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{{About|fights between dogs organised by humans as a blood sport|natural play fighting among dogs|Dog behavior#Dog and dog|other uses|Dogfight (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:240-dogFighting.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Two dogs fighting.]]
{{Short description|Blood sport}}
'''Dog fighting''' is a [[fight]] between [[Game (dog)|game]] [[dog]]s. This [[blood sport]] is utilized for [[entertainment]] and may also create a revenue stream from [[Dog breeding|stud]] fees, [[Admission to an event or establishment|admission]] fees, and [[gambling]].
[[File:Dog baiting.jpg|thumb|''Dog baiting'' by [[Azim Azimzade]], 1938]]
'''Dog fighting''' is a type of [[blood sport]] that turns [[Gameness|game]] and fighting dogs against each other in a physical fight, often to the death, for the purposes of [[gambling]] or [[entertainment]] to the spectators.<ref name="QuickSummary">{{cite web |last=Gitson |first=Hannah |year=2005 |title=Quick Summary of Dog Fighting |url=https://www.animallaw.info/intro/dog-fighting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018033612/https://www.animallaw.info/intro/dog-fighting |archive-date=October 18, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=Animal Legal and Historical Center |publisher=[[Michigan State University College of Law]]}}</ref> In rural areas, fights are often staged in [[barn]]s or outdoor pits; in urban areas, fights are often staged in garages, basements, warehouses, alleyways, abandoned buildings, neighborhood playgrounds, or in the streets.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 1C}}<ref name="Boucher 2011">{{cite book|title=Pitt Bulls: Villains or Victims? Underscoring Actual Causes of Societal Violence|last=Boucher|first=B.G.|publisher=Puff & Co Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-0-9826964-7-7|location=Lana'i City, Hawaii}}<!--|access-date=2013-10-22--></ref> Dog fights usually last until one dog is declared a winner, which occurs when one dog fails to scratch, dies, or jumps out of the pit.<ref name="Forsyth 1998 203 to 218">{{cite journal |last1=Forsyth |first1=Craig J |last2=Evans |first2=Rhonda D |year=1998 |title=Dogmen: The Rationalization of Deviance. |url=http://www.animalsandsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/forsyth.pdf |journal=Society and Animals |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=203 to 218 |doi=10.1163/156853098x00159 |access-date=22 October 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304085444/https://www.animalsandsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/forsyth.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Sometimes dog fights end without declaring a winner; for instance, the dog's owner may call off the fight.<ref name="Forsyth 1998 203 to 218" />
[[File:A Dog Fight at Kit Burn’s.jpg|thumb|"A Dog Fight at Kit Burn's" by Edward Winslow Martin (James D. McCabe). USA, 1868]]
[[File:Fighting dogs catching their breath - painting.jpg|thumb|"Fighting dogs getting wind" by Sir [[Edwin Henry Landseer]], 1818<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/siredwinlandseer00ormo_0|title=Sir Edwin Landseer|date=October 4, 1981|publisher=Philadelphia : Philadelphia Museum of Art|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>]]
Dog fighting generates revenue from [[Dog breeding|stud]] fees, admission fees and [[gambling]]. Most countries have banned dog fighting, but it is still legal in some countries, such as [[Japan]],{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 3}} and [[Albania]].<ref name=Albania>{{cite web|title=''Peshkopi, qeni fitues quhet... Obama''.|url=http://www.gazetadita.al/shenim-a-seshte-ky-nje-emer-i-cuditshem-per-nje-qen/|publisher=Dita|access-date=2019-04-17|archive-date=2014-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622022804/http://www.gazetadita.al/shenim-a-seshte-ky-nje-emer-i-cuditshem-per-nje-qen/|url-status=live}} (in Albanian)</ref> The sport is also popular in [[Russia]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dogfighting latest Hobby of 'New Russians' |date=February 8, 1999 |work=Russia Today |publication-place=Moscow, Russia}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2023}}


== History ==
==Origins of domestic breeding==
[[File:Paul Sandby - Group of Figures- A Dogfight - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|A dogfight, by [[Paul Sandby]], c. 1785]]
As with all domestic dogs, the ancestors of all breeds of game dogs were [[wolves]]. The foundation breed of the fighting dog was, in its outward appearance, a large, low, heavy breed with a powerful build and strongly developed head.
[[File:Jacco3.jpg|thumb|A fight between a dog and [[Jacco Macacco]], the fighting monkey, at the [[Westminster Pit]], London. 1822]]
[[File:Jacco broadsheet.png|right|thumb|upright|An English [[Broadside (printing)|broadside]] advertising an upcoming event at the Westminster Pit, London, featuring a match between the monkey, [[Jacco Macacco]] and a dog, also dog fights, [[badger-baiting]] and [[bear-baiting]], c. November 1821]]


=== Europe ===
[[Dog breeding]] in its earliest stages was carried out systematically, with the desire for specialization. It is believed that the development of individual breeds took place in narrow geographic areas, corresponding to the performance required in these regions. Selection for performance, complemented by the breeding for suitable body forms, leads to the formation of breeds. The task of the fighting dog demanded specific basic anatomical traits and temperamental features. The anatomy of the fighting dog requires an imposing outward form for strength, with the foundation breed naturally large, low-slung, heavy, powerfully built, with a strongly developed head, powerful biting apparatus and a threatening voice. The goal is to breed a dog that will attack animals but is docile and affectionate toward humans. All breeds with a character suitable for protecting humans and fighting wild animals may be considered for dogfighting. Special attention is often given to the [[American Pit Bull Terrier]] or [[Staffordshire Bull Terrier]].
[[Blood sport]]s in general can be traced back to the [[Roman Empire]].<ref name="Villavicencio">{{cite news |last=Villavicencio |first=Monica |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12108421 |title=A History of Dogfighting |newspaper=NPR |date=2007-07-19 |access-date=2012-08-13 |archive-date=2018-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413191158/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12108421 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 13 BC, for instance, the ancient Roman circus slew 600 African beasts.<ref name="Favre">{{cite book |last=Favre |first=David |date=2011-05-16 |title=Animal Law: Welfare, Interests, and Rights |url=https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Welfare-Interests-Elective-ebook/dp/B00AYLLE9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383051673&sr=8-1&keywords=animal+welfare+david+favre |location=Frederick, MD |publisher=Wolter Kluwer Law and Business |isbn=978-1-4548-3398-7 |access-date=2013-10-29 }}</ref> Dog fighting, more specifically, can also be traced to ancient Roman times. In AD 43, for example, dogs fought alongside the Romans and the British in the [[Roman Conquest of Britain]].<ref name="Villavicencio"/> In this war, the Romans used a breed that originated from Greece called the [[Molossus (dog)|Molossus]]; the Britons used broad-mouthed Mastiffs, which were thought to descend from the Molossus bloodline and which also originated from Greece.<ref name="Massey">{{cite thesis |degree=M.A. |first=Wil |last=Massey |title=Bloodsport and the Michael Vick Dogfighting Case: A Critical Cultural Analysis |publisher=East Tennessee University |year=2012 |url=https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1513 |access-date=2019-09-17 |archive-date=2020-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802205539/https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1513/ |url-status=live }} (Unpublished Masters Thesis)</ref> Though the British were outnumbered and ultimately lost this war, the Romans were so impressed with the [[English Mastiff]]s that they began to import these dogs for use in the [[Colosseum]], as well as for use in times of war.<ref name="Villavicencio"/> While spectators watched, the imported English Mastiffs were pitted against animals such as elephants, lions, bears and bulls, and also against gladiators.<ref name="Villavicencio"/>


