Dog Fighting

A dogfight is a cruel activity in which two dogs are forced to fight for the sake of human entertainment and profit. The dogs, usually pit bulls, Rottweilers, or Dobermans, are raised under horrific conditions and abusively trained to be aggressive. Humane officers and other law enforcement agents routinely break up illegal dogfighting rings and confiscate dogfighting paraphernalia, including treadmills used to build the dog's endurance and drugs used to numb pain from injuries or to "jazz up" the dogs. They often find mesh bags, which are used to suspend kittens, rabbits, puppies, and other small prey above the dogs to encourage a "fighting spirit." Sadly, they often find many dead and dying dogs, too. Dogs who do survive often sustain serious injuries, such as broken bones and crushed cartilage. Many suffer and die from blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion, or infection hours or days after a fight. Dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It is a felony offense in all but two states—Idaho and Wyoming—where it is a misdemeanor. Because dogfighting is a felony in most states, dogfighting rings are difficult to infiltrate and are run by extremely dangerous people. If you think dogfighting is taking place in your area, please contact your local humane society or police department to investigate. You can also help spread the word about dogfighting by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper. For tips on writing effective letters, see "The PETA Guide to Letter-Writing." You may also want to contact neighborhood watch groups in your area to encourage them to keep an eye out for possible dogfighting rings.