As a Columbus native I am ashamed that dog fighting rings are still in existence, especially in my community. According to 10tv News, 45 innocent dogs were involved in the ring and forced to fight each other, creating pain for the dogs and also training them to engage in aggressive behavior. The dog fighting bust is a blessing to these poor dogs but it is a complete injustice that this fighting ring even occurred. These innocent dogs were forced into a life of destruction, anger, pain, and loneliness. Their only reward was the affection they received when they put out aggressive behavior and hurt other dogs.

When a dog is raised in an aggressive and abusive environment everything about the dog is affected. The dog is trained that aggression is good so the dog will continue to be aggressive until trained differently. I am in awe of humanity’s lack of respect for animals. All dogs want is to be loved and for these people to know that and use it against the animal is disturbing. People made the choice to use the dog’s love and affection to exploit the dogs and scar them for life. The dogs were trained that aggression is the only way for them to receive positive attention.

Many of the things these dogs have been through most likely have created long-term trauma that will affect the way they live every day, even though they have escaped the abusers. The dogs will be more prone to aggression, making their chance of being adopted much less likely. These dogs have been scarred and people who have continually abused these dogs for a prolonged period of time will finally be punished for the trauma they have inflicted on these dogs.

These dogs do not have a voice and that is why it is so important that we continue to speak out against heinous acts against innocent animals such as the ones in Columbus. As a community and as people in general we should be disgusted and outraged that people could commit such a horrific crime against living creatures. If someone is able to abuse animals in the way these people did, they are capable of doing it to humans too. I am worried for humanity if they do not see the problem with cruel acts against animals. These people need to be punished harshly because they have hurt innocent creatures that do not have the complete ability to fight back. Evil acts against animals are committed every day and are often left unnoticed.

As a community we need to become more aware of the cruelties that animals, such as these dogs, face every day. Once we recognize there is a legitimate problem in the way we view animals, acts of violence against animals can be stopped or lessened. Animals are not less than us, they are living creatures that feel pain just like us and deserve love. I for one am sick and tired of the cruelty that animals experience, I say enough is enough, these kind of acts are not welcome in my community or anywhere.