Later, the Romans bred and exported fighting dogs to Spain, France and other parts of Europe until eventually these dogs made their way back to England.<ref name="Villavicencio"/> Though [[bull-baiting]] and [[bear-baiting]] were popular throughout the Middle Ages up to the 19th century in Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, the British pitted dogs against bulls and bears.<ref name="Massey"/> In 12th century England during the feudal era, the landed aristocracy, who held direct military control in decentralized feudal systems and thus owned the animals necessary for waging war, introduced bull baiting and bear baiting to the rest of the British population.<ref name="Massey" /> In later years, bull-baiting and bear-baiting became a popular source of entertainment for the British royalty.<ref name="Massey" /> For instance, [[Queen Elizabeth I]], who reigned from 1558 to 1603, was an avid follower of bull- and bear-baiting; she bred Mastiffs for baiting and would entertain foreign guests with a fight whenever they visited England.<ref name="Massey" /> In addition to breeding Mastiffs and entertaining foreign guests with a fight, Queen Elizabeth, and later her successor, King James I, built a number of bear gardens in London.<ref name="Fleig 1996">{{cite book |last=Fleig |first= Dieter|year=1996 |title=The History of Fighting Dogs |location=Neptune, NJ|publisher=TFH Publications }}</ref> The garden buildings were round and roofless, and housed not only bears, but also bulls and other wild animals that could be used in a fight.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/> Today, a person can visit the Bear Garden Museum near the Shakespeare Global Complex in Bankside, Southwark.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
==History==
Dog fighting has been documented in the [[recorded history]] of many different [[culture]]s, and is presumed to have existed since the initial domestication of the species. Many breeds have been bred specifically for the strength, attitude, and physical features that would make them better fighting dogs.


With the popularity of bull- and bear-baiting, bears needed for such fights soon became scarce.<ref name="Massey" /> With the scarcity of the bear population, the price of bears rose and, because of this, bull-baiting became more common in England over time.<ref name="Massey" /> Bulls who survived the fights were slaughtered afterwards for their meat, as it was believed that the fight caused bull meat to become more tender.<ref name="Massey" /> In fact, if a bull was offered for sale in the market without having been baited the previous day, butchers were liable to face substantial fines.<ref name="Massey" /> Animal fights were temporarily suspended in England when [[Oliver Cromwell]] seized power, but were reinstated again after the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]].<ref name="Fleig 1996"/> Dog fighting, bull-baiting, and bear-baiting were officially outlawed in England by the Humane Act of 1835.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 2}} The official ban on all fights, however, actually served to promote dog fighting in England.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/> Since a small amount of space was required for the pit where a dog fight took place, as compared to the ring needed for bull- or bear-baiting, authorities had a difficult time enforcing the ban on dog fighting.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/>
Scholars speculate that large-scale human migration, development of trade, and gifts between royal courts of valuable fighting dogs facilitated the spread of fighting dog breeds. There are many accounts of military campaigns which utilized fighting dogs, as well as royal gifts in the form of large dogs.


=== United States ===
[[Blood sport]]s involving the baiting of animals has occurred since antiquity, most famously at the [[Colosseum]] in [[Rome, Italy|Rome]] during the reign of the [[Roman Empire]]. However, in contemporary times, it is most associated with the [[English people|English]], who pursued it with utmost earnestness, which was barely known elsewhere in the world. For over six hundred years the pastime flourished, reaching the peak of its popularity during the [[sixteenth century]]. The various animal types involved in the bait allowed for the breed specialization and basic anatomical forms of fighting dogs, which we see today.
In 1817, the bull and terrier crossbreeds were brought to America and dog fighting slowly became part of American culture.<ref name="QuickSummary"/> Yet, though historical accounts of dog fighting in America can be dated back to the 1750s, it was not until the end of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] (1861–1865) that widespread interest and participation in the blood sport began in the United States.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> For instance, in 1881, the Mississippi and Ohio railroads advertised special fares to a dog fight in Louisville; public forums such as Kit Burns' Tavern, "The Sportman's Hall", in Manhattan regularly hosted matches.<ref name="QuickSummary"/> Many of these dogs thrown into the "professional pits" that flourished during the 1860s came from England and Ireland — where citizens had turned to dogs when [[bull-baiting]] and [[bear-baiting]] became illegal in their countries.<ref name="Boucher 2011" />


In 20th century America, despite the expansion of laws to outlaw dog fighting, dog fighting continued to flourish underground.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> Aiding in the expansion of dog fighting were the police and firemen, who saw dog fighting as a form of entertainment amongst their ranks.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> In fact, the Police Gazette served as a go-to source for information about where one could attend a fight.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> When [[Henry Bergh]], who started the [[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] (ASPCA), witnessed police involvement in these fights, he was motivated to seek and receive authority for the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Agents to have arresting power in New York.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> Additionally, Bergh's 1867 revision to New York's animal cruelty law made all forms of animal fighting illegal.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> However, According to the ASPCA website, the Humane Law Enforcement department of ASPCA has been disbanded and NYPD has taken over its duty.<ref name="Boucher 2011" /> As laws were passed to outlaw the activity, high-profile organizations, such as the United Kennel Club, who once endorsed the sport by formulating rules and sanctioning referees, withdrew their endorsement.<ref name="QuickSummary" />
Dog fighting has been popular in many countries throughout history and continues to be practiced both legally and illegally around the world.


On July 8, 2009, one of the largest dog fighting raids in U.S. history occurred. Law enforcement seized over 350 dogs, mostly [[pit bull]]s, and arrested 26 people across eight states. Most of the dogs were expected to have to be euthanized, as their harsh upbringing did not prepare them to be able to be safely placed in an adoptive home.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inside-americas-biggest-dog-fighting-bust/ |title=Inside America's Biggest Dog-Fighting Bust |date=July 9, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Historic Eight-State Dog Fighting Raid—July 2009|url = https://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/field-investigations-and-response-team/blood-sports/historic-eight-state-dog-fighting-raid-july|website = ASPCA|access-date = 2015-11-03|archive-date = 2015-10-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151022032601/http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/field-investigations-and-response-team/blood-sports/historic-eight-state-dog-fighting-raid-july|url-status = live}}</ref>
===Afghanistan===
Although illegal, it is not always enforced due to lack of police activity. The breeds are usually live stock guardian mixtures. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}


===India===
== Breed origins ==
Not common barring some areas in rural India. Dog fighting is [[law|illegal]] as defined by the Indian law. In addition, it is also [[law|illegal]] to possess dogfighting materials such as videos, or to attend an event.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


[[File:George Morland - Fighting Dogs.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Fighting Dogs'' by [[George Morland]], circa 1800]]
===Japan===
According to one scholar, Richard Strebel, the foundation for modern fighting dogs came from five [[dog type]]s: the [[Tibetan Mastiff]], the [[English Mastiff]] (out of which came the [[Dogue de Bordeaux]], the [[Bulldog]], and the [[Pug]]{{cn|date=November 2022}}), the [[Great Dane]] (out of which came the [[Broholmer]] and the [[Boxer (dog)|Boxer]]), the [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]], and the [[St. Bernard (dog)|Saint Bernard]] (out of which came the [[Leonberger]]).<ref name="Fleig 1996"/><ref name="Hecht"/>{{rp|Table 1}} However, Dieter Fleig disagreed with Strebel and offered the following list as composing the foundation of modern fighting dogs: the Tibetan Mastiff, the [[Molossus (dog)|Molossus]], the [[Bullenbeisser]], the Great Dane, the English Mastiff, the [[Bulldog]], the [[bull and terrier]], and the Chincha Bulldog.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/>{{sfnp|Morris|2001|p=346}}<ref name="Hecht"/>{{rp|Table 1}} Other early dog types used for fighting included the [[Blue Paul Terrier]],{{sfnp|Morris|2001|p=348}} the [[Córdoba Fighting Dog]],{{sfnp|Morris|2001|p=352}} and the [[Dogo Cubano]].{{sfnp|Morris|2001|p=369}}
[[Kamakura period]]. According to historical documents, [[Hōjō Takatoki]], the 14th [[shikken]] ([[shogun|shogun's]] regent) of the [[Kamakura shogunate]] was known to be obsessed with dog fighting, to the point where he allowed his [[samurai]] to pay taxes with dogs. At this time, dog fighting was called ''inuawase''.


The foundation breed of the fighting dog was, in its outward appearance, a large, low, heavy breed with a powerful build, strongly developed head, and tremendously threatening voice.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/> Additionally, these foundation breeds were also bred for a powerful jaw that would enable them to defend and protect humans, to overpower and pull down large animals on a hunt, and to control large, unmanageable domestic animals.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/> These dogs were also sometimes equipped with metal plates, chains, and collars with sharp spikes or hooked knives in order to be used in wars throughout history.<ref name="Fleig 1996"/>
Dog fighting was considered a way for the Samurai to retain their aggressive edge during peaceful times. Several [[daimyo]], such as [[Chosokabe Motochika]] and [[Yamauchi Yodo]], both from [[Tosa Province]] (present-day [[Kochi Prefecture]]), were known to encourage dog fighting. Dog fighting was also popular in [[Akita Prefecture]], which is the origin of the [[Akita Inu|Akita]] breed.


When bull-baiting became popular in England due to the shortage of bears, bull-baiters soon realized that large fighting dogs were built too heavy and too slow for this type of combat.<ref name="Massey" /> When fighting a bull, dogs were trained to grab onto the bull's nose and pin the bull's head to the ground.<ref name="Massey" /> If the dog failed to do this, the bull would fling the dog out of the ring with its horns.<ref name="Massey" /> The British therefore decided to selectively breed fighting dogs for shorter legs and a more powerful jaw.<ref name="Massey" /> These efforts resulted in the [[Old English Bulldog]].<ref name="Massey" />
Dog fighting evolved in [[Kochi]] to a form that is called ''BREST'' (闘犬). Under modern rules, dogs fight in a fenced ring until one of the dogs barks, yelps, or loses the will to fight. Owners are allowed to throw in the towel, and matches are stopped if a doctor judges it is too dangerous. Draws usually occur when both dogs won't fight or both dogs fight until the time limit. There are various other rules, including one that specifies that a dog will lose if it attempts to [[copulate]]. Champion dogs are called [[yokozuna (sumo)|yokozuna]], as in [[sumo]]. With generic animal protection laws in place, dog fighting is not specifically banned in Japan, except in [[Tokyo]], and can be seen in Kochi. Currently, most fighting dogs in Japan are [[Tosa (dog)|Tosa]], which is a breed that was developed in Kochi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bulldoginformation.com/Tosa-inu.html |title=Tosa inu history and breed information |publisher=Bulldog Information |accessdate=2007-05-27}}</ref> Dog fighting does not have strong links to gambling in Japan.


However, when countries started outlawing bull- and bear-baiting, dog fighters started pitting dogs against other dogs.<ref name="Massey" /> With the prevalence of such combat, dog fighters soon realized Bulldogs were inadequate and began to breed Bulldogs with terriers for more desired characteristics.<ref name="Massey" /> Terriers were most likely crossbred with Bulldogs due to their "generally rugged body structure", speed, aggression, and "highly developed gameness".<ref name="Massey" /> Yet, there is a debate over which type of terrier was bred with Bulldogs in order to create the bull and terrier. For instance, Joseph L. Colby claimed that it was the old English White Terrier that the bull and terrier is descended from, while Rhonda D. Evans and Craig J. Forsyth contend that its ancestor is the Rat Terrier.<ref name="Massey" /> Carl Semencic, on the other hand, held that a variety of terriers produced the bull and terrier.<ref name="Massey" />
===Latin America===
Dog fighting is widely practiced in much of Latin America, especially in Argentina, Peru and many parts of Brazil (where dog fights are illegal). The [[Dogo Argentino]] is by far the most common breed involved in the bloodsport. The [[Fila Brasileiro]] is also used, but rarely. The [[American Pit Bull Terrier]] is another breed that is commonly involved in dog fighting circuits. The [[Dogo Cubano]] and dogo cordoba were used for fighting a century ago, but have become extinct.


