Please remember, by writing and talking about Vick, we are TRYING to educate the public! So much of the public NEEDS that, as Michael Vick did. It was a barbaric act by a sub-human that did it for self gratification ONLY, he did not need the $$$, just got a sick enjoyment out of watching animals suffer, and self enjoyment out of MAKING dogs suffer. Please don't allow this type of ignorance to continue!

And we wonder why we have an epidemic of dog bites & attacks......................it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the connection.

What is wrong with these people? Remember, these barbarians, such as Mike Vick, are our children's IDOLS.....talk about an abuse of power.

They do this for their own sick gratification ONLY, they definitely do NOT need the money!

These people are sub-human and show a total lack of education as well as lack of humanity.

Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states.

If you suspect ANYONE of dog fighting activities, please call 317-262-TIPS asap or visit www.crimetips.org, YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

Wow. You just set the county back a few steps in it's quest to protray itself and it's community as 'caring' and progressive.

I guess you'll need that medical insurance if someone's trained fighting dog rips into you.

Dismissing issues as 'not important' just because they don't pertain to your own daily, personal life, is not wise.

If you think animal fighting does't occur in Greene County, think again. Maybe we don't hear about it because we don't have a good 'animal control' system in place? (If the shelter can't handle a dog that is delivered to their door, do you think they are out investigating animal fighting reports? Rooster fighting? I doubt it).

I wonder if this is why we rarely see any 'investigative' reporting on the local 'humane society' perceived incompetence, because it's not deemed 'important'?

I sincerely think your attitude regarding the Michael Vick incident is a bit ignorant. I think while any topic in the media can be "overtalked" about, something like this needs to be put out there and the public educated that this type of thing goes on and has no economic stereotype. In your county as well as surrounding counties, animal neglect and abuse is prevelant. Perhaps a more dignified opinion to something such as the Vick thing would fair better to show that your county cares about the welfare of animals, not that its media staff doesn't.

Mike Vick should be shot, the conspiracy continues, the courthouse will be settled out of court as to protect the failures of certain people overseeing the project, the line is 10 to 1, and who really cares about golf?

Umm..no, I think it was the mention that there were many more things happening in our country that 'are more important', that was off putting.

We all have daily struggles, we all need more of something but unless you are a child or an elderly person who can't defend themselves or speak up for themselves, people who are training animals to kill each other for 'sport' is more important than the many mundane problems we have.

IT is MORE important because things like animal abuse are HUGE symptoms of something bigger that is wrong with our country. Animal abuse and neglect is directly assoicated with domestic abuse and neglect of children. THe only thing bigger then our county's 'animal abuse and neglect' problem (although it is under reported) is the child abuse and neglect. THey are intertwined. http://www.paws.org/help/report/connection.php

Through the media saturation of the Vick case, many more people have seen how barbaric and horrific dog fighting is and more importantly, how PREVELANT it is in our country. It's happening everywhere. If you thing children of those involved in dog fighting are not being abused, you are naive.

The fact we don't read about it happening in Greene County doesn't mean it isn't. Because it surely is. Perhaps we don't have an aggressive enough animal welfare investigator out there putting a case together , or maybe the media here choses to ignore it because it's 'not as important' as our personal issues, getting medical insurance, etc.

When some innocent creature, child or elderly or handicapped person is being abused, THAT is the priority in a caring society. And it deserves as much attention as it can get. Anything to jostle us out of our comfortable daily routine of thinking only about ourselves and what affects us or our pocketbook , directly, is a good thing. Your problems are nothing compared to what some others in your community are suffering.

To Green County Patriot -

FYI the first case of child abuse in this country was brought to light by a HUMANE SOCIETY. It is a known fact that kids who torture or harm animals do in fact have a tendency to go on in life as adults becoming abusive to HUMANS.

If you read thru the previous posts, no one said pets are people...they said they should be treated humanely and education in elementary schools is a good start to teach children to care for animals with compassion. When you have generation after generation thinking animals are "disposable" or "property" to do with as they wish, the only hope of changing that attitude is in school, as the parents obviously are not educated enough to care.

Your inference that those of us who feel strongly about this subject are neglecting our "human" families is inane.

Dog fighting as we know it originated in rural areas of this country and moved in to infect urban areas. Michael Vick's dog fighting affinity was born in the barns of rural America. There is little doubt that your neighbors, police, judges and "up-standing" citizens are engaging in this blood sport as well. I urge the writer of this article to look into the history of dog fighting and then state that this story is irrelevent or over-hyped. I encourage serious discussion of the social ills dog fighting brings to communities. While rural fighting is what has infected the urban areas, it will only be a matter of time before the opposite happens. Drugs, weapons and gang activity are part of the urban dog fighting arena. How long until these hugely profitable aspects of dog fighting make it back out to the rural orgins?

