Stop Animal Fighting In New York City

Please sign this petition to request that Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Jacob Kaplan, Judge Steven Barrett and all eight Bronx City Council Members:  Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Maria Baez, Helen D. Foster, G. Oliver Koppell, Annabel Palma, Joel Rivera, Larry B. Seabrook,  James Vacca  to please send a strong message to the community that ANIMAL FIGHTING NEEDS TO STOP!

We would like to ask the ADA and Judge to insure that the defendants below be given no plea deals and instead receive the maximum punishment allowed by law.

We would also like to request that Judge Barrett forbid any further defense delay tactics, i.e.  "defendants who can't attend court due to flat tires and soar  throats" ... These truly are shameful excuses!
 
Finally, we ask that all eight Bronx Council Members listed above to educate themselves on their community by reading the articles below.  Our hope is that they take action and insist on more NYPD enforcement against dog and cock fighting and to also create awareness that these unspeakable crimes will not be tolerated!
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142009/news/regionalnews/dogfight_cur_awol_at_court_150074.htm

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01242009/news/regionalnews/bronx/cops_bust_bronx_cock_fighting_ring_151682.htm

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142007/news/regionalnews/dogfight_capital_of_the_world.htm

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2003/04/29/2003-04-29_say_raid_won_t_stop_cockfigh.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2000/06/05/2000-06-05_cops_grab_190_on_cockfighting.html

16 pitbulls found in Bronx dogfighting house of horrors

Sunday, June 15th 2008- NY Daily News

Cops rescued 16 pitbulls and two roosters from a filthy Bronx basement that doubled as a dogfighting ring - but one of the mauled dogs died on the way to a shelter, authorities said Sunday.  Police arrested seven men from the Bronx and New Jersey, including suspected ringleader Alexander Estephane, 44, who lives in the Bronx building that neighbors have long suspected housed the inhumane blood sport. The other suspects were identified as Lauritz Acoy, 41, and Eric Boyce, 33, both of the Bronx, and Israel Cuevas, 34; Juan Toldo, 38; Alterik Mason, 29, and Darnell Walker, 34, all of New Jersey.  

READ FULL STORY HERE: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/06/15/2008-06-15_16_pitbulls_found_in_bronx_dogfighting_h-2.html

Dog fighting does not occur in a vacuum.   Dog fighters are violent criminals that engage in a whole host of peripheral criminal activities.  Many are heavily involved in organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, or gangs, and they arrange and attend the fights as a forum for gambling and drug trafficking.  The commitment of police resources to the apprehension of dog fighters is not a sacrifice of those from other areas of law enforcement.  On the contrary, individuals apprehended for dog fighting are the same gang members, drug-dealers, robbers and violent criminals that the vice, narcotics and gang units actively seek to arrest.  Dog fighting raids tend to result in mass arrests for multiple offenses whereby serious and habitual criminals, that may otherwise be unattainable, are easily and efficiently apprehended. 

Furthermore, dog fighting and animal abuse are child welfare issues.  As most urban youth are routinely exposed to dog fighting and its peripheral crimes, they are desensitized to violence and suffering and ultimately become criminalized and perpetuate that cycle of violence.  The plight of animals in inner-city areas is often so blatantly obvious; even those who are not involved with dog fighting are routinely exposed to the abuse and neglect of animals.