Eventually, out of crossbreeding Bulldogs and terriers, the English created the [[Staffordshire Bull Terrier]].<ref name="Boucher 2011" />{{sfnp|Fogle|2009|p=181}}<ref name="GenomicAnalyses"/> When the Staffordshire Bull Terrier came to America in 1817, Americans began to selectively breed for [[gameness]] and created the [[American Pit Bull Terrier]] (originally known as the Pit Bull Terrier), which is a unique breed due to its absence of threat displays when fighting.<ref name="Massey" />{{sfnp|Fogle|2009|p=176}}<ref name="GenomicAnalyses"/><ref name="ShelterMedicine">{{cite book |last1=Lockwood |first1=Randall |title=Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff |date=2013 |edition=2nd |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303179275 |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref> [[Bull Terrier]]s,{{sfnp|Fogle|2009|p=182}}<ref name="GenomicAnalyses">{{cite journal |last1=Parker |first1=Heidi G. |last2=Dreger |first2=Dayna L. |title=Genomic Analyses Reveal the Influence of Geographic Origin, Migration, and Hybridization on Modern Dog Breed Development |journal=Cell Reports |date=25 April 2017 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=697–708 |doi=10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.079 |doi-access=free |pmid=28445722 |pmc=5492993 }}</ref> Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and [[American Staffordshire Terrier]]s,{{sfnp|Alderton|1987|pp=32-33}}<ref name="GenomicAnalyses"/><ref name="ShelterMedicine"/> are all breeds that are commonly labeled as "pit bulls".<ref>{{cite web |last=staff |url=http://animallaw.info/local/topics/lotobsl.htm |title=Melvindale.Michigan BSL |publisher=Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University College of Law |year=2005 |access-date=2013-10-22 |archive-date=2013-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012044051/http://animallaw.info/local/topics/lotobsl.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The fact that [[pit bull]]s were historically bred to fight dogs, bulls, and bears has been used as one of the justifications in some US cities to implement [[breed-specific legislation]].<ref>{{cite web |last=staff |url=http://www.animallaw.info/local/lousmimelvindalebsl.htm#Sec4-138 |title=Breed Specific Legislation: Related Ordinances |publisher=Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University College of Law |year=2005 |access-date=2013-11-07 |archive-date=2013-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103073539/http://www.animallaw.info/local/lousmimelvindalebsl.htm#Sec4-138 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other breeds in which dogs at various stages of the breed history have sometimes been used as fighters include the [[Akita Inu]],{{sfnp|Morris|2001|pp=357–358}} the [[Boston terrier]],<ref name="Hecht">{{cite journal |last1=Hecht |first1=Erin E. |last2=Smaers |first2=Jeroen B. |title=Significant Neuroanatomical Variation Among Domestic Dog Breeds |journal=The Journal of Neuroscience |date=2019 |volume=39 |issue=39 |pages=7748–7758 |doi=10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0303-19.2019 |pmid=31477568 |pmc=6764193 |s2cid=201804417 |url=https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/39/39/7748.full.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|Table 1}} the [[Bully Kutta]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36365619|title=Street dog fighting crackdown urged|first=Tom|last=Symonds|date=24 May 2016|publisher=BBC|access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref> the [[Ca de Bou]],{{sfnp|Morris|2001|p=355}} the [[Dogo Argentino]],{{sfnp|Fogle|2009|p=248}} the [[Gull Dong]],{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} the [[Gull Terrier]],{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} the [[Neapolitan Mastiff]],{{sfnp|Fogle|2009|p=249}} the [[Presa Canario]],{{sfnp|Morris|2001|pp=351–352}} the [[Spanish Mastiff]],{{sfnp|Alderton|1987|p=102}} and the [[Tosa (dog)|Tosa]].{{sfnp|Alderton|1987|pp=106–107}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Matsuu |first1=Aya |last2=Kawabe |first2=Akemi |title=Incidence of Canine Babesia gibsoni Infection and Subclinical Infection among Tosa dogs in Aomori Prefecture, Japan |journal=Journal of Veterinary Medical Science |year=2004 |volume=66 |issue=8 |pages=893–897 |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jvms/66/8/66_8_893/_pdf |doi=10.1292/jvms.66.893|pmid=15353837 |s2cid=26621025 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
===North America===
{{main|Dog fighting in the United States}}


== Societal aspects ==
Dog fighting is illegal in all [[North America]]n countries.
After interviewing 31 dogmen and attending 14 dog fights in the Southern United States, Evans, Gauthier, and Forsyth theorized on what attracts men to dog fights.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140">{{cite journal |last1= Iliopoulou |first1=Maria A. |last2=Rosenbaum |first2=Rene P. |title=Understanding Blood Sports |journal=Journal of Animal & Natural Resource Law |volume=9 |pages=125–140 }}</ref> In their study, Evans, et al., discussed dog fighting's attractiveness in terms of masculinity and class immobility.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140"/> In the United States, masculinity embodies the qualities of strength, aggression, competition, and striving for success. By embodying these characteristics, a man can gain honor and status in his society.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140"/> Yet, working class occupations, unlike middle or upper class occupations, provide limited opportunities to validate this culturally accepted definition of masculinity.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140"/> So, working class men look for alternative ways to validate their masculinity and obtain honor and status. One way to do this is through dog fighting.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140"/> This is supported by the Evans, et al. findings: the majority of committed dogmen were mostly drawn from the working class, while the middle and upper classes were barely represented.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140"/> Men from middle and upper classes have opportunities to express their masculinity through their occupations; dog fighting, therefore, is just a hobby for them while it plays a central role in the lives of working class men.<ref name="Iliopoulou 125–140"/>


Aside from enjoyment of the sport and status, people are also drawn to dog fighting for money.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> In fact, the average dog fight could easily net more money than an armed robbery or a series of isolated drug transactions.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Hannah|title=Overview of Dog Fighting|url=http://animallaw.info/topics/tabbed%20topic%20page/spusdogfighting.htm|work=Animal Legal and Historical Center|publisher=Michigan State University College of Law|access-date=19 November 2013|archive-date=23 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923203356/http://animallaw.info/topics/tabbed%20topic%20page/spusdogfighting.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
According to a study by the College of Law of the [[Michigan State University]] published in 2005, in the United States, dog fighting was once completely legal and was sanctioned and promoted during the colonial period (1600s through 1776) and continuing through the Victorian era in the late 19th century. However, by the early twentieth century, the brutality inherent in dog fighting was no longer tolerated by American society. It has become increasingly outlawed, a trend which has continued into the 21st century.<ref>[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/qvusdogfighting.htm Animal Law]</ref>


=== Bait animals ===
As of 2008, dog fighting is a [[felony]] in all states. It is against the law (and often a felony) to even ''attend'' a dog fighting event, regardless of direct participation. According to authorities, dog fighting is increasingly practiced by gangs in low income areas of the United States, and is linked to other unlawful activities, such as gambling <ref>[http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/animal_fighting_the_final_round/dogfighting_fact_sheet/ Humane Society Dogfighting fact sheet].</ref>
{{Main|Baiting (blood sport)}}
"Bait" animals are animals used to test a dog's fighting instinct; they are often mauled or killed in the process. Many of the training methods involve torturing and killing of other animals.<ref name="Gibson"/> Often "bait" animals are stolen pets such as puppies, kittens, rabbits, small dogs and even stock (pit bulls acquired by the dog fighting ring which appear to be passive or less dominant).<ref name="thedogpress.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/0710_Vick_Amicus-Brief-090207.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025132134/http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/0710_Vick_Amicus-Brief-090207.htm |archive-date=2008-10-25 |title=Michael Vick Sentencing Plea To Court Filed on Behalf of Pit Bull Victims, Dog Owners, ADOA, NAIS and Other Groups }}</ref> Other sources for bait animals include wild or feral animals, animals obtained from a shelter or animals obtained from "free to good home" ads.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0218_040218_dogfighting.html |title=U.S. Dog-Fighting Rings Stealing Pets for "Bait" |publisher=News.nationalgeographic.com |date=2010-10-28 |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2007-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923021115/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0218_040218_dogfighting.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The snouts of bait animals are often wrapped with duct tape to prevent them from fighting back and they are used in training sessions to improve a dog's endurance, strength or fighting ability.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/0710_Vick_Amicus-Brief-090207.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025132134/http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/0710_Vick_Amicus-Brief-090207.htm |archive-date=2008-10-25 |title=Congressional commentary to 7 U.S.C. §2156 }}</ref> A bait animal's teeth may also be broken to prevent them from fighting back.<ref name="thedogpress.com"/> If the bait animals are still alive after the training sessions, they are usually given to the dogs as a reward and the dogs finish killing them.<ref name="Gibson"/>


