Letter: Concerning cruelty, there are no excuses

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 | 7:17 a.m.

Regarding Paul Campos' July 26 column, "Dogs not only ones needing our outrage":

Mr. Campos refers to examples of old women being overworked and donkeys being damnably treated in Morocco , overeducated and privileged people being quite sentimental about animals , the fact that he is not a vegetarian , and that dog fighting is without question class-based. Mr. Campos provides his viewpoint on these subjects as reasons for his unease about the intensity of the outrage directed at Michael Vick, who has been indicted on federal dogfighting charges.

None of his viewpoints or statements justify Vick's senseless and inhumane actions or provide any excuse for Vick's needless torture and killing of defenseless animals for any reason. He deserves all the outrage and disgust he has needlessly brought upon himself.

To be humane and compassionate toward defenseless , innocent people and animals is the responsibility of all individuals regardless of their class, race or economic status, and these factors should never be used as an excuse to act otherwise.

Kathy Valente, Las Vegas