The Cruel Underground World of Dog Fighting

Dog fighting is a horrible cruelty. Fights take the form of anything from trapping two dogs in a car truck and seeing who comes out alive, to putting them in an enclosed ring together while people watch and cheer the bloodshed. While some humans gain pleasure in watching others suffer… cruelty for the sake of entertainment is still cruelty, and the dogs are unwilling participants, trained to fight for survival.

Dogs that are commonly used in dog fighting are intact males. Their testosterone can be punched up by making them think a female in heat is near. The breed of choice is often the American Pit Bull Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Wolfhounds, but any mastiff breed, or terrier breed, can be used.

Photo source  One of the most famous fighting dogs.  He is in the pedigree of many of today’s American Pitt Bull Terriers, and Amstaff Terriers.

These dogs are poorly socialized right from the start. Good breeders keep puppies with their mother until they are seven, or eight weeks old. When pups are removed at a younger age they do not learn dog social skills. They are raised in cruel ways, taught to fear and hate other dogs.

As they get bigger the fighting dogs are introduced to the bait animals. Bait animals can be kittens, pups, cats, dogs, and rabbits. The dogs are tested to see how they respond, of course the desired response is for them to attack the bait animal, and tear it to shreds. To protect the fighting dog the bait animals mouth is typically taped shut. Kittens and declawed cats are more desirable than adult cats with claws but these will be used too, possibly with their paws taped together, again to prevent injury to the fighting dog.

Bait animals are typically acquired through theft and from “Free to Good Home” ads, as these people rarely screen potential new owners. Feral and stray animals may also be picked up and used for the purpose of training fighting dogs to kill.

Although it is often male dogs that fight, female dogs are also used, the best being used later to breed more pups.   In the recent Michael Vick Dog Fighting ring, at least one female dog (a former fighter) was found who had all her teeth removed and was being used as a breeding animal.  The teeth apparently removed so she could not hurt any males that were to breed her, or her handlers.  Restraints were also found that kept the females tied when being bred.

photo source

Dog fighting is an ancient bloodsport, with roots in raising strong dogs for hunting and protection. It since developed into purely an entertainment event, although it is also often a money making venture.

Money is often taken for admission, and in the form of wagers. The winning dog can command a high stud fee, the loosing dog, if he does not die in the process, or shortly there after, may be put to death as being an unsuccessful fighter.  Nobody is going to invest a lot of money on veterinary care for a dog that has lost a fight, and may continue to lose fights in the future.  In the Michael Vick case, it was learned that many of the losing dogs were killed by cruel means, strangulation, electrocution, torture, or gun shot.

In most countries dog fighting is illegal, but still continues, with dog fights held in abandon buildings, warehouses, back allies (or in car trucks as mentioned earlier), and other venues. Amazingly enough dog fighting was only recently made a federal felony in the United States (as of 2008), and it is now illegal to even attend such an event.

Amazingly enough in some cases, such as the Michael Vick case, area veterinarians not only knew of the activity, and did not report it, but in some cases worked on the dogs involved.  It was clear the female dog mentioned earlier had her teeth removed by somebody who knew what they were doing and while the dog was under anesthetic.

What can you do to end dog fighting?

Keep your pets safe so they do not become bait for this cruel industry.

Never give pets away “Free to good home” or at a low cost, without thoroughly screening the potential new owners (even doing a home check).

Report any missing pets, as a number of pets reported missing from an area can indicate active dog fighting in the area.

Report any rumors of dog fighting activity, or known dog fighting activity.

Never support this sport though money, or other means.

Raise children to respect all other living animals and if they show signs of finding pleasure in seeing animals suffer, find professional help for that child.

Support funding for local investigators and anti animal cruelty groups (such as your local SPCA).

Related Links

Is BSL Killing Nice Family Pit Bull Terriers?

How Pet Stores Support Cruelty

Crush Films

Cruelty in the Karakul Sheep Industry

Trunking

Bad Newz Kennels Investigation into the Michael Vick Dog Fighting Ring