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These questions and answers provide helpful, factual information about this vicious and much too common “sport.”
History: Then and Now
Who Is Involved?
The Dogs Used in Fighting
What Happens in a Dog Fight?
Laws and Community Response
Dog Fighting in New York City
History: Then and Now
Q. When and how did dog fighting come to America?
Although there are historical accounts of dog fights going back to
the 1750’s, widespread activity emerged after the Civil War, with
professional pits proliferating in the 1860’s, mainly in the Northeast.
Ironically, it was a common entertainment for police officers and
firemen, and the “Police Gazette” served as a major source of
information on dog fighting for many years. Although many laws were
passed outlawing the activity, dog fighting continued to expand
throughout the 20th century.
Q. Where did these animals come from?
Many of the animals were brought from England and Ireland, where
dog fighting had begun to flourish after bull-baiting and bear-baiting
became illegal in the 1830’s.
Q. What has been the role of the ASPCA in combating dog fighting over the years?
Henry Bergh, founder of the ASPCA, was particularly repulsed by
the brutality of the dog fighting he saw in New York and elsewhere. His
1867 revision of the state’s animal cruelty law made all forms of
animal fighting illegal for the first time, including bull, bear, dog
and cock fighting. The involvement of regular police in dog fighting
activity was one of the reasons Bergh sought and received authority for
the ASPCA to have arrest powers for his own humane law enforcement
agents to enforce these tough new laws.
Throughout its history, the ASPCA has fought for stronger laws
against all forms of animal cruelty. A 1981 report commissioned by the
ASPCA entitled “Dog fighting in America: A National Overview,”
concluded that dog fighting was more widespread than the public or law
enforcement imagined and that stronger laws at the state and federal
level were needed.
Q. How does the ASPCA combat dog fighting today?
Today, the ASPCA incorporates information on blood sports in the
animal cruelty trainings it provides in New York’s police academies as
well as in police officer trainings around the country.
It also provides training on a national level to animal control
officers and veterinarians on how to identify the signs of animal
cruelty, as well as in crime scene investigation (CSI).
In addition, the ASPCA regularly provides training and assistance to
prosecutors on how to build an effective case against those charged
with these crimes, and its experts often serve as witnesses in many
such cases. Several ASPCA staff have published educational and
reference books on animal cruelty investigation and prosecution, which
are widely referred to all around the country.
The ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) department is active in
enforcing New York City’s animal cruelty laws and has played a vital
role in raising awareness of animal cruelty through its presence on the
hit reality television show “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet.
Who Is Involved?
Q. Who is involved in dog fighting?
Most law enforcement experts divide dogfight activity into three
categories: street fighting, hobbyist fighting and professional
activity:
- “Street” fighters engage in dog fights that are
informal, street corner, back alley and playground activities. Stripped
of the rules and formality of the traditional pit fight, these are
spontaneous events triggered by insults, turf invasions or the simple
taunt, “My dog can kill yours.” Many of these participants lack even a
semblance of respect for the animals they fight, forcing them to train
while wearing heavy chains to build stamina, and picking street fights
in which they could get seriously hurt. Many of the dogs are bred to be
a threat not only to other dogs, but to people as well—with tragic
consequences.
“Street” fights are frequently associated with
gang activities. The fights may be conducted with money, drugs or
bragging rights as the primary payoff. There is often no attempt to
care for animals injured in the fight and police or animal control
officers frequently encounter dead or dying animals in the aftermath of
such fights. This activity is very difficult to respond to unless it is
reported immediately. “Professional” fighters and “hobbyists” decry the
techniques and results of these newcomers to the “blood sport.”
- “Hobbyist” fighters are more organized, with
one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year as a
sideline for both “entertainment” and to attempt to supplement income.
They pay more attention to care and breeding of the dogs and are more
likely to be traveling across state lines for events.
