| |
NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Los Gatos, CA, United States, 2011/08/01 - The NBA’s first female scout, Bonnie-Jill Laflin, joins the fight to Knock Out Dog Fighting and encourages others to be part of the solution - KnockOutDogFighting.org / ForPitsSake.org.
|
| |
For Pits’ Sake, Inc. today announced that Bonnie-Jill Laflin, the first and only female NBA scout, has joined their award-winning Knock Out Dog Fighting program. Laflin is speaking out against the cruel and inhumane practice of dog fighting with the release of a new Knock Out Dog Fighting poster and encourages others to get involved.
“Dog fighting is animal abuse and a horrific way of life for dogs,” said Laflin. “These innocent animals are tortured and forced to fight to the death to 'entertain' cruel individuals. It's inconceivable to me that any human being could throw 'mans best friend' into a bloodbath when they should be treated as part of one's family. This whole industry just saddens and sickens me."
The Knock Out Dog Fighting program is an award-winning youth intervention program created to stop cruelty and abuse. The organization takes a proactive approach by partnering with schools, community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, juvenile detention facilities, law enforcement and gang prevention task forces to address the underlying reasons kids are fighting dogs and abusing animals.
Laflin was at a Knock Out Dog Fighting presentation for a group of young girls at a Boys & Girls Club just last week. She spoke to the girls about empathy for animals, finding their inner strength and purpose, and realizing their dreams. “Bonnie Jill possesses qualities that young girls can aspire to because she meets her challenges head on and takes leadership on issues she believes in, including giving a voice to those who have none,” said Crawford.
“The Knock Out Dog Fighting program isn't simply raising awareness about dog fighting,” said Laflin. “A lot of organizations are doing that, but unfortunately that's where they stop. We are actively involved in stopping the suffering of these animals by working with our youth and stopping the violence before it begins.”
The goal of the Knock Out Dog Fighting program is to create positive change by working with children to knock out cruelty and abuse in all its forms; animal, child, spousal and elder.
Research shows that children who abuse or commit violence towards animals are five times more likely to abuse or commit violence towards people. The Knock Out Dog Fighting program breaks this cycle by mentoring and working with children and young adults teaching them about empathy and that it's not a sign of strength, power or greatness to fight, torture, and abuse animals. This type of education creates a cycle of a different sort; a cycle of compassion.
“Our hope is that we can raise a generation of children that have empathy for others and don't think animal abuse is cool, funny or a sign of power,” says Crawford. “By stopping a child from abusing animals we not only save the animals we are also helping save the child and the community.”
Knock Out Dog Fighting team members (KnockOutDogFighting.org) are positive role models that are working in their communities teaching children and young adults that it is not a sign of strength, power or greatness to abuse and fight animals.
“We are very excited to have Bonnie-Jill on our team,” said Kris Crawford, Founder and Director of the Knock Out Dog Fighting program. “Bonnie-Jill is more than just a pretty face to put on our posters; she is part of the solution. Bonnie-Jill is actively involved by working with our youth teaching them that animal abuse is not cool and should not be tolerated.”
|
