And then I am thoroughly let down when I read, “The Humane Society of the United States expects legislators in about 25 states will consider strengthening …” The operative words here are WILL CONSIDER STRENGTHENING.

All I can say is GET SOME BACKBONE AND JUST DO IT. HOnestly, all they do is procrastinate.

Like LauraS wrote, “Here’s a novel idea; enforce the laws already on the books.”

There’s plenty of evidence that existing anti- dog fighting laws have had spotty enforcement at best. It’s not been a priority for law enforcement authorities.

Much of what’s being proposed is knee jerk, and some is excessive. Like upping the penalty for a dog fighting conviction to make it worse than a rape conviction. Yes, dog fighting is bad, and is appropriately a criminal offense. But to say it is worse than rape is irrational and insulting.

I get tired of seeing politicians leap onto an emotional bandwagon in the heat of an uproar, and propose new laws to add onto existing laws that are not being adequately enforced. Why? So we can have more laws that aren’t going to be enforced?

I agree that HSUS and PETA are exploiting this issue to keep the donations rolling in. But the politicians are no better.

Here’s a novel idea; enforce the laws already on the books.

But the ASPCA guy’s point about enforcement makes sense too. Busting cruelty is one thing. Getting a DA to file charges and a judge to apply a meaningful sentence appears to be something else. Does not having a place for animals to go really affect whether or not law enforcement will act? Not around here.

Breeding limits look like a slippery slope that doesn’t really address the issue, which is how the animals are cared for, as the man from Virginia points out, regardless of how many someone has. I’m a convert on that one, partly because of being educated on the issue by all of you on this blog.

In the case of HSUS and PETA, fundraising is no doubt the major motivation, as usual, other than, oh yeah, an end to the keeping of companion animals.

2008? Santa brought me a pair of rollerblades. Waiting for a stretch of nice weather to try them out with Niki. Should be safer than trying to run him beside a bicycle. We both need more exercise. Also want to continue helping out at our shelter and learning more about rescue.