to these barbarians. Or better yet no due process, just mass beheadings on site. Just like the criminals do in Mexico.

[Maestro]

1. I really do not understand the thrill

of watching two animals kill each other.

Edit: Owners of dogs that backed down were bludgeoned to death or drowned. Are you kidding me? How cruel can one be?

[sixmile]

2. Ignorance, bloodlust and alcohol

What a trifecta!

My uncle used to bust up these rings back in the seventies. He was a member of a quasi governmental judicial force, vigilante in their efforts, who used to inflict major harm on dogfighting rings and their participants. The dogs would be saved and rehabilitated when possible. I would love to see this kind of law enforcement promoted and funded immediately.

[Maestro]

5. I'd support it. People who have no problems harming animals

are pyschopaths to me.

[ailsagirl]

20. Or worse-- ENJOY it. LOTS (including the venerable Jim Jones)

(of Jonestown) :puke: of murderers have hurt or killed animals in their youth. It's the same mind set, but many people tend not to draw that correlation.

[guitar man]

7. cowards

they are a bunch of chickenshits that don't have the guts to get into a ring and fight themselves, so they get their jollies by abusing innocent animals and acting all macho. :grr:

[Maestro]

8. Good description of them

:thumbsup:

[ailsagirl]

21. AMEN-- I'm glad it's against the law even though these miscreants

still find a way around it.

:mad:

[meow2u3]

10. Was it the owners, or the dogs, who were killed?

It sounds like the humans were killed by bludgeoning or drowning, judging from the wording of your post. :)

[Maestro]

13. Oh crap. I didn't even notice.

I be graduated from college. ;)

[sixmile]

15. It would make the horror of the story easier to grasp

if the owners were "put down" instead of the dogs.

[TexasObserver]

3. Anyone who gets his jollies from watching dogs fight is likely impotent.

At least that's my opinion. What else could explain those who get off on such disgusting events?

[ailsagirl]

17. Sadistic. Bull-fighting is disgusting too. And cock fighting.

[sixmile]

18. Absolutely correct

I always root for the bulls when I see the barbaric yearly running through Pamplona, Spain.
And I always root for the bulls in a bullfight.
Of course I love hunting accidents, too (except for innocents being hit by stray bullets).

[ailsagirl]

19. Me too-- but then, the Christians were thrown to the lions...

How repulsive-- I just don't get it

:puke:

:grr:

:rant:

[SOS]

4. An educated guess

55 arrests, 300 outstanding arrest warrants.
If the cops are serious about rounding up the skells, they should be busting these fights 24/7.

[Maestro]

9. Good observation. -nt

[Mari333]

6. do something positive for animals, just click on this link

and send the link to friends. every click helps animals and its free

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3



and if you want to sponsor a dog who is in need


https://secure.ga4.org/01/sponsor_dog/?source=ars_sad1_q408

[Gin]

11. One last fight....only put the perps in the ring with the pit bulls.

behavior has consequences you scum.

[sixmile]

12. THAT I would pay to see

Can I work the shock collars?

[ailsagirl]

16. Thanks Mari333 for posting this-- I had lost the first link...

[ailsagirl]

14. That is so sick and disgusting

pitting animals against one another to see them fight to the death.

sick sick sick

:puke:
:grr:
:mad: