Dog Fighting in the United States

Sick. Wrong. Inhumane. Disgusting. Evil. These are just some of the words that have been used to describe the practice of dog fighting. But for so many Americans, dog fighting is considered "entertainment", "harmless fun", and a "chance to make extra money".

While most Americans had been blind to the fact that dog fighting exists in the US until Michael Vick's conviction in 2007, dog fighting has a long history in America. Beginning in the 1600's and lasting well into the 1800's, dog fighting was a completely legal activity in the US. During the 1860's dog fighting became illegal in the United States, but this did not stop the "sport" but rather caused it to go underground where illegal dog fighting rings were formed. These underground, illegal rings still exist today.

Dog fights typically last about two hours. They end when one dog can no longer, or will no longer, continue. It is not uncommon for the fight to be fatal for both dogs, with death coming minutes, hours, or days later, depending on the nature of the injuries inflicted during the fight. Due to the fact that dog fighting is illegal, dogs that are used in dog fights are not treated by professional veterinarians for their injuries.

Dogs who have proven to be weak, or are deemed the loser during fights, are put to death by hanging, drowning, electrocution, strangling, shooting, or some other terrible method.

It is not only during the fight that these dogs suffer. Their entire existence consists of suffering. Dogs that will be used in dog fights are trained by their owners in a variety of methods. They are starved so they will become mean. They are beaten so they will become tough. They must carry heavy chains around their necks to increase muscle mass. They are forced to endure hours and hours of strenuous activity, such as walking on a treadmill, in hopes this will make them better in the ring.

Dog fighters also use bait animals when training dogs for fights. Frequently, these animals are caught as strays, adopted from local animal shelters, adopted from "free to a good home" advertisements, and some are even stolen pets. These bait animals get their back legs broken to reduce their speed, and then are used as practice for the fighting dogs to maul and kill.

Not only is dog fighting is dangerous and deadly for the dogs involved, it also poses a serious threat to the community. Dog fighting rings frequently bring a ring of gang members, drug users, and illegal gamblers into a community. Frequently children are present at these events, which adds to another generation of dog fighters and reduces sympathy and compassion for animals.

Dogs who are trained to be fighters also pose a huge risk to the community. In the event a dog fighter feels that a police crackdown will occur, sometimes the dogs used in fighting are abandoned in parks and other public areas. These dogs pose a huge threat to other animals and small children as they often view them as 'bait' and attack them.

Anyone who has ever owned a dog is aware of the loving nature of the species. For most people, the idea of dog fighting is unfathomable. Many charities are set up for the rehabilitation of dogs and a crackdown on illegal gambling rings. These sites accept donations and can be found on the web.

"Dogs Against Dog Fighting" shirts and bandannas are available through My Political Pooch. Your dog can now show his/her disgust for dog fighting. Our shirts are available in a variety of sizes fitting dogs 5-155lbs. A portion of every sale is donated to charity to help stop animal fighting and cruelty in the United States. Visit www.MyPoliticalPooch.com for more information.