Wouldn’t it be nice if every story we heard about regarding dogs included something warm and fuzzy enough to be used as a child’s bedtime story? The adoption of a lost pup, the rescue of an owner from drowing/ fire/ stroke/ whatever from his faithful canine friend—these are stories we all like to hear, and why not? They make the endless supply of darkness we see every day a little more brighter.

Plus, we like to make baby faces at dogs and scratch their ears.

Unfortunately, most of the news we hear about dogs these days has to do with violence—abandonment, dogs left to die of heat stroke, neglect, abuse… And then, of course, there’s dog fighting, which you would think be over and done with by now.

Besides the fact that it’s unethical, unlawful and simply atrocious in every aspect, you have to wonder how people who run dog fighting rings can do it and then go to bed at night. I suppose they desensitize themselves somehow or another, but what about the screams, the blood? Seeing anything in pain like that just rips my guts up; how could you not just stand there and endure it—but bet on it, promote it, instigate it—and use it for entertainment?

Recently another round of dog fighter jerks was caught in Chicago. Not only were the acts these people committed atrocious in and of themselves, but so was the location they chose—the ring took place right next to a day care center. So not only did these fiends break the law, engage in violent, disgusting acts and kill dogs—they also made sure they were within hearing distance of little kids.

Charles Sutton, 42, ran his little operation next to the very day care his own wife operates. Ten kids were there, able to hear and possibly witness the acts—until Sutton’s wife had her child care license revoked after the ring was raided.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said that kids “were playing on a swing set just 10 feet away from a vicious fighting dog and bloodstained floors.” Syringes, bite sticks, drugs and harnesses were all also found at the scene.

Two other men, Martez Anderson, 38, and Lance Webb, 27 (wow, a pastime that closes the generation gap—no need to play checkers with Gramps, kids; just take him dog fighting) were arrested along with Sutton. Many abused dogs were found on Anderson’s property—along with a video of a dog being burned alive on his cell phone.

Though the three were originally arrested on misdemeanor charges, Anderson now faces a felony because of the video. It’s now being treated as a major Supreme Court case on First Amendment Rights, of all things.