Nine months have passed since sheriff’s deputies came upon a heartbreaking scene in the Cranfield community — dozens of dogs chained up, injured, many in need of immediate veterinarian attention.

Within days nine of the more than 50 dogs found at the scene had to be euthanized after their injuries were deemed too significant to survive.

While the fate of the man authorities believe was operating a dogfighting training facility still awaits a grand jury’s decision, the impact of the case has already made a difference.

Outrage over the images of dogs suffering with injuries led to rapid action. Citizens from all over Mississippi lobbied to bolster the state’s dogfighting laws.

Championed by Sen. Bob M. Dearing, D-Natchez, the laws were improved during the 2018 Legislature.

The improved laws are not perfect, by any means.

We hope Dearing and others will strengthen them further in the next Legislature to further create a deterrent for dogfighting.

But the new laws prove two key things.

First, the tighter laws show that when citizens get upset and lobby for change, it can occur. It’s rarely as easy as anyone would like or it is typically as complete as one would hope. But change is possible with determination.

Second, the new law may give us all a bit of solace in realizing that the dogs who suffered and died as part of the suspected dogfighting ring may not have died in vain.

Their suffering pulled the hearts of many men and women enough to elicit change.