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At a certain point, a dog might “turn”, a term that means the
animal retreats without offering its opponent violence. When
this happens, the trainers are expected to extract their dogs and
rest. They can then refocus the dog’s attention and release them
into the fight once more.
The injuries the dogs incur are hideous, and most of the time,
the losing dog has to be put down, if it is not dead already.
Naturally, dog fighting is the focus for a host of other illegal
activities. Gambling on the fights is naturally central to the
endeavour. Firearms are usually present at the fights because
of the large amount of money being held there. Most dog fights
are also used for selling drugs.
The damage caused to these dogs - and it should be noted
that pitbulls are extremely loyal and intelligent animals - is
incalculable. They suffer systematic torture for the amusement
and profit of a few individuals. Almost without exception,
rescued dogs have to be euthanised because they will always be
a danger to those around them.
But the damage in the wider community should also
not be underestimated. One of the principle problems
with the industry is in how common it is in lower socio-
economic areas. Children are frequently brought to these
fights, where they see horrible carnage. Some parents even
endorse this as a valuable life lesson. The only real outcome
can be the child’s desensitisation, which can have dangerous
consequences in the future.
And while the obvious evil of this industry should be obvious,
authorities are still not doing enough to stamp it out. Many
people involved in dog fighting are not dismayed by the
sanctions for raising fighting dogs, as they are largely fine-
based. This is seen as an operational cost.
Dog fighting should be seen for what it is: an industry built on
torture and the exploitation of vulnerable animals.
By Timothy Mottram