Watch your dog
If you love your dog, protect it from thieves.
It could end up with a fate you don't want to imagine...
There's been a rash of dognappings in Greensboro in recent months, and one attracted the attention of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for the theft and killing of a dog taken from a Byers Road home March 1. The dog's body was left in the yard four days later and bore wounds indicating dog fighting, according to police.
A PETA spokeswoman told me today the dog could have been used to "bait" fighting dogs, training them to kill, raising their "blood lust."
Greensboro police Det. Angela Barnes doesn't know if that's the case, but she does have a file of more than 50 stolen dogs. Some of the locations are Avalon Road, Foushee Street, Holt Avenue, Textile Drive, Tucker Street, Waugh Street and Woodside Drive.
We're writing an editorial on this subject for Thursday's paper. It deserves the attention of everyone who owns a dog.
I spoke with two victims, both of whom lost pit bull puppies. It seems that breed is a particular target - although all kinds of dogs have been stolen. Some breeds of pit bulls are marketed for big money - up to $2,000.
By the way, note some of the language used on the Web site above to advertise the "ultimate blue pit bulls" - "Champion blood lines"; "excel at anything you ask them to do"; "sportive nature." Yet there's a "no fighting" disclaimer.
Dog fighting, or baiting, is a horrible fate for any animal. I can't imagine a family pet being thrown into that kind of meat grinder.
Even if most of the dogs are stolen for breeding or sale to pet stores or families elsewhere, the loss of a family pet can be painful.
I know one thing: This many dogs can't be stolen secretly. A lot of people must know or suspect something. Anyone who has any information should please call Greensboro Crimestoppers at 373-1000. Help put a stop to this ugly crime.
Comments (4)
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YIKES! Thanks for the warning. I'm going to teach Sparky to bite intruders!
I saw something on the news about the stolen pit bulls. They showed the house where the dog was stolen from....there were many pit bulls tied to various things, (trees, front porch, etc) with very short chains. To me, this is cruel in itself. Although this is a serious subject, I'm thinking that the dog in this story just ran away to find a better home.
When you see a LOT of pitt bulls tied around a yard, it makes you wonder where their fate lies in the first place. They certainly don't look like pets. I think they are just waiting till their next fight.
Posted on March 17, 2005 11:27 AM
doglover,
I think some people believe pit bulls are better for security - not thinking that the dogs themselves are likely to be stolen because of their value to others.
I don't like to tie or chain a dog, although I had one that would jump over the fence. We had to chain it until it was cured of that behavior.
Posted on March 17, 2005 3:22 PM
There is a simple solution to these types of problems. When you catch the people who did this, throw them into a pit of angry fighting dogs. I wonder if that might change their minds?
Eye for an eye!
Posted on March 29, 2005 4:24 PM
Good suggestion. Unfortunately, in these kinds of cases I doubt the punishment ever fits the crime.
Posted on March 29, 2005 5:03 PM