Dog Fighting FAQ
Q. When and How Did Dog Fighting Come to America?
Although there are historical accounts of dog fights going back to
the 1750s, widespread activity emerged after the Civil War, with
professional pits proliferating in the 1860s, mainly in the Northeast.
Ironically, it was a common form of entertainment for police
officers and firemen—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 twentieth century.
Q. Where Did These Animals Come From?
Many of the dogs were brought over from England and Ireland, where
dog fighting had begun to flourish after bull-baiting and bear-baiting
became illegal in the 1830s.
Q. Are There Different Levels of 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 often 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 their dogs and are more
likely to travel 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 have
emerged, 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 bearing 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
1990s, 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?
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
laws continue to be 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 anti-fighting laws is weak.
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 fight.
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, etc.
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.
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. 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
twentieth 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 for fights that took
place in pits.
Q. Does This Mean the Pit Bull Is Unsuitable As a Family 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 their
family.
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 results in positive reinforcement
of the human-animal bond.
Q. Can All dogs Be Trained to Fight?
No. 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 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, 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
who show little inclination to fight may be discarded or killed at an
early age. Some fighters will use stolen pets as "bait dogs," or
sparring partners.
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 include 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 dogs use to avoid aggressive encounters.
Many fighters perform this cropping/docking themselves, using crude
and inhumane techniques. This can lead to additional criminal charges
related to animal cruelty and/or the illegal practice of veterinary
medicine.
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
from 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 their corners and released after 20-30 seconds. If
the dog who 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 an unusual 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?
Unless they have had a good history of past performance or come from
valuable bloodlines, losing dogs are often discarded, killed or left
untreated. 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.”
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 2008, dog fighting
is a felony in all 50 states. 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 felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export
relating to commerce in fighting dogs, fighting cocks and cockfighting
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 all 50 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 in New York state. 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 since 1905, most states enacted their laws in
the early to mid 1980s. 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.
Q. What Happens to Dogs Who 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, since such people have been the only
source of food and attention—but they can be unpredictable around other
animals. Concerns about liability, public safety and other risks mean
that many 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 toward other animals or people. However, such
animals must be carefully evaluated by trained animal behavior
professionals 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 that 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.
The formation of local or state
task forces to address dog fighting can help. 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.
Ways to Help End Dog Fighting
Despite being wonderful companion animals, Pit Bulls often attract
the worst kind of dog owners—those who are only interested in them for
fighting or protection. It's a shame what has happened to this loyal
and affectionate breed. Despite its illegality, people are still
training and breeding Pit Bulls to participate in dog fights across the
country. Here are ways you can help end this cruel “sport”:
- Support stronger laws. Keep up to date on dog fighting legislation in your state.
- Alert the media! Your local newspaper and
television station are always looking for stories, especially
investigative ones—be sure to contact them about the cruelty and
dangers of dog fighting.
- Call or write your local law enforcement department
and let them know that investigating dog fighting cruelty should be a
priority. Dog fighting is a CRIME—and the police MUST investigate these
cases.
- Keep your eyes and ears open. If you suspect
dog fighting in your own neighborhood, contact the police or your local
animal control officer. Provide as much information as you can, such as
the date and time you noticed something wrong, the address or location,
and what led you to believe there was dog fighting taking place.
- Protect your pets. Dog fighters sometimes
steal companion animals to use as bait dogs. Don’t let your animals
outside without supervision, and make sure they have proper
identification tags and are microchipped.
- Adopt a Pit Bull and let your perfect pooch be an ambassador for the breed!
- Set a good example for others. If you are
already the proud parent of a Pit Bull, be sure to always show them the
love and good care that they deserve. And always let others know what
great companions they make!
- Volunteer! If your local shelter is facing a
Pit Bull dilemma, volunteer to help keep adoptable Pit Bulls and Pit
mixes mentally and physically fit by exercising them or taking them to
obedience classes. You can also lead a chew-toy drive at work to
collect rawhides or hard rubber playthings to keep them busy, or help
create a fundraiser to support a free sterilization program for Pit
Bulls in your local shelter.
- Educate others in your community about the horrors of dog fighting and start a neighborhood watch program.
- Teach your children. Do your kids have questions about dog fighting? Educate them about the correct way to treat animals.