Dog Fighting Awareness

The recent celebrity athlete involvement in a case of dog fighting will hopefully heighten awareness and bring about stricter penalties for offenders. Dog fighting has been around for years, and although the majority of society would never think of participating in this cruel act of abuse, most express outrage only when the “sport” is seen in the media.

Dog fights consist of two dogs, commonly American Pit Bull Terriers, fighting until one animal can no longer continue. These fights normally average about an hour as spectators of the fight bet thousands of dollars on the outcome. The ‘losing’ dogs often die from loss of blood, dehydration, or even exhaustion.

These dog abusers train their dogs to display aggression via ‘bait animals’ such as cats, rabbits, or smalls dogs. These animal victims can be strays, stolen pets, or even animals obtained through ‘free to good home’ ads. The fact that dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and a felony in most has not stopped these participates from holding such deplorable events.

Dog fighting displays a total disregard for the well-being of animals that we should be protecting and caring for and is often a base for illegal gambling. As these dogs have been trained to be aggressive toward other animals, both pets and humans are at risk in such communities. Children, due to their size, are sometimes mistaken as rival animals and attacked by these viciously trained dogs.

Because of the heightened awareness of dog fighting, many veterinary organizations are working to train veterinarians to recognize the telltale signs of a fighting dog. Certain types of injuries (old and new) are found on dogs that have been fighting and are not caused by any other activity. The owners of these dogs are often very willing to spend large sums to treat the dogs because the winning dogs can prove lucrative to their owners. Working together with law enforcement officials, veterinarians can play a vital role in stamping out this illegal and heinous behavior.

At Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul, we urge our readers to contact their local authorities to learn how they can help the animal victims of dog fighting. In addition, please use caution when giving away a pet and be sure they will be safe and well cared for in their new home.