Dog Fighting
“A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” What Josh Billings, a 19th century humorist, said about dogs definitely seems true, but do we appreciate their love and give it back? Not always. Dog fighting, dating back to ancient times, has been deemed a sport where the fight results in the death of one or both of the dogs. Dog fighting has a unique history, including animal, human, and government involvement.
The history of dog fighting dates back to ancient times. Most people in ancient societies watched both dogs and roosters armed with sharp knife-like leg spurs fight in open pits. In 1800, Britain proposed the world’s first attempt at passing an anti-animal cruelty law. Bull baiting, tying a bull to a stake and letting human beings or other animals attack it was finally outlawed in 1835 in Britain. All animal fighting was outlawed in Britain with the Protection of Animals Act in 1911. Notwithstanding laws prohibiting dog fighting, it still occurs. The Humane Society of the U.S. estimates that there are at least 40,000 dog fighters in America today. Dog fighting is a sly, underground, organized crime in which two or more dogs are trained to fight, enclosed in a small arena, and fight for entertainment and gambling. Despite complete prohibition of dog fighting in America, it has reached immense proportions in most urban communities and occurs in some rural areas as well. The awareness of dog fighting surfaced in 2007 when professional football player Michael Vick was found to have a dog fighting ring on his property. Most people in all of North America and Europe disapprove of dog fighting, but because of the social consciousness, dog fighting has moved from open fields to underground or in hidden spots. Many individuals deny the occurrence of dog fighting in America. Fights usually last one to two hours and end when a dog gets killed or will or cannot proceed. The average dog fight can earn up to $2,500....