Dear Mayor Dixon, To have individuals set a living creature on fire (Phoenix, the pit bull) and stand by to witness this act is an outrage. This event has sent a disturbance throughout our city and its residents. It is proven that abusers of animals graduate to abusers of people. You also know the connection between animal abuse, dog fighting, gang activity, and illegal drug trade. Animal abuse and cruelty have been ignored by this City for too long. Cruelty of animals is a criminal act and it can no longer be ignored. It is disturbing to live in a City which has now been recognized as one of the most violent cities in the country. The message has been delivered to all those involved in animal cruelty that it is an acceptable norm. We are demanding this message be changed. This is what must happen for change: - The dog fighting task force must become an Animal Abuse Task Force; - Citizens must serve on the Animal Abuse Task Force; - Animal Control must be under the Police Department, not the Health Department; - Animal control officers must be police officers; and - The City must prosecute these animal abuse cases. Thank you.

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