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Dog-Fighting
Realities
Until There's No Fight Left: Pit Bull Fighting in
the U.S.
Through no fault of their own, pit bulls have a bad reputation. For
decades, they have been bred for fighting, trained to be aggressive
and attack relentlessly, and rewarded for killing. Pit bull fighting
is a "sport" in which dogs are forced to fight and endure
incredible pain and suffering for the profit, status and entertainment
of the people involved, despite the consequences it may have on innocent
people, other animals, and society as a whole.
Pit bull fighting occurs throughout the country, from elaborate underground
dog fighting rings to makeshift pits in people's basements and spontaneous
street matches where people can make a quick buck. The primary motivation
for fighting pit bulls is, of course, money. For some, it is a primary
source of income and thousands of dollars exchange hands at high stakes
events featuring pedigreed fighters. Because of the money, dog fighting
is generally linked to other criminal activity such as gambling, the
use and sale of illegal drugs, illegal weapons possession (mainly due
to the large amounts of cash present), and general acts of violence….
Training and Fighting and Kids
There are different methods of training depending on the level of the
fights. The goal is to develop a tough, aggressive dog with a killer's
instinct-especially when it sees another animal. For this reason, dogs
are often given smaller animals such as cats, rabbits and smaller dogs
as "bait" in training. These animals are often confined in
what is called a "cat mill" as they are chased by the pit
bull in training. The pit bull is encouraged to chase the frightened
animal who is eventually released from the "cat mill" only
to be attacked or killed as the dog's reward….
Training also involves elaborate workout regimens, complete with treadmills
(for speed and endurance), tires or other devices to develop strong
jaws, and other methods to build "toughness." The dogs are
sometimes given steroids and even cocaine to increase strength and aggressiveness,
especially at the beginning of a fight.
The fights occur in a pit, typically 16 x 16 x three feet in size,
so the animals cannot escape. The floor is usually a thick carpet and
the walls are made of wood. The dogs must remain in the pit anywhere
from one to two hours on average until one is declared the winner….
Raids frequently uncover sharpened ax handles, electrical shocking
devices and other pieces of equipment used to force the animals to continue
fighting when they might be severely injured and want to quit. The fight
survivors come away severely mauled, bruised, bloodied, and lacerated,
with broken bones. If they don't die immediately after a fight, dogs
often die days later from blood loss, shock, infection and dehydration
if not cared for properly. Many dogs are found simply discarded on the
street, left to die.
Another disturbing feature is the number of children in attendance
at fights. Numerous raids have found the children of spectators and
owners participating in and watching the fights. Exposure to such fights
at a young age creates an early desensitization to violence and animal
cruelty. Psychologists have found that cruelty to animals early in life
has been linked to or leads to other forms of violent, antisocial and
delinquent behavior.
It is a big business, and many thousands of dogs are sold for this
purpose. The specific qualities of the dog, for example whether they
attack humans, do not matter. Generalized aggression is what matters.
Numerous sources, including the SPCA of Central Florida, stress that
it is not the breed that is to blame, but the people who train the dogs
to kill. Yet it is the animals who suffer tremendously. Unfortunately,
animals bred to fight are extremely dangerous and aggressive, and usually
have to be put to sleep.
Dog fighting is a felony in many states including Florida. Yet in others,
it is still only a misdemeanor. In these states, punishments are no
deterrent since the amount of money people can make at a fight far outweighs
the insignificant fines for being caught. Many involved simply write
it off as the cost of doing business. The police are restricted in arresting
and pressing charges against those involved with dog fighting if the
charge is simply a misdemeanor. Furthermore, the underground nature
of dog fighting makes it difficult and expensive to investigate, even
in states where it is a felony.
If you would like to report your concerns about possible animal
neglect, abandonment or cruelty, please contact the SPCA of Central
Florida at Investigate@OrlandoPets.org.