=== Types of dog fighters ===
Despite legality issues, dogs are still commonly used for fighting purposes all across the continent. The [[American Pit Bull Terrier]] is the most popular breed used for fighting, but foreign breeds, such as the [[Dogo Argentino]] (used widely in South America) and [[Presa Canario]] (used in Spain) are also gaining popularity.
==== Street fighters ====
Often associated with gang activity, street fighters fight dogs over insults, turf invasions, or simple taunts like "my dog can kill your dog".<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> These type of fights are often spontaneous; unorganized; conducted for money, drugs, or bragging rights; and occur on street corners, back alleys, and neighborhood playgrounds.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> Urban street fighters generally have several dogs chained in backyards, often behind privacy fences, or in basements or garages.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}} After a street fight, the dogs are often discovered by police and animal control officers either dead or dying.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> Due to the spontaneity and secrecy of a street fight, they are very difficult to respond to unless reported immediately.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/>


Hobbyists and professionals often decry the techniques that street fighters use to train their dogs.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> Such techniques include starving, drugging, and physically abusing the dog.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/>
===Russia===
Although animal cruelty laws exist in Russia, dog fighting is widely practiced. Laws prohibiting dogfights have been passed in certain places, and in others dogfights are legally held under the supervision of the ''All-Russian Association of Russian Volkodavs''. [[Temperament test]]s, which are a common and relatively mild form of dog fighting used for breeding purposes, are fairly commonplace. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}


===South Africa===
==== Hobbyists ====
Hobbyists fight dogs for supplemental income and entertainment purposes.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> They typically have one or more dogs participating in several organized fights and operate primarily within a specific geographic network.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> Hobbyists are also acquainted with one another and tend to return to predetermined fight venues repeatedly.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}}
Dog fighting is reported to be wide-spread in South Africa, particularly in the in the Western Cape Province of [[Stellenbosch]]. The Stellenbosch Animal Welfare Society (AWS) frequently responds to complaints of night time dog fighting in the city of Cloetesville in which hundreds of dogs fight. Young children may be used to transport fighting dogs to avoid arrest of the owners.<ref>[http://www.animal-info.co.za/dog-fights-back-news-again.html Dog fights are back in the news… again.]</ref><ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-167924565.html Hundreds of animals savaged in night-time dog fighting in Cloetesville]</ref>


===United Kingdom===
==== Professionals ====
Professional fighters breed generations of skilled "game dogs" and take great pride in their dogs' lineage.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}} These fighters make a tremendous amount of money charging stud fees to breed their champions, in addition to the fees and winnings they collect for fighting them.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}} They also tend to own a large number of dogs — sometimes 50 or more.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> Professionals also use trade journals, such as ''Your Friend and Mine'', ''Game Dog Times'', ''The American Warrior'', and ''The Pit Bull Chronicle'', to discuss recent fights and to advertise the sale of training equipment and puppies. Some fighters operate on a national or even international level within highly secret networks.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}} When a dog is not successful in a fight, a professional may dispose of it using a variety of techniques such as drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/> Sometimes professionals and hobbyists dispose of dogs deemed aggressive to humans to street fighters.<ref name="Boucher 2011"/>
During the time of [[Roman Britain]], there were [[Pugnaces Britanniae]] or [[war dog]]s, mostly used in battle but later used for dog fighting contests in the [[amphitheatre]]. As early as 1154, in the reign of [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], [[bull-baiting]] and [[bear-baiting]] with dogs was a popular amusement.


=== Gang and criminal activities ===
Breeding allowed for a specialized breed in the form of the now extinct original [[Old English Bulldog]]. The contemporary recreation of the breed is called the [[Olde English Bulldogge]].
Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states of the [[United States|United States of America]], the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 8A}} While dog fighting statutes exist independently of general anti-cruelty statutes and carry stiffer penalties than general state anti-cruelty statutes, a person can be charged under both or can be charged under one, but not the other — depending on the evidence.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 8A}} In addition to felony charges for dog fighting, 48 states and the District of Columbia have provisions within their dog fighting statutes that explicitly prohibit attendance as a spectator at a dog fighting exhibition.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 9B}} Since Montana and Hawaii do not have such provisions, a person can pay an entrance fee to watch a dog fight in either state and not be convicted under these statutes. Additionally, 46 states and the District of Columbia make possessing, owning or keeping a fighting dog a felony.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 9C}}


While dog fighting was previously seen as isolated animal welfare issues — and therefore rarely enforced, the last decade has produced a growing body of legal and empirical evidence that has revealed a connection between dog fighting and other crimes within a community, such as organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, and/or gangs.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 1}} Within the gang community, fighting dogs compete with firearms as the weapon of choice; indeed, their versatile utility arguably surpasses that of a loaded firearm in the criminal underground. Drug dealers distribute their illicit merchandise, wagers are made, weapons are concealed, and the dogs mutilate each other in a bloody frenzy as crowds cheer them on.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}} Violence often erupts among the usually armed gamblers when debts are to be collected and paid.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 4}} There is also a concern for children who are routinely exposed to dog fighting and are forced to accept the inherent violence as normal.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 5B}} The routine exposure of the children to unfettered animal abuse and neglect is a major contributing factor in their later manifestation of social deviance.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 5B}}
The [[Cruelty to Animals Act 1835]] of England and Wales was the first legislation in the world that made dogfighting illegal{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.


=== Animal welfare and rights ===
Despite periodic dog-fight prosecutions, the illegal canine pit battles continued. Sporting journals of the 18th and 19th centuries depict the [[Black Country]] and [[London]] as the primary [[England|English]] dog fight centres of the period.
Animal advocates consider dog fighting to be one of the most serious forms of [[animal abuse]], not only for the violence that the dogs endure during and after the fights, but because of the suffering they often endure in training, which ultimately can lead to death.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}


According to a filing in U.S. District Court in Richmond by federal investigators in Virginia, which was obtained under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] and published by ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' on July 6, 2007, a losing dog or one whose potential is considered unacceptable faces "being put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://doggydanstheonlinedogtrainerreviews.com/|title=Doggy Dans The Online Dog Trainer Reviews|access-date=13 September 2018|archive-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817202206/https://doggydanstheonlinedogtrainerreviews.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Impacts upon modern society==
Some of the training of fighting dogs may entail the use of small animals (including kittens) as prey for the dogs.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}