- “Professional” dog fighters often have large
numbers of animals (often 50 or more) and earn money from breeding,
selling and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road. They
often pay particular attention to promoting established winning
bloodlines and to long-term conditioning of animals. They regularly
dispose of animals that are not successful fighters or breeders using a
variety of methods, including shooting and blunt force trauma. Unlike
“professional” dog fighters of the past, both “professionals” and
“hobbyists” of today may dispose of dogs that are too human-aggressive
for the pit by selling them to “street” fighters or others who are
simply looking for an aggressive dog—thus contributing to the dog bite
problem.
In recent years a fourth category of dog fighters seems to be
emerging, with some wealthier individuals from the sports and
entertainment worlds allegedly using their financial resources to
promote “professional” dog fighting enterprises, which essentially use
the philosophy and training techniques usually associated with street
fighting.
Q. How widespread is dog fighting in America?
As with any other illegal underground activity, it is impossible to
determine how many people may be involved in dog fighting. Estimates
based on fight reports in underground dog fighting publications, and on
animals entering shelters with evidence of fighting, suggest that the
number of people involved in dog fighting in the U.S. is in the tens of
thousands.
While organized dog fighting activity seemed to decline in the
1990’s, many law enforcement and animal control officials feel that it
has rebounded in recent years. Street fighting has reportedly continued
to grow as a significant component of urban crime. The Internet has
also made it easier for dog fighters to rapidly exchange information
about animals and fights.
Q. Is dog fighting more prevalent in one part of the country or another?
No. Dog fighting has been reported in urban, suburban and rural settings in all regions of the country.
Fighters were traditionally attracted to states with weaker
penalties for dog fighting and animal cruelty, many in the South—but
these laws have generally been made stronger throughout the country. As
a result, this activity is no longer limited to any single area, but it
is more likely to thrive wherever enforcement of these laws is weak.
Q. Are there any existing statistics that address the prevalence of dog fighting state-by-state?
Currently, there are no reliable statistics. This is an underground,
illegal activity so it is almost impossible to get accurate information
about its prevalence. However, animal control and humane agencies in
all parts of the country frequently encounter pit bulls with scars and
other indications that they may have been fought, and documented
reports of these incidents are certainly on the rise.
Q. What types of people are involved in dog fighting?
Just as dog fighting cuts across many regions of the country,
participants and spectators at dogfights are a diverse group. While
some might typify dog fighting as a symptom of urban decay, not every
dog fighter is economically disadvantaged. There are people who promote or participate in dog fighting from every community and background. Audiences contain lawyers, judges and teachers drawn in by the excitement and thrill of the blood sport.
Q. Is it true that “hip-hop” or “rap” culture promotes dog fighting?
No. Although many people associate dog fighting themes and images
with “hip-hop” or “rap” culture, this is a relatively recent addition
to an enterprise that has been active for more than a century and half.
Ironically, some of this change is related to attempts to ban pit
bulls. Whenever pit bulls are outlawed, the ownership of the breed and
association with dog fighting can become an “outlaw” status symbol.
Q. What other crimes are associated with dog fighting?
Many of the practices associated with the raising and training of
fighting dogs can be prosecuted separately as animal abuse or neglect.
In addition, dog fighting, by its very nature, involves illegal
gambling. Dog fighters often face additional charges related to drug,
alcohol and weapons violations as well as probation violations.
Arguments over dog fights have also resulted in incidents that have led
to charges of assault and even homicide. Other charges might include
conspiracy, corruption of minors, money laundering, as well as several
others.
Q. Why do people get involved in dog fighting?
There are many reasons people are attracted to dog fighting. The
most basic is greed. Major dog fight raids have resulted in seizures of
more than $500,000, and it is not unusual for $20,000 - $30,000 to
change hands in a single fight. Stud fees and the sale of pups from
promising bloodlines can also bring in thousands of dollars.
For others, the attraction lies in using the animals as an extension
of themselves to fight their battles for them, and demonstrate their
strength and prowess. However, when a dog loses, this can cause the
owner of the dog to lose not only money, but status, and may lead to
brutal actions against the dog.
For others, the appeal simply seems to come from the sadistic enjoyment of a brutal spectacle.
