Animal Legal Defense Fund Calls for Strong Sentencing in Dog Fighting Case

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2011-03-23 08:38:00 UTC
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Deputies thought they were responding to a possible burglary when they uncovered a dog fighting ring in Baker County, Florida. There were more than a dozen dogs at the scene; one who was so badly injured that he had to be euthanized on-site. Out in the woods behind the house, they found animal bones and a bloodied dogfighting pit.

Cletus Gaskins and Omar Aldridge were charged with animal cruelty and dog fighting. Aldridge also racked up a felony child neglect charge because, when police arrived, he took off, leaving his 4-year-old son sitting on a picnic table among the dogs. According to The Baker County Press, the boy told officers, "My daddy ran into the woods with everybody else." Daddy returned and tried to take the boy from the backseat of the police cruiser. He and Gaskins were arrested but, unfortunately, "everybody else" escaped.

Almost a year later, on March 8, 2011, Gaskins and Aldridge entered no contest pleas. The prosecution will present its sentencing recommendations at a hearing on April 27, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund wants to make sure the two men get punishments that fit their crimes.

As Aldridge's son has learned the hard way, people with no regard for animal suffering tend to have little regard for humans. "Tragically, it is not unusual for children to be victimized by this culture," writes ALDF. "[They're] either taken to fighting events by the very adults they should be able to count on to shield them from harm, or chronically exposed to squalid and dangerous living conditions."

Other criminal activities, including gambling, drug dealing and weapons offenses, are often found in connection to dog fighting cases, too. In other words, dog fighting isn't just cruelty to animals; it's a bloodsport that's bad news for everyone.

That's why ALDF wants to see Judge Rosier hand down aggressive sentences which recognize the cruel violence of dogfighting and the threat it poses to communities.

Sign the Animal Legal Defense Fund's petition in support of meaningful sentences for Gaskins and Aldridge.

If you live in the area and can attend the hearing to support the prosecution, you can find the details on ALDF's website.

Photo credit: mccoy77

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.

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