== Legal status ==
{{POV-section|Bias|date=December 2007}}
[[File:Dog fighting laws world map.svg|thumb|400px|Laws regarding dog fighting (breeding, organising and attending) around the world:
{{Legend|#0000FF|Nationwide ban}}
{{Legend|#800080|Some subnational bans}}
{{Legend|#FF0000|No bans}}
{{Legend|#CCCCCC|No data}}]]
Dog fighting has been popular in many countries throughout history and continues to be practiced both legally and illegally around the world. In the 20th and 21st centuries, dog fighting has increasingly become an unlawful activity in most jurisdictions of the world, despite the fact that in cultural practice it may be common.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}


Dog fighting is illegal throughout the entire [[European Union]] and most of [[South America]].<ref name="Linzey"/> The [[American Pit Bull Terrier]] is by far the most common breed involved in the blood sport. The [[Dogo Cubano]] and [[Córdoba Fighting Dog]] were used for fighting a century ago, but both of these breeds have become extinct.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
Dog fighting is now illegal in all [[first world]] countries except Japan {{Fact|date=September 2008}} and many [[third world]] countries. However, dog fighting still occurs across the globe. To combat dog fighting the designation of so-called dangerous dog breeds, [[Breed Specific Legislation]] (BSL) has been passed.


=== Afghanistan ===
In the 20th and 21st centuries, dog fighting has increasingly become an unlawful activity in most of the world. The reasons fall into several broad categories, and each have motivated constituencies in many areas.
Previously banned by the [[Taliban]] during their rule, dog fighting has made a resurgence throughout [[Afghanistan]] as a common winter weekend pastime,
especially in [[Kabul]], where the fights are public and often policed to maintain safety to the spectators. Dogs are not fought to the death, but to submission.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,810066760001_2056513,00.html | title=The Dog Fighters of Kabul | magazine=Time | access-date=February 19, 2014 | author=Motlagh, Jason | location=Kabul | archive-date=September 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915094217/http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,810066760001_2056513,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>{{update inline|?=y|reason=The Taliban have reconquered Afghanistan; have they rebanned dog fighting?|date=August 2021}}


===Animal welfare and rights===
=== Albania ===
Dog fighting has been legal in [[Albania]] for over 25 years in [[#Professionals|professional fights]].<ref name=Albania />


=== Argentina ===
Animal advocates consider dog fighting to be one of the most serious forms of [[animal abuse]], not only for the violence that the dogs endure during and after the fights, but because of the suffering they often endure in training. At least one major study alleges that the prevailing mind set among dog fighters is that, the more the dog suffers, the tougher he will become, and the better fighter he will therefore be. {{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Article 3.8 of Law 14.346 on the Ill-Treatment and Acts of Cruelty to Animals of 1954 explicitly prohibits 'carrying out public or private acts of animal fights, fights of bulls and heifers, or parodies [thereof], in which animals are killed, wounded or harassed.'<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fbcb.unl.edu.ar/investigacion/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/12/Ley-14346-Malos-tratos-y-actos-de-crueldad-a-los-animales.pdf |title=Ley 14346 – Malos Tratos y Actos de Crueldad a los Animales |publisher=[[National University of the Littoral]] |date=27 November 1954 |access-date=4 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604191952/https://www.fbcb.unl.edu.ar/investigacion/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/12/Ley-14346-Malos-tratos-y-actos-de-crueldad-a-los-animales.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
In addition to the controversial treatment a dog receives when he has potential as a fighter, according to a filing in U.S. District Court in Richmond by federal investigators in Virginia, which was obtained under the [[Freedom of Information Act]] and published by the ''[[Baltimore Sun]]'' on July 6, 2007, a losing dog or one whose potential is considered unacceptable faces "being put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method".<ref>[http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-vick0706,0,1487730.story?track=rss Topic Galleries - baltimoresun.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


== Bait animals ==
=== Australia ===
Dog fighting and the possession of any fighting equipment designed for dog fighting is illegal in all Australian states and territories.<ref name=RSPCA>{{cite web | title = Is dog fighting illegal in Australia? | work = RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase | url = http://kb.rspca.org.au/Is-dog-fighting-illegal-in-Australia_237.html | date = n.d. | access-date = January 26, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306022745/https://kb.rspca.org.au/Is-dog-fighting-illegal-in-Australia_237.html | archive-date = March 6, 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The illegal nature of dog fighting in Australia means that injured dogs rarely get veterinary treatment, placing the dog's health and welfare at even greater risk.<ref name=RSPCA/> "Restricted Breed Dogs" cannot be imported into Australia. These include the [[Dogo Argentino]], the [[Tosa (dog)|Tosa]], the [[Fila Brasileiro]], the [[Perro de Presa Canario]] and the [[American Pit Bull Terrier]]. Of these, the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Perro de Presa Canario are the only breeds currently known to exist in Australia and there are strict regulations on keeping these breeds, including a prohibition on transferring ownership.<ref>{{cite web|title=Things you should know about restricted breed dogs |url=http://www.pets.dpi.vic.gov.au/community/attachments/attachment15.pdf |date=November 4, 2005 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930011354/http://www.pets.dpi.vic.gov.au/community/attachments/attachment15.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2009 }}</ref>


=== Bolivia ===
"Bait" animals are used to test a dog's fighting instinct, and these animals are often mauled or killed in the process. {{Fact|date=September 2007}} Trainers obtain bait animals from several sources: wild or feral animals, animals obtained from a shelter, or in some cases, stolen pets.<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0218_040218_dogfighting.html U.S. Dog-Fighting Rings Stealing Pets for "Bait"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Sometimes the animals are also obtained through "free to a good home" ads. According to news reports compiled by the [[National Humane Society]], the snouts of bait dogs are wrapped with duct tape to prevent them from injuring dogs being trained for fighting. Other animals, such as cats and rabbits are also reported to be used as bait animals. Experts have said small dogs, kittens, and rabbits are more at risk of being stolen for bait than larger animals.<ref>[http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/0710_Vick_Amicus-Brief-090207.htm Congressional commentary to 7 U.S.C. §2156]</ref>
[[Bolivia]] passed a law in 2003 or 2004 criminalising dog fighting.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://animalstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=sota_2005 |title=International Animal Law, with a Concentration on Latin America, Asia, and Africa |author=Neil Trent, Stephanie Edwards, Jennifer Felt, and Kelly O’Meara |publisher=The Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy |date=2005 |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125025155/https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=sota_2005 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Brazil ===
The real idea of baiting is to place an object, any object that will keep the dogs focus on it and place it in front of them while they are on a treadmill being conditioned for their match. The benefit of this is that it keeps the dog running longer than it would normally without the bait.
In [[Brazil]], Federal Decree 24.645 promulgated in 1934 by president [[Getúlio Vargas]] specifically prohibited 'to cause an animal to fight with another'.<ref name="Clayton">{{Cite web |url=https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-brazils-legal-structure-animal-issues |title=Overview of Brazil's Legal Structure for Animal Issues |author=Lane Azevedo Clayton |work=Animal Legal & Historical Center |publisher=Michigan State University College of Law |date=2011 |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010132652/https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-brazils-legal-structure-animal-issues |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, article 32 of the Federal Environmental Crimes Law (9.605 of 12 February 1998) prohibits abuse and cruelty against animals under the penalty of imprisonment from three months to one year, and a fine.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9605.htm |work=www.planalto.gov.br |title=Lei nº 9.605 de 12 de Fevereiro de 1998 |access-date=4 June 2020 |language=pt |archive-date=12 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212154830/http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/L9605.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Clayton"/>