The Dogs Used in Fighting
Q. What dogs are used in dog fighting?
Although there are many breeds of dogs used for fighting worldwide,
the dog of choice for fighting in America is the American Pit Bull
Terrier. In addition, Fila Brasileiros, Dog Argentinos and Presa
Canarios have also been used in this blood sport. Occasionally Doberman
Pinschers or German Shepherds are reportedly used in street fights, or
as “bait dogs” to train fighting dogs.
In the early days of dog fighting, the Bull Terrier was the dog of
choice for this brutal blood sport, but it was replaced in the early
20th century by the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Americanized version
of the bull terriers developed from larger bull-baiting dogs in
England, when smaller and faster dogs were needed to replace the larger
dogs used in bull and bear-baiting that took place in pits.
Q. Does this mean the pit bull is unsuitable as a pet?
Even though it was bred as a fighting dog—or perhaps because of
that—the American Pit Bull Terrier was one of the most popular dogs of
the time, noted for its strength, intelligence and devotion to its
master. Today, responsible breeders who breed pit bulls as pets have
generally selected against the high degree of aggression to other
animals seen in fighting lines, while preserving the many desirable
qualities of the breed.
It is important to remember any dog can become aggressive, depending
on its upbringing and environment. When a dog that is loved,
well-treated and cared for, no matter its breed, is matched with the
right kind of owner and household, it invariably results in a happy
match and positive reinforcement of the human-animal bond.
Q. Can all dogs be trained to fight?
No. It is important to understand that not just any dog can be
trained to fight. Much like herding dogs, trailing dogs and other
breeds selected for particular roles, fighting dogs are born ready for
the training that will prepare them to succeed in the pit, and are bred
to have a high degree of dog-dog aggression.
Q. Where do the dogs who are used in dog fights come from?
For “professional” and “hobbyist” dogfighters, the sale of pups from
parents who have won several fights is a major part of their activity.
Underground dog fighting publications and websites are commonly used to
advertise pups or the availability of breeding stock. Many “street”
level fighters think they can also make money by breeding and selling
dogs, but a great number of these animals are killed or abandoned if
they fail to perform.
Q. How are fighting dogs raised and trained?
Fighting dogs must be kept isolated from other dogs, so they spend
most of their lives on short heavy chains, often just out of reach of
other dogs. They are usually poorly socialized to any other dogs and to
most people. However, many “professional” fighters invest much time and
money in conditioning their animals. They are often given quality
nutrition, basic veterinary care and exercised under controlled
conditions where they will have limited contact with other dogs, such
as on a treadmill or “jenny.”
The conditioning of fighting dogs may also make use of a variety of
legal and illegal drugs, often including anabolic steroids to enhance
muscle mass and encourage aggressiveness. Narcotic drugs may also be
used to increase the dogs’ aggression and mask pain during a fight.
Young animals are often trained or tested by allowing them to fight
with other dogs while muzzled or leashed in well-controlled “rolls.”
Those that show little inclination to fight may be discarded or killed
at an early age. Some fighters will use inexperienced “bait dogs” as
sparring partners, often using stolen pets.
There are many other common techniques used in the training and
testing of dogs, but these methods vary widely among different fighters
and may range from systematic to haphazard. “Street” fighters usually
make little investment in conditioning their animals, relying on “quick
fixes” to produce aggression. These might starvation, physical abuse,
and use of stimulants or other drugs to excite the dogs.
Q. Why do fighting dogs have their ears cropped and tails docked?
Fighting dogs used by all types of fighters usually have their ears
cropped and tails docked close to their bodies. This serves two
purposes: First, it limits the number of areas of the body that another
dog might grab onto in a fight, and second, it makes it more difficult
for other dogs to read the animal’s mood and intentions through the
normal body language cues most non-fighting dogs would use to reduce
the need for aggressive encounters. (Many fighters perform this
cropping/docking themselves, using crude and inhumane techniques. This
can lead them to face additional charges related to animal cruelty
and/or the illegal practice of veterinary medicine.)
What Happens in a Dog Fight?