Yes, indeed we can assume and prove in most cases that violent offenders abused animals. If you don't KNOW that simple fact, they you probably don't have an educated valid opinion on the subject of animal cruelty, but perhaps you can learn?

How does whether or not an animal have a soul have any bearing on the fact they have feelings and feel pain, fear, terror isolation, as well as love?

As noted below in an article from the ASPCA, 'like a canary in a coal mine, animal abuse indicates a BIGGER PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY!!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Animal-Cruelty:--The-Key...

But what do serial killers like Dahmer, Bundy and others like them have in common?

'Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Andrew Cunanan, David 'Son of Sam' Berkowitz, and Albert 'Boston Strangler' DeSalvo were ALL cruel to animals before they started hurting people.'6 Subsequently, killer teenagers Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold (Columbine HS), and Kip Kinkel were also known for their past history of animal cruelty. In the study from of 'The Care of pets within child abusing families,' presented by DeViney & Lockwood, 88 percent of the homes were animal abuse had occurred, children were also abused.

In conclusion, I summise this important literature from the San Francisco Chronicle commentary by Margo DeMello:

"...every time we hear of a young person abusing an animal, it is explained away by family and often authorities as a 'youthful indiscrection'...What the authorities and parents of these young men fail to realize is that their behavior may signal that something is wrong with these men, which could very easily escalate into something much worse. The evidence is not just anecdotal; numerous studies, including the 1998 work of Randall Lockwood and Frank R. Ascione ("Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence," Purdue University Press), have shown that children who engage in animal cruelty are more likely to commit more violent acts as adults. There is also a strong link between abuse of animals and domestic violence, with animal abusers much more likely to batter their wives or girlfriends as well...

Youthful violence toward animals is a very serious issue, and it needs to be taken seriously by not only animal advocates like myself, but by those who are concerned about violence in our society." - Margo DeMello, Ph.D.

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crue...

Cruelty toward animals does more than cause other living, feeling beings to experience pain and fear. Like the death of a canary in a coal mine, violence toward animals can be an indicator that people are also in danger. Someone who commits animal abuse may have serious psychological problems. Studies have found that many people convicted of violent crimes had a history of animal cruelty. Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Andrew Cunanan, David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz, and Albert "Boston Strangler" DeSalvo were cruel to animals before they started hurting people. Adults are not the only ones whose cruelty to animals can be a sign of deeper troubles. Many murderous children and teenagers-such as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold of Columbine High School-also have histories of animal cruelty.

Stillhopefull, Wow! Thank you for the great fodder of the ramblings of Margo DeMallo. Everyone, please google Margo DeMallo and notice that her Ph.D. has been used wisely to promote vegetarianism, the rescuing of rabbits, total body tattoos(as an expression of the soul of man-I bet she knows what Amanita muscaria is). Msss. DeMallo has written such fine works as, "Stories Bunnies Tell" and is the Director of Rabbit Rescue and Education. Undoubtedly, she is also a supporter of PETA. Stillhopefuls' whole response (except for the first four sentences) has been copied, word for word, from an internet blog.

Folks, I can not make this stuff up.

People are living here and not in just San Francisco.

As for Chena, you sound reasonable. I did learn about the soul from someone.

Please read, John 3:3 to John 3:18 and don't stop until it seems clear.

Thank you for your response.

P.S Greene County Patriot, your lack of compassion and intolerence of others doesn't paint you as a very good example of a 'christian'. Since you are basing your opinions on the bible, you may like to make note of that. Your just continuing to paint 'greeen county' as 'small minded'.

Quoting from the Bible is admirable. I spent 12 formative years reading and listening to lectures on the Bible. One thing I've learned in life since then is that it's all a matter of interpretation. Different religions have their own spin on it.

And here's my spin - I believe every living creature has a soul and I believe God created all to live in harmony. And that's the end of my religion rant.

I abhor cruelty in any form - but most specifically of the defenseless. IMHO domesticated animals are the most defenseless of God's creatures. They are totally at the mercy of humans. And before someone gets off on a rant about child abuse, I think that is also an unredeemable crime. But the subject on this forum is animal abuse.

From what I've read in this newspaper and on other forums, Greene County has a long way to go on learning how to humanely treat animals.

