Punish the humans, not the dogs

I applaud Bridget DiCosmo's article on the plight of the dogs being abused in dogfighting rings. This is just a small sampling of what our area shelters and rescues see on a daily basis.

The focus for lawmakers has been on banning the dog breed. These dogs are not organizing the fights or taking the wagers. These dogs are not choosing to be tortured and abused. That is a human crime. The human element must be addressed in order to protect the communities and the dogs.

Behind every dog-related incident lies an irresponsible human being. It's time the penalties for this type of behavior were as harsh as the crime. Only then will we begin to see a change.

MELANIE COY, Cape Girardeau