What is Dog Fighting?
Dog fighting is a bloody sport where two dogs are put in a pit to fight each other, often to the death. It involves breeding and training dogs to enhance aggression and a desire to attack other dogs. The goal is for one dog to either kill the other dog or render it unable to continue fighting. Rules vary, but dog fights can last for hours until one dog dies or concedes defeat. Dogs used in fights are specifically bred for aggression, strength, and fighting ability. They undergo intensive training starting as puppies to make them suitable for the violent encounters in the fighting pit.
Dog fighting is considered a blood sport due to its inherently violent nature and intent to inflict harm. The dogs are encouraged to attack each other brutally, biting and tearing with their teeth, which results in bloody wounds, injuries, and often the death of one or both dogs. The fights continue until the dogs can no longer physically engage in combat. Spectators often bet on the outcome, treating the bloody battles as entertainment and sport. Hence, dog fighting qualifies as a type of blood sport.
Although dog fighting is now illegal in most countries, it was popular as a blood sport in parts of the world from ancient times through the early 1900s. Some evidence suggests it dates back to the Roman Empire, but the practice became especially widespread in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In England, dog fighting was promoted at the organized level, with rules, sanctioned venues, and patrons from aristocracy and nobility attending the events. It was a popular form of entertainment and gambling, with fans breeding dogs specifically for fighting. Dogs such as Bulldogs and Bull Terriers were developed for the “sport,” which often resulted in severe injuries and death for the animals.
Dog fighting spread to America with European colonization and continued in both rural and urban areas into the 20th century. The practice began facing opposition from animal welfare advocates, leading to its banning in most developed countries by the mid 20th century. However, underground dog fighting still occurs and the blood sport continues in some parts of the world today.
Prevalence Today
While dog fighting is illegal in all 50 US states and many other countries around the world, it still persists as an underground activity. Law enforcement and animal welfare groups estimate there are thousands of dog fighters still actively participating in organized fights in secret locations across the country.
One of the challenges in assessing the full scope of dog fighting is that it is extremely difficult to track as participants go to great lengths to avoid detection. Fights are held in remote areas, often late at night or early in the morning. The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are tens of thousands of people involved in dog fighting across the US.
Major hubs of activity include urban centers such as Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Dog fighting also occurs in rural and suburban areas across the country. Cases have been uncovered in almost every state, indicating it is a widespread phenomenon.
Law enforcement rescues approximately 10,000-20,000 dogs from dog fighting operations every year in the US. However, this likely represents a small fraction of the total number of dogs involved. Rings operate in tight-knit networks that can be difficult for outsiders to infiltrate.
While the peak of dog fighting in the US occurred in the late 1970s and 80s, the resilient blood sport continues to exist today. Advocates believe education and stronger enforcement of laws are still needed to end dog fighting completely.
Rules and Process
Dog fights are organized in different ways, but there are some common rules and practices. Fights usually take place in a pit or small enclosed area to contain the dogs.Spectators gather around the pit to watch and bet on the outcome.
The fights can be impromptu street fights between two dogs and their owners. However, more organized dog fights are presided over by a referee. There are written rules agreed upon beforehand regarding the weight and sex of the dogs, handling of the fight, declaring a winner, and what happens if a dog dies.
Before the fight, the dogs’ weights are checked to ensure they are evenly matched. The referee oversees the wash – cleaning the dogs and checking for prohibited substances. After the wash, the dogs are brought into the pit and released to start fighting on the referee’s signal.
During the fight, there are rules against handling or touching the dogs except for the referee. Spectators are not allowed to disrupt the fight. The fight ends when one dog fails to scratch – cross a line in the pit within a time limit after a break in fighting. The last dog standing wins.
After the fight is over, the losing dog may be discarded, shot, or repurposed for breeding. The winning dog’s reputation grows and its value as a fighter or stud increases. This fuels the dog fighting economy, with significant gambling and breeding investments.
Training and Preparation
Dogs bred and trained for dog fighting undergo intensive preparation to get them ready for the ring. From a young age, they are put through rigorous exercise regimens to build up their strength and stamina. They are usually chained or kept in small pens to increase their aggression and provoke territorial behavior.
Trainers encourage violent tendencies by conditioning the dogs not to show submission and to keep fighting no matter what. Common training practices involve having them attack tackle dummies, tires, or other dogs to hone their biting skills. They may also be provoked or starved to elicit violent reactions. Some trainers give dogs steroids or other drugs to increase their ferocity and pain tolerance.
Many fighting dogs spend most of their lives tethered, chained, or caged. They are continually goaded and tested by their handlers to ensure maximum viciousness in the ring. The training regimen is designed to produce dangerous fighters, resulting in animals prone to uncontrolled violence and aggression, even toward their handlers.