Little late in responding to this blog. But if you have found somebody to play golf with that is happy no matter what happens. You should keep this person. They are hard to find.

It's not me whom we need to emmulate.

Check out this reference, Romans 3:23 and 24.

Thank you for the great dialogue.

Wigland, you are so right.

I need to go to the sporting goods store now to get some supplies for deer season.

Ouch!

Don't read the paper from Bloomington, Indy, New York or Bejing. You will have no where to raise a family.

Just where are all the dogfighting places in Greene County? Do you know someone that is involved in dogfighting? I have never heard anyone speak of it, nor seen any traces of it, in all my years of living here.

Indiana Lady,

Perhaps they are good at making things 'appear' well on the surface, while making other poor decisions that affect animals lives negatively, on a less noticable scale? Note the Pate's case and other recent letters to the editor.

There are a few inexcusable issues such as: Animals not receiving proper deworming and vaccination upon ARRIVAL, Animals being adopted to unfit homes, adopters unscreened, no follow up on the animal once it leaves, animals leaving the shelter without being altered (spay/neutered) All this just ADDS to the county's problems.

Ask yourself if a true 'humane society' with integrity would SELL THE DEAD BODIES of the animals they euthanize for $2 each? If there is any question as to the ethics of the people deciding which animals live and which die, it may not be a stretch to wonder if some of the animals aren't worth more dead than alive?

Sometimes you have to look below the surface.

IF your Humane Society is so good, then why won't they work with REAL, 501(c)3 Public Charities to save the lives of their dogs?

Maybe because it is a little more work??? or just plain easier to kill the dogs than to complete the paper work for rescues???

We have saved the lives of 225 dogs in a little over 2 years, but your Greene Co. Humane Society won't work with us (OR MANY MANY other legit rescues) because we know someone that the Board doesn't like. What grade are we in again???

Indiana Lady - perhaps you should get more involved with shelter work and animal welfare other than just being "nosy" and watching them from your doorstep. How many animals lives have you personally saved? To criticize those who do JUST THAT (save their lives) is totally uncalled for. Maybe when you are more informed about animal welfare you will be able to express an educated opinion.

This was about Mr. Vick, the Courthouse and Golf. Now it is about the shelter. The conspiracy starts again. If you people are sitting in a restaurant, and you here someone mention their pet, do you start ranting about the shelter to them? Everything you post ends up being about that subject. I do understand that your whole world revolves around dogs and cats, but as mentioned before, there are more things that plague the HUMAN race that we need to pay attention to.

I agree horsewhisperer. This was about Vick and his wrong doing , my mention of the shelter was in relation to that, i.e. how can the shelter effectively investigate such cases when it cannot competently run it's daily business? I have reported to the GCHS, the local paper and the County Commissioners about a man raising roosters to sell into the fighting ring. Not one thing has been done, therefore I wonder about the competency of the GCHS and it all ties together. I have no authority to go out and insist on investigating a perceived cock fighting ring, so I worry about who wil.

We can just hope that Michael Vick gets what he deserves, some day in some way. The only game I'd pay to see Michael Vick in is a "game" of the pitties he abused VS Michael Vick in his alma mater stadium even...... GAME of the Year............the "Pits vs Vick", now I'd pay to see that! A little like the Christians and the Lions. Heck, we could even only use 1 of his dogs to be the entire Pits team......just 1 on 1. I know that is not very Christian, and I will pray for forgiveness but darn....

We further hope that other animal abusers should receive their just due as well, no matter what they call themselves (animal advocates, shelter reps, rescuers, etc.).....it's all the same when you're killing dogs and you shouldn't be.

Vick! Vick! All I see on the news! Fancy suits, excuses, pleas & now apoligies. Too much press on these obscene subjects, makes it bad for our children. Do you not recognize that with both Mother & Father working this is one of our biggest problems today? Kids are watching the TV, & see the press & see the attention that VIck is getting. He had fame & fortune, money & fancy clothes. He should get the max on all counts he is charged with. But let's remember, the child who is lonely & wants attention sees this as one way to get it. Remember the school bombings. After all the publicity there have been many threats in our own community. Granted they have just been threats, but-t-t, they are being made by someone who wants to stir up & get attention. Can't we dwell on the positive & stop giving the criminals so much publicity? Especially the demented ones.

No they don't.

Thank GOD!!!

Good post JSS.

Wiglund sounds like he is not breaking 110. "Golf is a good walk ruined." Mark Twain."