I just watched yet another video provided by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), on yet another law enforcement raid on a large dog fighting ring. Forty-five dogs were found on this particular property in Alabama; all of them in deplorable shape; all cruelly chained outdoors; all deprived of human kindness and love.
And one of the dogs found pictured here - a crippled, scarred, and extremely emaciated black bull terrier, sadly reminded me of one of the dogs I had found after Hurricane Katrina down on the Gulf Coast.
I called him ‘Scar Face,’ and when I found him, he was barely alive – he was covered with mange; he was emaciated and dehydrated; and numerous deep, festering wounds covered his entire body. But most of his horrendous injuries were not from Hurricane Katrina, they were from Dog Fighting.
Although Dog Fighting is now against the law in all 50 states, it sadly goes on and on and on, because most people don’t seem to care much about it, and because most people in this country continue to blindly ignore the horrendous things happening to Man’s Best Friend these days.
The following information was obtained from the ASPCA website, and it’s well worth reading:
Most law enforcement experts today divide dogfight activity into three categories: street fighting, hobbyist fighting, and professional activity:
· “Street” fighters engage in dog fights that are informal, street corner, back alley, and playground activities. Stripped of the rules and formality of the traditional pit fight, these are spontaneous events triggered by insults, turf invasions, or the simple taunt, “My dog can kill yours.” Many of these participants lack even a semblance of respect for the animals they fight, forcing them to train while wearing heavy chains to build stamina, and picking street fights in which they could get seriously hurt. Many of the dogs are bred to be a threat not only to other dogs, but to people as well—with tragic consequences.
“Street” fights are often associated with gang activities. These fights may be conducted with money, drugs, or bragging rights as the primary payoff. There is often no attempt to care for animals injured in the fight and police or animal control officers frequently encounter dead or dying animals in the aftermath of such fights. This activity is very difficult to respond to unless it is reported immediately.
· “Hobbyist” dog fighters are more organized, with one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year, as a sideline for both “entertainment” and to attempt to supplement income. They pay just a little more attention to the care and breeding of their dogs and are more likely to travel across state lines for events.
· “Professional” dog fighters often have large numbers of animals (often 50 or more) and earn money from breeding, selling, and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road. They often pay particular attention to promoting established winning bloodlines and to long-term conditioning of animals. They regularly dispose of animals that are not successful fighters or breeders using a variety of methods, including shooting and blunt force trauma. Unlike “professional” dog fighters of the past, both “professionals” and “hobbyists” of today may dispose of dogs that are too human-aggressive for the pit by selling them to “street” fighters or others who are simply looking for an aggressive dog—thus contributing to the dog bite problem.
In recent years, a fourth category of dog fighters seems to have sadly emerged, with some wealthy individuals from the sports and entertainment worlds allegedly using their financial resources to promote “professional” dog fighting enterprises, which essentially use the philosophy and training techniques usually associated with street fighting. (The Michael Vick case immediately comes to mind.)
How widespread is dog fighting in America?
As with any other illegal underground activity, it is impossible to determine how many people may be involved in dog fighting. Estimates based on fight reports in underground dog fighting publications, and on animals entering shelters today bearing evidence of fighting, suggest that the number of people involved in dog fighting in the U.S. is in the tens of thousands.
While organized dog fighting activity seemed to decline somewhat in the 1990s, many law enforcement and animal control officials feel that it has horrendously rebounded in recent years. Street fighting has reportedly continued to grow as a significant component of urban crime. The Internet has also made it easier for dog fighters to rapidly exchange information about animals and fights.
Is dog fighting more prevalent in one part of the country?
No. Dog fighting has been reported in urban, suburban, and rural settings in all regions of the country.
Fighters were traditionally attracted to states with weaker penalties for dog fighting and animal cruelty, many in the South—but laws continue to be made stronger throughout the country. As a result, this activity is no longer limited to any single area, but it is more likely to thrive wherever enforcement of anti-fighting laws is weak.
What types of people are involved in dog fighting?