Q. What goes on in a dog fight?
As noted above, fights can take place in a variety of locations and
at any time. They may be impromptu events in a back alley, or carefully
planned and staged enterprises in a location specially designed and
maintained for the purpose. Usually the fight takes place in a pit that
is between 14 and 20 feet square, with sides that may be plywood, hay
bales, chain link or anything else that can contain the animals. The
flooring may be dirt, wood, carpet or sawdust. The pit has “scratch
lines” marked in opposite corners, where the dogs will face each other
12 to 14 feet apart.
In a more organized fight, the dogs will be weighed to make sure
they are approximately the same weight. Handlers will often wash and
examine the opponent’s dog to remove any toxic substances that may have
been placed on the fur in an attempt to harm the opposing dog. At the
start of the fight, the dogs are released from their corners and
usually meet in the middle, seeking to get a hold on the opponent,
often shaking and tearing to maximize damage. Handlers are not
permitted to touch the dogs except when told to do so by the referee.
This can happen if dogs become “fanged,” with the tooth of one dog
embedded in the skin of its opponent. Becoming “fanged” may require the
use of a “breaking stick” (also called a “bite stick”) to pry the
animals apart. If the action slows or if a dog turns away from his
opponent without renewing his attack, the referee may call a “turn,”
and require that the dogs be returned to the corners and released after
20-30 seconds. If the dog that committed the “turn” fails to cross the
pit and grip his opponent, the match is over and the other dog is the
winner. A draw may occur if both dogs fail to “scratch” several times
in succession, i.e. repeatedly fail to cross the “scratch lines” and
re-engage in the fight. This is generally a rare and unpopular end for
those involved.
Q. How long do dog fights last?
Fights can last several hours. Both animals may suffer injuries
ranging from puncture wounds, lacerations and blood loss to
dehydration, crushing injuries and/or broken bones. Although fights are
not technically fought to the death, many dogs succumb to their
injuries.
Q. What happens to the losing dog?
Losing dogs are often discarded, killed or left untreated, unless
they have had a good history of past performance or come from valuable
bloodlines. If the losing dog is perceived to be a particular
embarrassment to the reputation or status of its owner, it may be
executed in a particularly brutal fashion as part of the
“entertainment.”
Laws and Community Response
Q. What are the laws relating to dog fighting?
Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As of 2007, dog fighting
is a felony in all states except Idaho and Wyoming, where it is a
misdemeanor. In most states, the possession of dogs for the purpose of
fighting is also a felony offense. Being a spectator at a dogfight is
currently a felony in 20 states, a misdemeanor in 28 and legal only in
Georgia and Hawaii.
The federal Animal Welfare Act also prohibits the interstate
transport of animals for the purposes of fighting. When federal animal
fighting laws were initially enacted in 1976, dog fighting activities
were considered to be a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one
year. For this reason it was very rare that federal authorities were
involved in the investigation or prosecution of dog fighting unless
other crimes were associated with it, such as drug trafficking, alcohol
or firearms violations, or financial crimes.
In 2007, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement
Act with strong bipartisan support. The Act became law in May 2007, and
provides for felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and
export relating to commerce in fighting dogs, fighting cocks and cock
fighting paraphernalia. Each violation can result in up to three years
in jail and a $250,000 fine.
Q. When did dog fighting first become a felony offense at the state level? What is the average sentence/penalty?!
Dog fighting is a felony in 48 states. The earliest known instance
of animal fighting laws is of those laws written by ASPCA founder Henry
Bergh in 1867, which made all forms of animal fighting illegal. While
it was possible to prosecute dog fighting at the felony level in the
District of Columbia as far back as 1892, and in California in 1905,
most states enacted their laws in the early to mid 1980’s. The average
sentence is five years, and/or a fine of $10,000 (some states, like
Louisiana and Michigan have fines upwards of $25,000 and $50,000
respectively). Idaho and Wyoming are the only states that still
consider dog fighting a misdemeanor; penalties in those states are 6
months/$5,000 (ID) and 1 yr/$5,000 (WY).
