When I was exec editor of an alternative weekly paper in Georgia, I wrote a couple of stories about classified ads which appeared in the local daily. The ads in question were obviously placed by pit bull breeders who were selling the dogs for fighting - a fact related to the paper by the local animal control department, whose officers had called the numbers in the ads, posing as potential buyers, to confirm their suspicions.
Despite the fact that dogfighting is, believe it or not, a felony in Georgia, the paper refused to pull the original ads, and even continued to take new ones. Not only that, the esteemed publisher testily - okay, angrily - defended the practice to me during an interview (which I tape recorded and printed verbatim). Basically, his point was that his paper had no control over how people (i.e. paying advertisers) used his paper's classified section, and if any laws were being violated, well, that was out of his paper's control and was a matter for the authorities.
Which brings us to this excellent item from NYCityPets, calling attention to the startling news that ubiquitous online retailer Amazon.com is a purveyor of videos and magazines that promote animal fighting. Due to pressure from the Humane Society of the United States - which is suing Amazon over its refusal to remove two cockfighting rags from its inventory - the bookseller has apparently pulled one title: the dog fighting vid "Unleashed."
According to Randi Bildner at The Pit Stop, "approximately 20 dogs were wounded, tortured or killed" during the filming of "Unleashed."
Cockfighting is against the law in every state except Louisiana and New Mexico. Yet Amazon is standing its ground on the cockfighting mags - which are apparently replete with advice on how to set up and maintain your very own stable of drugged up and mutilated birds - declaring itself a protector of free speech.
My publisher friend would be proud.
In other news:
- Eugene wins in 40. [NYT]
- Treating pets as luggage is unsafe and inhumane - but if you insist ... [Animal House]
- Slope Street TNR numbers higher than thought. [SSC]
- Introducing Detective Lenny Briscoe the Cat. [423smith]