Injuries and Health Risks
Dog fighting exposes animals to severe and often fatal injuries. The most common injuries seen in fighting dogs are open wounds, broken bones, blood loss, and dehydration. Puncture wounds from dog bites are extremely prevalent, often leading to infections that can spread systemically. Dogs used in fights frequently have damaged teeth, gums, jaws, and missing ears and lips where opponents have bitten them off. Hearing loss is also common from having their ears chewed on repeatedly.
The intense physical exertion leads to exhaustion, shock, and collapse. Many dogs die immediately in the ring from their wounds or sheer exhaustion. Other life-threatening conditions like heat stroke and heart attacks are common with the extreme physical duress. Even dogs that survive rarely receive proper veterinary care, which leads to long-term suffering, complications, and disability.
In addition to physical trauma, fighting dogs suffer extreme fear, stress, and psychological damage from the abuse. They are often socially isolated, deprived of normal social interactions, and forced to remain alert and aggressive, contributing to their overall poor welfare.
Legal Status
Dog fighting has been outlawed all across the United States since 1976. Even attending or organizing a dog fight is a felony in every U.S. state. The federal Animal Welfare Act makes transporting animals for the purpose of fighting a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
In the United Kingdom, organizing a dog fight or allowing a premises to be used for this purpose is a criminal offense punishable by heavy fines and even imprisonment of up to 6 months. Approximately 150 dog fights and around 250 dog fighting-related arrests take place in the UK each year. While breeding and owning fighting dogs is still legal, a new amendment in 2021 aims to completely prohibit any involvement with dog fighting.
Many other countries have banned dog fighting, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, and South Africa. The practice is still legal, weakly regulated, or culturally accepted in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Japan, India, China, South Korea, the Philippines, and some Central/South American countries. However, in most parts of the world, dog fighting is increasingly stigmatized and considered cruel by authorities and the general public.
Arguments in Favor
Some people argue that dog fighting should be allowed for the following reasons:
Tradition – Dog fighting has a long history and tradition in some cultures. Proponents argue it is part of their cultural heritage.
Sport – Supporters see dog fighting as a valid test of strength and gameness in dogs, similar to other blood sports involving animals.
Economics – Dog fighting can generate money through admission fees, gambling, and stud fees for champion fighters. This provides income for breeders and handlers.
Skill – Advocates believe there is skill involved in breeding, raising, and training fighting dogs. It takes dedication to create champion fighters.
Entertainment – For some, watching dog fights is an exciting spectator sport and form of entertainment on par with other violent sports.
Population control – In theory, dog fights may help control stray dog populations in certain areas by killing off weaker animals.
Individual liberty – Some supporters believe dog fighting should be a personal choice and government should not infringe on that liberty.
Arguments Against Dog Fighting
There are many ethical objections to the practice of dog fighting. The most commonly cited moral argument is that forcing dogs to viciously attack each other for human entertainment is inherently cruel and inhumane. Dogs experience fear, pain, and suffering just as humans do, and deliberately inflicting harm on them is unacceptable to most people.
Another objection is that dog fighting glorifies violence purely for violence’s sake. Unlike some other competitive sports which may involve danger or contact, dog fighting has no purpose other than hurting another living being. Many think this sends an unethical message that aggression should be encouraged and celebrated.
Additionally, the intentional breeding and raising of dogs specifically for fighting is seen as exploiting them solely as means to an end, rather than treating them with care and respect as sentient creatures. The dogs used in fights lead short, abusive lives filled with cruelty and harm. This instrumentalization of dogs is unacceptable to most animal welfare advocates and pet owners.
Dog fighting also normalizes gambling on animal cruelty. Large sums of money often change hands as spectators bet on which dog will injure or kill the other. This makes a spectacle out of violence and death, which most consider highly unethical. For these reasons and more, dog fighting is opposed by moral philosophers, religious leaders, animal rights activists and compassionate citizens.
Alternatives and Rehabilitation
There are alternatives for those who wish to pursue a more humane path with their dogs. Many organizations work to rehabilitate and rehome dogs previously used in fighting operations.
Some key efforts in this space include:
- Rescue programs that take in former fighting dogs and provide medical care, training, socialization, and adoption services. These programs aim to counteract the abuse and cruelty these dogs endured.
- Sanctuary farms that provide a permanent home for dogs who cannot be adopted due to extreme behavioral challenges. These provide a safe, enriched environment for dogs to live out their lives.
- Advocacy campaigns to strengthen penalties for dogfighting and require perpetrators to pay for rehabilitation expenses. These initiatives help deter future dog fighting activities.
- Humane education programs in schools and communities that teach empathy and appropriate treatment of animals. Over the long-term, these efforts can shift cultural attitudes.
- Promoting positive activities with dogs such as agility, obedience training, therapy work, and more. Constructive pursuits encourage bonding and discourage abuse.
While the trauma of dog fighting cannot be undone, rehabilitation and education programs strive to provide a path forward for both people and dogs caught in this cycle of violence.