I'm forwarding Deborah's letter to friends and fellow activists asking them to do same. Here is my two cents:
Every Houstonian should know that our backstreets are no different to those of Kabul or Tijuana; and the attitude of local law enforcement and city officials doesn't seem to be any better. I'm outraged that the scenes in the attached pictures are but a 15-minute drive from where my husband and I live; maybe even closer to you. In my view, failing to demand, like Deborah, immediate action from the new mayor, the chief of police, and everyone with authority to enforce the laws against dogfighting, is tantamount to condoning it. Apathy; meakness; defeatism; laziness; "I cannot look at these pictures" ... These are the attitudes that enable monsters to continue dumping victims at the Corridor of Cruelty. These are the attitudes that enable our elected officials to work on furthering their careers instead of executing our wishes. These are the attitudes that make the animal advocacy front insignificant despite our significant numbers.
But back to cadavers in trashbags: Let's face it, every police precinct, every informant in the streets, every thug with one or more bully dogs in chains ... knows where the action is. Police should use the information at hand to raid the hell out of pits time and again, confiscate the dogs, and put the bastards in jail. Police should extract information by any means (waterboarding is fine with me) but we should try putting some teeth on the law first and make the police's efforts count. For example, deport any undocumented immigrant caught in or around a pit; confiscate vehicles and money of all in attendance to pay for veterinary expenses; create an official Web site listing the name, SS# , and mugshot of everyone caught in association with dogfighting; empower animal control officers with authority (and guns) to confiscate animals suspect of being fought; offer a reward for information leading to the raid of a dog-fight in progress; obstruct dog fighting operations ... diminish returns ... punish the perps to the fullest extent of the law.
And if dogs alone are not worth the risk it takes for cops to raid the pit du jour (and let's hope for everyone's sake that most cops don't feel this way), perhaps drugs, guns, human traffic, stolen property, child abuse, and rape, to mention some of the activities concomitant to the bloody spectacle could motivate cops to move in that direction.
Yeah we all have heard that all that's needed for evil to triumph is for you and me to do nothing ... blah, blah. Lamenting evil is doing nothing. Only a handful of women (hey Deb, let me know if there is a man among you), with grit to match Leonidas at Thermopylae, confront evil at the Corridor of Cruelty. Alone they cannot win; they need and deserve our help. If all you can do is send money debbzweb@yahoo.com or make calls and write emails, do it. Thank you. To get you in the spirit, please read Deborah's letter (twice), look at the pictures, get angry. That's your first personal step toward stamping out dog fighting in Houston.
For the canine gladiators who suffer and die needlessly. For the survivors who, inexplicably, remain man's best friend. For the few, the brave, the Corridor Rescue volunteers. -- Dolores
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On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Kelly Cripe
This letter was sent to the candidates for mayor.
Good morning,
As you may or may not know, I spearhead the animal rescue effort in the Corridor of Cruelty. I coined the term nearly a year and a half ago, and have coordinated the rescue of well over 100 animals from the area since August of 2008. I’ve also worked with the Spay Neuter Assistance Program and was able to bring them to the Corridor beginning in February of this year.
As with most major metropolitan areas, there is a huge stray animal problem in Houston. This is one of the reasons I became involved with hands-on rescue - to create a better life for as many stray dogs as I could. The particular area off I-59 and Little York caught my attention because of the great need that exists there.
Most people will agree that it is extremely sad the way in which dogs and cats are abandoned in the Corridor of Cruelty. And most will agree that it is a worthwhile endeavor to try and rescue and rehabilitate as many of them as possible. But aside from the live dogs being dumped in the Corridor of Cruelty, there exists a larger, even more insidious “dumping” problem. Over the past 16 months, my volunteers and I have watched as the dead dog dumping continues at a horrifyingly increasing rate in the Corridor. This type of activity is directly related to the gruesome “sport” of DOGFIGHTING. On a regular basis we find the corpses of dogs in black hefty trash bags littering the streets along the I-59 feeder road near Little York. These poor, tortured animals have either been used as bait or have been made to participate in organized fights. We always find these bodies on Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays - depending on when we are in the area along our feeding station routes. The reason we find them on these days is because the human criminals are holding dogfights on Friday and Saturday nights, and then disposing of their “waste” afterwards.
For over a year now I have contacted and continue to contact local authorities whenever we make another grisly discovery. I was encouraged, as many were, when the DA’s office and Crimestopper’s launched an anti-dogfighting campaign last February and used the Corridor as a springboard for their effort. As far as I know, not one arrest was ever made and I never saw a single billboard advertising the campaign. Supposedly there were 18 billboards and busboards also.
As we all know, DOGFIGHTING is a serious and dangerous criminal activity. If an elementary/high school poll was taken, I would not be surprised to learn that a great number of youths had either participated in a dogfight or been present at one. Is this type of activity something we want to run rampant and unchecked in our city? Do we want to be known as the “Dogfighting Capital of the U.S.”? Of course, not! But if our elected officials do NOT take a stand and provide for a special task force and budget to combat this crime, then I have no doubts that we will end up on the map known for this serious illegal activity.
Whoever wins the race for Mayor, I pray that you will be guided to do your best and utmost to stop illegal DOGFIGHTING activity in our city. It is not my job or the job of any other citizen of this city to get rid of this horrendous crime that takes place every day and eats away at the inner core of goodness of humanity. It is YOUR job!!! However, I stand ready to assist you in any way that I can to fight the fight against DOGFIGHTING in the Corridor of Cruelty in Houston.
Attached are photos of dogs found yesterday as well as photos from the past several months. Unfortunately, I have MANY more that I could show you. Just want you to see first hand what you are up against and what must be stopped…..for the dogs….for our youth…for our city’s future.
Respectfully,
Deborah Hoffman
President and Founder
Corridor Rescue
[One of the many grim photos below... CLL]
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