It is inexcusable that some people view the animal suffering involved in staged dog fights as a form of entertainment or a way to make a profit.  And it is difficult to believe that this illegal and shameful activity is on the upswing.

For those who are unacquainted with dog fighting, it involves placing two dogs in a pit (usually an area enclosed by plywood walls) where they must fight before a crowd of cheering spectators until one dog becomes too injured or exhausted to continue.  Dogs used in these brutal contests have been bred for maximum aggressiveness.  The fights may last from several minutes to more than two hours, and the dogs usually suffer painful injuries, including multiple puncture wounds, deep lacerations, and broken bones.  Dogs often die from dehydration, blood loss, infection, exhaustion, or shock as a result of a fight, and owners kill many of the losing dogs by gunshot or other methods.

Dog fighters often use stolen pets and stray or unowned animals as training fodder for their dogs.  Dog fighters have also been known to obtain "bait" animals through "free to good home" advertisements.

Aside from the animal suffering involved, this so-called sport has several other disturbing aspects, which have been revealed by law enforcement raids.  Gambling is the norm at dog fighting events.  Thousands of dollars can change hands as spectators bet on their favorite dogs.  The owner of the winning dog collects anywhere from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars in presumably undeclared income.  Because large amounts of cash are present, firearms and other weapons are common at dog fights.  Violent crimes, even homicides, have been connected to dog fighting in recent years.  Furthermore, law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between dog fighting and the distribution of illegal drugs.

The presence of young children at dog fights is especially disturbing.  Exposure to such brutality can promote insensitivity to animal suffering and enthusiasm for violence.  Anthropologist Margaret Mead suggested that acts of cruelty to animals committed in childhood may signify the development of an impulsive, assaultive character disorder.  Psychiatrists at the Menninger Foundation revealed that a history of cruelty to animals can be symptomatic of seriously abnormal aggression and that such aggression is significantly associated with aggressive behavior directed against other humans.  Animal fighting is a vicious and brutal activity that can breed violence.

Extracted from The Humane Society of the United States
Sample letter to the Editor about Dog fighting.
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