=== Canada ===
While the above has been pushed by the animal rights industry to canvas for funds, over a century of published memoirs, keeps and conditioning programmes, many when dogfighting was legal or the laws against them unenforced, has failed to uncover a single case recommending the use of 'bait' animals prior to the animal rights industry raising the issue in the 1970s. Unfortunately those on the fringes of dog fighting believe such self-styled experts and like many profecies will eventually become self-fulfilling.
Dog fighting has been illegal in Canada since 1892; however, the current law requires police to catch individuals during the unlawful act, which is often difficult.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cfhs.ca/law/federal_legislation/ |title=Canadian Federal Legislation regarding animal welfare |publisher=Cfhs.ca |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606101201/http://cfhs.ca/law/federal_legislation |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


=== China ===
===Social impact, gang and criminal activities===
Dog fighting is allowed under Chinese law, although [[Gambling in China|gambling remains illegal]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moon |first1=Louise |title=Police break up dog-fighting ring in China where dog fights are legal but gambling is not |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2142422/chinese-police-break-underground-dog-fighting-ring-run-pensioners |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=South China Morning Post |date=19 April 2018 |language=en |archive-date=19 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419065808/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2142422/chinese-police-break-underground-dog-fighting-ring-run-pensioners |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Costa Rica ===
In places where dog fighting is outlawed, its clandestine culture is believed to be directly related to other crimes and to community violence. Peripheral criminal activities that sometimes occurs at a dog fight include gambling, racketeering, drug distribution, and gang violence. As with other criminal enterprises, communities often suffer from the unlawful activities occurring in their neighborhoods. <ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/qvusdogfighting.htm Dog Fighting General Overview<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Animal advocates also cite desensitization to violence and animal cruelty as an unwelcome corollary of dog fighting, particularly among child spectators. <ref name="autogenerated1" /> This notion remains an unproven assertion, as does the "fact" that the families of those involved are at greater risk of interpersonal violence. Again no proof exists to claim people graduate from illegal activities to animal abuse to human abuse. Otherwise those involved in pig hunting with dogs or all facets of bull-fighting would be equally "at risk".
In [[Costa Rica]], dog fights were illegal for decades as a misdemeanor; since 2014 and after a legal reform, they became a felony and are punished with up to three years of imprisonment.<ref>[http://www.nacion.com/vivir/ambiente/Diputados-aprueban-castiga-peleas-perros_0_1411658952.html Diputados aprueban ley que castiga hasta con tres años de cárcel peleas de perros] La Nación. In Spanish</ref><ref>[http://www.hsi.org/spanish/news/press_releases/2014/04/costa-rican-congress-passes-dogfighting-legislation-spanish-043014.html Congreso de Costa Rica aprueba Legislación en contra de las peleas de perros] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205154833/http://www.hsi.org/spanish/news/press_releases/2014/04/costa-rican-congress-passes-dogfighting-legislation-spanish-043014.html |date=2015-02-05 }} [[Humane Society International]]. 2014. In Spanish</ref>


=== India ===
{{main|Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation}}
Dog fighting is prevalent in some parts of India, particularly in the state of [[Haryana]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=युवक अपने पिटबुल डॉगी से करवाता है हमला:पूरा गांव परेशान; ग्रामीण बोले- स्ट्रीट डॉग्स से भी लड़वाता है, FIR दर्ज |language=Hindi |trans-title=Youth makes his pitbull dog attack: entire village upset; "fights even with street dogs"say villagers, FIR registered|work=[[Dainik Bhaskar]] |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/mp/dhar/manawar/news/video-of-pitbulls-attack-was-posted-on-social-media-case-registered-after-complaint-from-manika-gandhi-131082255.html}}</ref> The practice is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-13 |title=PETA India asks govt to crackdown on 'illegal dogfights' |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/peta-india-asks-govt-to-crackdown-on-illegal-dogfights/articleshow/94173805.cms |access-date=2023-06-06 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
On [[August 27]], [[2007]] professional American football player [[Michael Vick]] pleaded guilty to felony charges of running a dogfighting ring.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vick signs plea deal, admits providing gambling funds |author=Green, Frank |publisher=''[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]'' |date=2007-08-24 |url=http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-08-24-0183.html |accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> Vick joined three others who had pleaded guilty earlier to federal [[felony]] charges for running a competitive dogfighting ring called "[[Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation|Bad Newz Kennels]]" over a period of 6 years. The case drew widespread publicity in the United States owing to Vick's fame, his image as a [[role model]], and certain gruesome details of the operation, including how underperforming dogs were executed via means such as electrocution and hanging. The related unlawful gambling he funded was especially objectionable to his [[National Football League|professional football league's]] Player Code of Conduct. The four co-defendants face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 plus restitution. It is also likely that Vick will forfeit ownership of the $700,000 15 acre estate in [[Surry County, Virginia]] which was developed for the enterprise. A Virginia [[grand jury]] met to consider additional state charges on Vick on [[September 25, 2007]].


==See also==
=== Japan ===
* [[List of dog fighting breeds]]
[[File:Tosa Inu - Boss.jpg|thumb|200px|Japanese fighting dog Tosa Inu]]
According to historical documents, [[Hōjō Takatoki]], the 14th [[shikken]] (''[[shōgun]]''{{'}}s regent) of the [[Kamakura shogunate]] was known to be obsessed with dog fighting, to the point where he allowed his [[samurai]] to pay taxes with dogs. During this period, dog fighting was known as {{nihongo|''inuawase''|犬合わせ}}.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}


Dog fighting was considered a way for the samurai to retain their aggressive edge during peaceful times. Several ''[[daimyō]]s'' (feudal lords), such as [[Chōsokabe Motochika]] and [[Yamauchi Yōdō]], both from [[Tosa Province]] (present-day [[Kōchi Prefecture]]), were known to encourage dog fighting. Dog fighting was also popular in [[Akita Prefecture]], which is the origin of the [[Akita Inu|Akita]] breed.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}


