Rachel+A’s+2016+OpEd+Article

= "Monsters aren't real, but humans are". =

=== Abuse is a man made activity, it is unfair to describe an abusive human as acting like an animal (unfair to the animals that is). Don’t get me wrong, any type of abuse on any living creature should be considered inhumane, but not animalistic. Humans are technically considered animals, but the one main difference between both types of entities is that one has the //opportunity// of having reason, while the other has //no choice// but to rely on instinct. I say opportunity because committing animal abuse is actuated by irrationality, it is not animalistic, but instead, a monstrosity. === === One out of, unfortunately, the many cruel forms of animal abuse is dog fighting. Not only do those running a continuous business of dog fighting earn up to hundreds of thousands of dollars after every permanent gallon of blood spilled, staining the rink trapping the two dogs, but they find this sadistic competition as entertainment. People pay to see dogs fight to the death, to see which dog is the strongest, to see which dog gives the death blow to give the winning bets a "bragging right". One can only go so low, but to be that compassionless, to be that immoral, taints humanity and not just for those running the dog fight or for being the ignorant spectator, but taints humanity as a whole. The youth are meant to mature into a human beings with reason, but ⅔ of known dog fights have included teens or even young kids who bet with a brainwashed mind thinking the more brutal, the better. === ===  Dog fighting seems to be more of an epidemic secluded in poverty ridden environments, where the people are in need of quick money despite the additional earning of malice. However, in 2007, NFL star quarterback, Michael Vick was exposed. He earned millions each year, and that just wasn’t enough. After a search warrant took effect ( accidentally, as the police were investigating another case with Vick’s arrested cousin), the property he purchased specifically for "Bad Newz Kennel" dog fighting revealed the man he really was. This property held 50 dogs all covered in notably graphic scars not even measuring up to the emotional scars that ties in. The rink that trapped the baited “entertainment” was stained with scarlet, and there was a pool and cable wires nearby. A pool for swimming, right? Cable wires to connect to an outlet, obviously. The unethicality could not be hidden, even with a wallet holding three million dollars. === ===  18 months of prison doesn’t accommodate the 50 dog lives that were vandalized ruthlessly, two of which had to be euthanized due to extreme aggression. One has to be damaged enough to be able to allow the pulling of all 42 teeth from a female dog named Georgia in order to put the “rape stand” to proper use. One has to be damaged enough to drop the dog wearing the fatal collar on a tree, because that dog lost the bet and disillusioned their precious reputation. The physical scars that flaw the once pure fur hides the pain and fear that cannot be described with words. Those dogs were conditioned and trained to kill, they had no choice; although humans are capable of reason, some decide to be incapable of valuing the intangible over the tangible. ===