Pitbull Fights

It's hard to believe such animal cruelty still exists, but Pitbull fights continue to be held across the globe. Some people consider it a legitimate sport; others believe it is an abusive practice. What do you think?

History of Dog Fights

All the publicity in recent years over so-called "vicious" dog breeds might lead some people to believe dog fighting is only a modern phenomenon, but that wouldn't be correct. Dog fights have been staged for thousands of years for the amusement and profit of people.

Records citing the pitting of animals against each other have been found from ancient Rome, to Britain to Europe. At one time, the practices of bear baiting and bull baiting were highly popular, but the cost of keeping these large animals was very expensive. It wasn't long before men realized it was far more profitable to raise fighting dogs instead, and the dubious sport of dog fighting was born.

Modern Age of Pitbull Fights

Although any dog that is game can be used in a dog fight, Pitbulls have become the unfortunate all stars of this underground industry. Bred by fight promoters for power and aggression, massive jaws and large teeth, these dogs give spectators the kind of blood sport they seek.

Training and Conditioning

Dogs raised for Pitbull fights are conditioned to be aggressive towards other canines. Since Pits naturally develop a certain level of intolerance for other dogs around the time they reach eighteen months old, this makes them natural candidates for fighting.

Just like top human athletes, Pits go through an extensive training routine to build up their strength and stamina before a match. Although keepers like to keep their exact methods to themselves, the dogs are generally road worked on treadmills, taken swimming, and fed prime diets. A dog and its keeper will spend many hours together, building an intense relationship that will culminate in the fighting pit.

Matches

Pitbull fights aren't just for entertainment; they are money makers for most of the people involved. Bets are placed before a match begins, and plenty of money will exchange hands by the end of the fight.

Typical Pitbull fights match up two dogs of like size, weight and condition against each other. These dogs, their handlers and a referee all gather in the ring as the opponents take position on either side. Once the referee gives a command to release the dogs, the fighting begins.

Since these dogs are raised to spring immediately into action, Pitbull fights are quite different from the typical tussles you might witness between pet dogs. There is no growling and posturing over territory, and no display of dominance. They simply launch at each other and begin to tear away at each other's flesh.

Throughout the match, the keepers occasionally pick up their dogs and reposition them as the fight continues. This is rather amazing considering the amount of violence taking place. Ordinarily, these dogs never bite the humans in the ring. This is because any Pit that shows aggression toward its trainer is eliminated from the program. Dogs that are not automatically euthanized sometimes end up in pet homes, and it's these dogs that present the greatest danger of eventually attacking people.

Every time the dogs are broken up and released again, they must cross over a scratch line determined by the referee. If one of the dogs fails to cross the line and re-enter the fight within a set amount of time, the other dog is declared the winner.

The Aftermath

Although most keepers maintain that they do not fight their dogs to the death, the reality of the situation is that, win or lose, many Pitbulls are severely mauled during a match. Some keepers take steps to care for their dog's injuries, while others who judge a dog too injured to fight another day will not attempt to provide any first aid.

Keepers who consider themselves merely "sportsmen" will often deny this unpleasant fact, but Humane Societies across the globe report differently. There are hundreds of documented cases of Pitbull seizures where the dogs were left by their owners to slowly die from horrific injuries. Some of these dogs recover with professional care; others cannot be helped.

No Class Distinction

It boggles the mind that anyone could look at what these animals go through and still call dog fighting a sport, but that is exactly what occurs. Pitbull fights and for that matter all staged dog fights, are considered felonies across most of the USA, yet the industry continues to thrive under a veil of secrecy.

Although there is sometimes a misconception that dog fighting is only an activity engaged in by the poor, the uneducated and career criminals, this is simply not always the case. Consider the controversy surrounding Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick.

Here was a man who appeared to have it made, and yet he was accused of running a dog fighting operation from his Virginia home. His future appeared as though the sky was the limit, but after admitting his participation in dog fighting he lost it all. It remains to be seen whether Vick will be able to get his life back on track.

Conclusion

Although many municipalities have attempted to eliminate dog fighting through breed-restrictive legislation, these measures simply haven't brought the desired results. Unless fight keepers are identified and prosecuted, they will continue to breed, train and fight more dogs. You can see the results of dog fighting at PitbullsontheWeb.com, but be forewarned that the images are graphic.

In the end, you just can't dictate decency and humanity. It has to come from within..

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