What is Dog Fighting?
Dog fighting is an insidious underground organized crime that deserves much legal and political scrutiny. The blood sport, once sanctioned by aristocracy, embraced by medieval gentry and later promoted by colonial and Victorian miscreants, is now completely outlawed in the United States. Notwithstanding the absolute prohibition in America, it has reached epidemic proportions in all urban communities and continues to thrive in many rural areas as well. The collective American conscience has long been repulsed by the undeniable brutality within the culture of dogfighting, but the law enforcement community has been regrettably lax in appreciating the full scope and gravity of the problem. Historically, the crime was erroneously classified as an isolated animal welfare issue, and as such has been predominately disregarded by law enforcement. The communities that have been morally, socially and culturally scarred by the menacing pestilence of dogfighting have paid dearly for the apathy of the legal community. From a very early age, children are routinely exposed to the unfathomable violence that is inherent within the blood sport. Even seasoned law enforcement agents are consistently appalled by the atrocities that they encounter at dog fights, yet the children that grow up exposed to it are conditioned to believe that the violence is normal; they are systematically desensitized to the suffering, and ultimately become criminalized. Dog fighters are violent criminals that engage in a whole host of peripheral criminal activities. Many are heavily involved in organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, or gangs, and they arrange and attend the fights as a forum for gambling and drug trafficking. Within the last decade, enlightened law enforcement agencies and government officials have become cognizant of the clandestine culture of dog-fighting and its nexus with other crimes and community violence. Many individuals continue to deny the existence or scope of dogfighting in America, or they maintain that it is merely an isolated animal welfare issue; however, it is increasingly difficult to defend such an archaic notion in the face of overwhelming legal and empirical evidence to the contrary.
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm#s1
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm#s1
The "Fighting Dog" has few friends.
They live lives of brutality and unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who gamble on their deaths, while betrayal and death await them at "humane" societies if they are "rescued".
These animals are victims of cruelty.
Don't support "humane" groups that don't include these dogs in their circle of compassion.
These animals are victims of cruelty.
Don't support "humane" groups that don't include these dogs in their circle of compassion.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DOG FIGHTING:
For those of us who enjoy our dogs as partners in work, sport or simply as life-companions, it is difficult to believe that a subculture of people raise and keep dogs for the purpose of using them as gambling tools; pawns to be used in attempts to raise theirstatus, and to fulfill their desires to be "hangers-on" to someone or something bigger and better than themselves.
There can be no denying that the use of bulldogs throughout the past couple thousand years as hunters of rough, large game, controllers of bulls and as gambling tools against bulls, bears, badgers and their own kind, has shaped the dog into the breed we know today. But the use of the bulldog exclusively for dog fighting is a modern development which came about when bull-baiting was outlawed in the 1800's. You might be surprised to know that the "kennel club" breed known today as the "English Bulldog" wasn't even developed until a couple decades after bull baiting was outlawed.
The baiting of large, fierce animals such as bear or bull, was historically considered fit entertainment for royalty while the fighting of dog against dog was looked upon as a "poor relation" to the baiting of larger, more powerful animals. As long as there are men with no regard for societal laws seeking to prove the prowess of their dogs, there will be dog fighting. As law enforcement officers and concerned citizens, the best we can do is make an effort to educate ourselves and others about the realities of this bloodsport and make all efforts to come to the aid of the pit bulls which are the innocent victims.
While animal fighting occurs almost everywhere in the world, dog fighting and fighting dogs have historically been associated with the United Kingdom. The baiting of bulls by dogs was even required by law. Mr. Perkins in his treatise of Cases of Conscience (published 1632) states: "The baiting of the bear, and cockfights, are no meet [not good] recreations. The baiting of the bull hath its use, and therefore it is commanded by civil authority; and so have not these."
There can be no denying that the use of bulldogs throughout the past couple thousand years as hunters of rough, large game, controllers of bulls and as gambling tools against bulls, bears, badgers and their own kind, has shaped the dog into the breed we know today. But the use of the bulldog exclusively for dog fighting is a modern development which came about when bull-baiting was outlawed in the 1800's. You might be surprised to know that the "kennel club" breed known today as the "English Bulldog" wasn't even developed until a couple decades after bull baiting was outlawed.
The baiting of large, fierce animals such as bear or bull, was historically considered fit entertainment for royalty while the fighting of dog against dog was looked upon as a "poor relation" to the baiting of larger, more powerful animals. As long as there are men with no regard for societal laws seeking to prove the prowess of their dogs, there will be dog fighting. As law enforcement officers and concerned citizens, the best we can do is make an effort to educate ourselves and others about the realities of this bloodsport and make all efforts to come to the aid of the pit bulls which are the innocent victims.
While animal fighting occurs almost everywhere in the world, dog fighting and fighting dogs have historically been associated with the United Kingdom. The baiting of bulls by dogs was even required by law. Mr. Perkins in his treatise of Cases of Conscience (published 1632) states: "The baiting of the bear, and cockfights, are no meet [not good] recreations. The baiting of the bull hath its use, and therefore it is commanded by civil authority; and so have not these."
It is Dangerous to People ----- Especially Children
Exposure to dog fighting can have a direct effect on our children. They can be bitten or attacked by dogs used in fighting. They can be hurt or abused by other people at dog fights. They are also exposed to gangs, weapons, drugs, and gambling because those who fight animals are prone to participate in other illegal activities.
But beyond these immediate dangers, violence that is condoned and encouraged, such as in these fights, can effect children (as well as adults) by promoting a desensitization to the suffering others. They show that an acceptance of violence is a "norm."
But beyond these immediate dangers, violence that is condoned and encouraged, such as in these fights, can effect children (as well as adults) by promoting a desensitization to the suffering others. They show that an acceptance of violence is a "norm."