Q. What happens to dogs that are seized from dog fight operations? Can they be rehabilitated?
Fighting dogs have been bred and trained to inflict injuries on
other animals, and are difficult to house and care for. They are often
relatively friendly to people, primarily adult males, since such people
have been the only source of food and attention—but they can be
unpredictable around people and any other animals. Concerns about
liability, public safety and other risks mean that most animals seized
from such operations are not adoptable, meaning they cannot be
considered candidates for successful placement, and often have to be
euthanized.
Confiscated fighting dogs are also at high risk of being stolen from
shelters, foster care or other placements and returned to the fight
trade. Exceptions are sometimes made for puppies or other animals who
show no signs of training or use in fighting, and who do not exhibit
tendencies of aggression towards other animals or people. However, such
animals must be carefully evaluated by trained animal behavior
professionals, such as Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists, and their
placement must be monitored over the long term.
Q. If dog fighting is so widespread, why don’t more cases come to light?
Dog fighting is a violent and highly secretive enterprise, which is
extremely difficult for law enforcement and investigative professionals
to infiltrate. A dog fight investigation requires many of the same
skills and resources as a major undercover narcotics investigation, and
challenges the resources of any agency that seeks to respond to it.
An additional complication is that the evidence likely to be seized
includes living creatures, who must be taken care of and maintained
while the judicial process unfolds. Most prosecutors would be happy to
take on every dog fight case they could, but they are limited by the
human and animal care resources available to them.
Q. What can communities do to combat dog fighting?
The first step in combating dog fighting is for individuals to alert
the authorities to any suspected or actual dog fighting activities in
their area—identification of the problem is the first step to a
solution.
In addition, the ASPCA recommends the formation of local or state
task forces to address dog fighting. These groups should include
members from all the major stakeholders in that community: law
enforcement, prosecutors, animal control, animal welfare groups,
veterinarians, public health officials, housing authorities, the
neighborhood watch and others. The group should identify the nature of
the problems in the area, the laws that could be applied to these
problems, and the resources that are available. Dog fighting is most
effectively addressed by a collaborative approach to this heinous crime.
Q. What can citizens do?
The enforcement of animal cruelty laws begins with the individual.
If you see something, please say something—notify your local police
and/or humane law enforcement of any suspicious activities that suggest
dog fighting is taking place in your community.
Dog Fighting in New York City
Q. How prevalent is dog fighting in New York City?
Organized dog fighting in New York City does not appear to be
prevalent, and the ASPCA rarely sees arrests for such activity. This
does not mean that it does not occur, however. Organized fights are
conducted in a hyper-clandestine manner, and while they probably would
not thrive in the crowded urban environment that New York presents,
more casual “pick up” fights do occur.
In general, dog fighting is difficult to detect because of its
secretive and underground nature. ASPCA HLE officers report seeing the
peripheral effects and elements of dog fighting, but not highly
organized fights. These include injured dogs who had extensive wounds
consistent with injuries of a 'bait dog,' such as scars in various
stages of healing, as well as multiple, and often serious, bite wounds.
Paraphernalia associated with dog fighting such as treadmills, break
sticks, steroids, pain-numbing drugs, syringes and weapons, and large
amounts of cash and other evidence of gambling, is occasionally
discovered, but not often enough to consider the blood sport prevalent.
Q. Does the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital see many
cases of dogs who have incurred injuries as a result of dog fighting?
What kind of injuries do these dogs most often show?
No, the ASPCA’s BMAH rarely, if ever, sees dogs who have incurred
injuries as a result of dog fighting. This does not mean that dog
fighting does not occur in New York, however. Rather, it is possible
that such dogs are simply less likely to be brought to the ASPCA for
treatment. Their owners might potentially avoid the ASPCA because they
know that the organization is sensitive to signs of animal cruelty and
might place them under suspicion.
In general, fighting dogs are also less likely to have access to
veterinary professionals for treatment of their injuries. As to the
kinds of injuries fighting dogs often bear, these include, but are not
limited to: tails and ears cropped in an unprofessional manner (not by
a medical professional); serious, multiple bite wounds; and scars in
various stages of healing.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Randall Lockwood.
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