I'm distracted today.  There have been two EXTREMELY disturbing stories in the headlines in the last week.  As you all know, I love animals -- big or small (okay, not snakes).  I am completely disgusted by the recent animal cruelty cases out of Danville -- disgusted.

The first came last week when the humane society picked up a baby pit-bull who had her ears cut off with a box cutter.  My stomach drops even thinking about it.  The video made me sick and enraged.  Then yesterday another case -- a poodle who had a rubber band wrapped around its back leg and now it might lose that paw.  

I realize that we all have a different feeling about our animals.  They are a part of my family.  My dog is as much like a child to me as my children will be some day.  I have good friends that see a dog as a dog -- which is their business.  I'm sure they think I'm crazy because I allow the dog to sleep in bed with us (yeah, I know).  But these outright acts of violence are horrific.  They have got to stop.

I encourage you to watch for these kinds of things in your own neighborhood.  So often we don't follow our instincts and help those that can not help themselves.  I know, this is a preachy blog today, but these headlines have got to stop.  I applaud the Danville Humane Society in their efforts to prosecute the people who are hurting these animals -- and those who help fund the reward programs.  I can only hope other humane societies put this kind of effort into finding the people who are torturing their animals.

Danner Evans