Pit Notes: The high cost of being a victim
By Susan Dyer Reynolds

I got a disturbing note from Donna Reynolds at BAD RAP about another dog-fighting bust where the shelter wants to destroy the victims. The Michael Vick case was very public, and the outcome driven by that publicity. Unfortunately, less high profile cases rarely end with the dogs being saved, and the Humane Society of the United States consistently pushes for the dogs to be destroyed, despite the wonderful outcome for the Vick dogs (all of the dogs that were rescued passed stringent temperament tests and many have been placed in loving homes).

Here is part of Donna’s letter on BAD RAP’s blog (visit http://badrap-blog.blogspot.com to read more), and the addresses you can write to express your disapproval of the genocide
of 127 innocent dogs, including litters of puppies:

Here we go again. A scumbag breeder/dog fighter in Wilkes County, North Carolina is busted, convicted and, predictably, his dogs shoulder the blame. Bad, evil dogs to be born into this operation. Authorities – ignoring Best Friends’ offer to organize evaluations and a rescue – are getting ready to blue juice, bag and fill their local landfill with 127 bodies, including several litters of puppies. Because surely the rescues of the Vick dogs, the Patrick dogs, the Missouri dogs and even the Oklahoma dogs were a fluke.

In the end, the judge in this case did ignore the offer of help from Best Friends. All 127 dogs – including the puppy pictured here – were destroyed. It took an entire day to kill them, but only moments for the judge to order the genocide.

Please let the legislators of North Carolina know that it’s not OK to blame (and kill) the victims of dog fighting:

Wilkes County Board of Commissioners
110 North Street
Wilksboro, NC 28697
Phone: 336-651-7346
Fax: 336-651-7568

Wilkes County Attorney Tony Triplett
Vannoy, Colvard, Triplett & Vannoy
922 C Street
P.O. Box 1388
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Phone: 336-667-7201
Fax: 336-838-7250
E-mail: ttriplett@vannoylaw.com

District Attorney Tom Horner
500 Courthouse Drive,
Suite 2022
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Phone: 336-667-6361
or 336-667-2994
Fax: 336 667-7999

Had it not been for the wonderful advocates at the Fairmont Animal Shelter, Jasmine Blue would likely have met the same fate. She thanks you in advance for your support.

– S. Reynolds