Just as dog fighting cuts across many regions of the country, participants and spectators at dogfights are a diverse group. While some might typify dog fighting as a symptom of urban decay, not every dog fighter is economically disadvantaged.
There are people who promote or participate in dog fighting from every community and background in America. Audiences contain lawyers, judges, teachers, and even young children, drawn in by the excitement and thrill of this ‘blood sport.’
What other crimes are associated with dog fighting?
Many of the practices associated with the raising and training of fighting dogs can be prosecuted separately as animal abuse or neglect. In addition, dog fighting, by its very nature, involves illegal gambling. Dog fighters often face additional charges related to drug, alcohol and weapons violations as well as probation violations. Arguments over dog fights have also resulted in incidents that have led to charges of assault and even homicide. Other charges might include conspiracy, corruption of minors, money laundering, etc.
Why do people get involved in dog fighting?
There are many reasons people are attracted to dog fighting; the most basic is Greed. Major dog fight raids have resulted in seizures of more than $500,000, and it is not unusual for $20,000 - $30,000 to change hands in a single fight. Stud fees and the sale of pups from promising bloodlines can also bring in thousands of dollars.
For others, the attraction lies in using these animals as an extension of themselves to fight their battles for them and to demonstrate their strength and prowess. However, when a dog loses, this can cause the owner of the dog to lose not only money, but status, and may lead to brutal actions against the dog.
For others, the appeal simply seems to come from the sadistic enjoyment of a brutal spectacle.
What are the laws relating to dog fighting?
Dog fighting is now illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. As of 2007, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states. In most states, the possession of dogs for the purpose of fighting is also a felony offense. Being a spectator at a dogfight is currently a felony in 20 states, a misdemeanor in 28, and legal only in Georgia and Hawaii.
The federal Animal Welfare Act also prohibits the interstate transport of animals for the purposes of fighting. When federal animal fighting laws were initially enacted in 1976, dog fighting activities were considered to be a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year. For this reason, it was very rare that federal authorities were involved in the investigation or prosecution of dog fighting unless other crimes were associated with it, such as drug trafficking, alcohol or firearms violations, or financial crimes.
In 2007, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act with strong bipartisan support. The Act became law in May 2007, and provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export relating to commerce in fighting dogs, fighting cocks and cockfighting paraphernalia. Each violation can result in up to three years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
If dog fighting is so widespread, why don’t more cases come to light?
Dog fighting is a violent and highly secretive enterprise that is extremely difficult for law enforcement and investigative professionals to infiltrate. A dog fight investigation requires many of the same skills and resources as a major undercover narcotics investigation, and challenges the resources of any agency that seeks to respond to it.
An additional complication is that the evidence likely to be seized includes living creatures, who must be taken care of and maintained, while the judicial process unfolds. Most prosecutors would be happy to take on every dog fight case they could, but they are limited by the human and animal care resources available to them.
What can communities do to combat dog fighting?
The first step in combating dog fighting is for individuals to alert the authorities to any suspected or actual dog fighting activities in their area—identification of the problem is the first step to a solution.
In addition, the ASPCA recommends the formation of local or state task forces to address dog fighting. These groups should include members from all the major stakeholders in that community: law enforcement, prosecutors, animal control, animal welfare groups, veterinarians, public health officials, housing authorities, the neighborhood watch and others. The group should identify the nature of the problems in the area, the laws that could be applied to these problems, and the resources that are available. Dog fighting is most effectively addressed by a collaborative approach to this heinous crime.
What can citizens do?
The enforcement of animal cruelty laws begins with the individual. If you see something, please say something—notify your local police and/or humane law enforcement of any suspicious activities that suggest dog fighting is taking place in your community.
It’s about time that we all get involved, on behalf of Man’s Best Friend, to stop both Dog Fighting, and Puppy Mills.
AM
Fee
My God! not even in Chine, where they eat them, would dream of participating in such a travesty!
For those loving dogs, this article is very distressing.
Georg