May
1999
Until
There's No Fight Left: Pit Bull Fighting in the U.S.
By
Vanessa Alford |
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Through no fault of their own, pit bulls have
a bad reputation. For decades, they have been bred for fighting,
trained
to be aggressive and attack relentlessly, and rewarded for killing. Pit
bull fighting is a “sport” in which dogs are forced to
fight and endure incredible pain and suffering for the profit, status
and entertainment
of the people involved, despite the consequences it may have on innocent
people, other animals, and society as a whole.
Pit bull fighting occurs throughout the country, from elaborate underground
dog fighting rings to makeshift pits in people’s basements and spontaneous
street matches where people can make a quick buck. The primary motivation
for fighting pit bulls is, of course, money. For some, it is a primary
source of income and thousands of dollars exchange hands at high stakes
events featuring pedigreed fighters. Because of the money, dog fighting
is generally linked to other criminal activity such as gambling, the use
and sale of illegal drugs, illegal weapons possession (mainly due to the
large amounts of cash present), and general acts of violence. An investigation
conducted into a pit bull fighting ring by the Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS) in Arkansas uncovered the largest supply of illegal drugs,
gambling money and handguns ever seized in the state. Fighting pit bulls,
says Valerie Bedzinger, a spokesperson for the New York City ASPCA, is
also a “macho status symbol in urban areas like NYC.” A champion
pit bull can serve as a protector and command “respect” in rough
neighborhoods. As an anonymous source put it, if you have a winning pit
bull by your side, “no one will mess with you without a gun.”
Training and Fighting and Kids
There are different methods of training depending on the
level of the fights. The goal is to develop a tough, aggressive dog with
a killer’s instinct—especially when it sees another animal.
For this reason, dogs are often given smaller animals such as cats, rabbits
and smaller dogs as “bait” in training. These animals are often
confined in what is called a “cat mill” as they are chased by
the pit bull in training. The pit bull is encouraged to chase the frightened
animal, who is eventually released from the “cat mill” only
to be attacked or killed as the dog’s reward. In Buffalo, New York
several dogs were recently found half dead, unable to move after being
starved and repeatedly used as bait for fighter pits. Training also involves
elaborate workout regimens, complete with treadmills (for speed and endurance),
tires or other devices to develop strong jaws, and other methods to build
“toughness.” The dogs are sometimes given steroids and even
cocaine to increase strength and aggressiveness, especially at the beginning
of a fight.
The fights occur in a pit, typically 16 x 16 x three feet in size, so
the animals cannot escape. The floor is usually a thick carpet and the
walls are made of wood. The dogs must remain in the pit anywhere from
one to two hours on average until one is declared the winner. Lt. Brian
Barrett, a police officer involved in a recent New Jersey raid, said after
seeing a fight, “[The dogs] were locked on each other’s faces.
I’ve never seen anything like it, and I don’t want to see it
again. It was an elaborate set up. Very disgusting and cruel.” The
raid, at a New Jersey martial arts center, found some pit bulls still
fighting, covered in blood; three dead dogs; a severely injured pit bull
who had just lost a match dumped in a corner on another floor of the building;
and one barely alive in the trunk of a car. All four of the animals still
alive had to be euthanized and seven people were arrested as a result.
Raids frequently uncover sharpened ax handles, electrical shocking devices
and other pieces of equipment used to force the animals to continue fighting
when they might be severely injured and want to quit. The fight survivors
come away severely mauled, bruised, bloodied, and lacerated, with broken
bones. If they don’t die immediately after a fight, dogs often die
days later from blood loss, shock, infection and dehydration if not cared
for properly. Many dogs are found simply discarded on the street, left
to die.
Another disturbing feature is the number of children in attendance at
fights. Numerous raids have found the children of spectators and owners
participating in and watching the fights. Exposure to such fights at a
young age creates an early desensitization to violence and animal cruelty.
Psychologists have found that cruelty to animals early in life has been
linked to or leads to other forms of violent, antisocial and delinquent
behavior.
Breeding: Amateurs and Opportunists
Pit bulls are not recognized as a pure breed by the American
Kennel Club, leaving the breeding to less reputable, backyard breeders
who generally train dogs to be as aggressive as possible regardless of
consequences. The dogs who aren’t sold for fighting are given to
the next paying customer, who may be unaware of the potential threat these
dogs pose. This may cause increased attacks on innocent people—especially
children (because of their small size dogs may mistake them for another
animal) and other animals. Erik Sakach, West Coast director of the Humane
Society, says of breeding today: “Now we see the amateurs and opportunists
breeding dogs for general aggressive qualities on a huge scale. It is
a big business, and many thousands of dogs are being sold. The specific
qualities of the dog, like whether they attack humans, do not matter.
Generalized aggression is what matters.” According to the HSUS, at
least half of pit bull-related fatalities come from animals linked to
fighting.
Numerous sources contacted stress that it is not the breed that is to
blame, but the people who train the dogs to kill. Yet it is the animals
who suffer tremendously. Unfortunately, animals bred to fight are extremely
dangerous and aggressive, and usually have to be put to sleep.
Dog fighting is a felony in 43 states. Yet in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa,
Idaho, Maryland, Vermont, and West Virginia, it is still only a misdemeanor.
In these states, punishments are no deterrent since the amount of money
people can make at a fight far outweighs the insignificant fines for being
caught. Many involved simply write it off as the cost of doing business.
The police are restricted in arresting and pressing charges against those
involved with dog fighting if the charge is simply a misdemeanor. Furthermore,
the underground nature of dog fighting makes it difficult and expensive
to investigate, even in states where it is a felony.
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