that this following example proves what is wrong with society.
According to a story in The Washington Post, a woman in Maryland left her five kids and dog home alone in squalid conditions while she went to work. The children, ages 6 years old to 6 months old, were left on a dirty, sheetless bed. The dog was chained up without food and water.
She was charged with five counts of leaving her children unattended and two counts of animal cruelty. Each charge involving one of her kids carries a max penalty of 30 days in jail. Each animal cruelty charge gives a max of 90 days in jail.
So the animal was more important than the children?
That's what it seems like as we wait to hear what happens to Atlanta Falcons QB Mike Vick. There has been a huge uproar from this case. Some think it's because he's one of the most recognizable athletes in the country and he's accused of committing a crime. Others think it's because he allegedly treated the dogs with utter cruelty. Others think it's because he's black. And still others think it's because PETA saw a way to draw concern to its cause and took advantage.
All I'm saying is if we're going to treat Mike Vick's alleged treatment of these dogs with this much outrage, we need to treat teen drug-use in the suburbs AND the inner-city, teenage pregnancy, steroid use among high school athletes, nationwide poverty, a booming HIV/AIDS rate, poor healthcare services and so many other issues directly affecting humans everyday -- with even more reverence and rage.
While we wait for Vick let me just say ...
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I think we absolutely do pay more attention to issues involving children and larger social issues than we do to stories involving cruelty to animals. This particular story is getting so much attention simply because of the notariaty of Michael Vick, and I think the attention is warranted. This man is a role model and hero to countless children and adults, wether or not he wants to be. The fact that he may be involved in illegal activities is relevant and should be publicized. If the reports that not only did he organize dog fights but also participated in the TORTURE of innocent creatures are true, then he deserves to be punished to the maximum extent of the law. Famous or not, if he committed a despicable crime he needs to be punished. Righting this particular wrong does not lessen the importance of other social issues and drawing paralells makes no sense.
I believe that a lot of this publicity is due to the fact that Michael Vick is very visible figure and people know that if he's let off PETA will have a field day. I don't know if it's definitely true that we pay more attention to issues involving cruelty to animals than children. When's the last time you saw this many articles and stories dedicated to someone mudering their child? Look at Chris Benoit, perhaps the best wrestler of this generation. He definitely wasn't getting this much press. He got a lot, but not this much. Not only that, look at how the max penalty for dog abuse is greater than it is for child abuse.
OUT.
I can guarantee you that when this case gets to court the child conditions will be taken much more seriously, and the animal charges will probably be dropped. As an animal advocate, I work for dogs who live chained every day, and we're extremely lucky when any anti-cruelty laws are enforced and upheld in a court of law.
Any dogfighting is egregious, in this case there's plenty of proof and we have a very public figure. That adds up to a lot of publicity.
To read more about chained dogs and how you can help them, visit http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org