Dog fighting evolved in [[Kōchi Prefecture|Kōchi]] to a form that is called {{nihongo|''tōken''|闘犬}}. Under modern rules, dogs fight in a fenced ring until one of the dogs barks, yelps, or loses the will to fight. Owners are allowed to admit defeat, and matches are stopped if a doctor judges that it is too dangerous. Draws usually occur when both dogs will not fight or both dogs fight until the time limit. There are various other rules, including one that specifies that a dog will lose if it attempts to [[Mating|copulate]]. Champion dogs are called [[Yokozuna (sumo)|yokozuna]], as in [[sumo]]. Dog fighting is not banned at a nationwide level, but the prefectures of [[Tokyo]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]], [[Fukui Prefecture|Fukui]], [[Ishikawa Prefecture|Ishikawa]], [[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama]] and [[Hokkaidō]] all ban the practice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E9%97%98%E7%8A%AC%E3%80%81%E9%97%98%E9%B6%8F%E3%80%81%E9%97%98%E7%89%9B%E7%AD%89%E5%8F%96%E7%B7%A0%E6%9D%A1%E4%BE%8B|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720190246/http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E9%97%98%E7%8A%AC%E3%80%81%E9%97%98%E9%B6%8F%E3%80%81%E9%97%98%E7%89%9B%E7%AD%89%E5%8F%96%E7%B7%A0%E6%9D%A1%E4%BE%8B|url-status=dead|title=闘犬、闘鶏、闘牛等取締条例とは – わかりやすく解説 Weblio辞書|archivedate=July 20, 2011|website=www.weblio.jp}}</ref> Currently, most fighting dogs in Japan are of the [[Tosa (dog)|Tosa]] breed, which is native to Kōchi.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
== External links ==
{{Wikinews|Number of suspects in Finnish dogfighting case rises to ten}}
;General information
* [http://www.bulldoginformation.com/fighting-dog-breeds.html Fighting Dog Breeds]
* [http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm Animal Legal and Historical Center]
* [http://www.zconcept.net/Ragnar/combat03.html Monsieur Pitbull]
* [http://www.workingpitbull.com/dogfighting.htm Diane Jessup]
* [http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2001-07-10/cover_story.html Fight Clubs]
* [http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/sadreality.php Sad Reality]
* [http://www.staffordmall.com/stoutheart-westminsterpit.htm Stafford and Baiting Sports]
* [http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_dogfighting ASPCA: Article about Dog Fighting]
*[http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/thoughts.html Pitbulls On The Web: Thoughts on Dog Fighting]


=== The European Union ===
;Literature
Dog fighting is illegal throughout the [[European Union]].<ref name="Linzey">{{Cite book |last1=Linzey |first1=Andrew |last2=Linzey |first2=Clair |date=2018 |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Practical Animal Ethics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hy9iDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA551 |location=London |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |page=155 |isbn=9781137366719 |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603201816/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hy9iDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA551 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [http://www.pavelbooks.net.ru/dogsbook.htm The Degeneration Of The Dog Family]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/nm/PMT/book.html Magazines and Books]


==== Bulgaria ====
;Magazine articles
In 2019, an investigation by Hidden-in-Sight for the League Against Cruel Sports and the BBC highlighted a global trade in fighting dogs centered in Bulgaria.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46991589 |title=''Dog fighting'' in Bulgaria |work=BBC News |date=13 February 2019 |access-date=2019-02-19 |archive-date=2019-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220110039/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46991589 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[http://www.dogexpert.com/Popular%20Press/Stories/Pitbullfriend.html Article from ''Sports Illustrated''], July 27, 1987
Subsequently, in April, a raid took place where 58 people were arrested at the site of two fighting pits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Незаконните боеве с кучета: Образувано е досъдебно производство срещу криминално проявен |url=https://btvnovinite.bg/predavania/tazi-sutrin/nezakonnite-boeve-s-kucheta-obrazuvano-e-dosadebno-proizvodstvo-sreshtu-kriminalno-projaven.html |date=17 April 2019 |language=bg |access-date=18 April 2019 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418173034/https://btvnovinite.bg/predavania/tazi-sutrin/nezakonnite-boeve-s-kucheta-obrazuvano-e-dosadebno-proizvodstvo-sreshtu-kriminalno-projaven.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


==== Greece ====
;News articles
In October 2018, Vice.Gr released an exposé into dog fighting in Greece and the Balkans. This covered how dog fighting is linked to serious organised group in the country. The piece was advised by Hidden-in-Sight.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/gr/article/43e3am/to-paranomo-ektrofeio-pit-bull-sto-layrio-oi-kynomaxies-sthn-katerinh-h-atimwrhsia?site=vice |title=Το Παράνομο Εκτροφείο Pit Bull στο Λαύριο, οι Κυνομαχίες στην Κατερίνη, η Ατιμωρησία |author=Θοδωρής Χονδρόγιαννος |work=Vice News |date=5 October 2018 |language=el |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901203015/https://www.vice.com/gr/article/43e3am/to-paranomo-ektrofeio-pit-bull-sto-layrio-oi-kynomaxies-sthn-katerinh-h-atimwrhsia?site=vice |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{cite news | last = Staff | first = | title = Dog fighting in Acadiana: Video part 1 | pages = | publisher = [[KLFY TV 10]] | date = [[2007-11-30]] | url = http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?s=7428267 | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}

*{{cite news | last = Staff | first = | title = Dog fighting in Acadiana: Video part 2 | pages = | publisher = [[KLFY TV 10]] | date = [[2007-11-30]] | url = http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=7428181 | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}
==== Ireland ====
*{{cite news | last = Webster | first = Richard | title = Dog fighting remains big business in Louisiana | pages = | publisher = [[New Orleans City Business]] | date = [[2007-11-26]] | url = http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=24958 | accessdate = 2007-11-26}}
Dog fighting has been illegal in Ireland for over 150 years, although the sport is still popular in underground circles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hosford |first1=Paul |title=ISPCA warns that casual dog fighting is on the rise |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/dog-fighting-on-the-rise-says-ispca-1577642-Jul2014/ |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=TheJournal.ie |date=19 July 2014 |language=en |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035643/http://www.thejournal.ie/dog-fighting-on-the-rise-says-ispca-1577642-Jul2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{cite news | last = Burke | first = Bill | title = Once limited to the rural South, dogfighting sees a cultural shift | pages = | publisher = [[The Virginian-Pilot]] | date = [[2007-06-17]] | url = http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=126838&ran=241086 | accessdate = 2007-06-17 }}

*{{cite news | last = Weir | first = Tom | title = Vick case sheds light on dark world of dogfighting | pages = | publisher = [[USA Today]] | date= 2007-07-18 | url = http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/0718dogfighting-ON.html | accessdate = 2007-07-19}}
=== Guatemala ===
Article 62 §h of decree no. 5-2017 – Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Guatemala, enacted in April 2017, explicitly prohibits the promotion of, participation in and organisation of shows that include fighting between dogs.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=3 April 2017 |title=Decreto Número 5-2017 – Ley de Protección y Bienestar Animal |url=http://old.congreso.gob.gt/archivos/decretos/2017/CCCVI0870200010005201703042017.pdf |journal=[[Diario de Centro América]] |publisher=Government of Guatemala |volume=306 |issue=87 |pages=5 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170821235002/http://old.congreso.gob.gt/archivos/decretos/2017/CCCVI0870200010005201703042017.pdf|access-date=9 June 2020 |archive-date= 2017-08-21|language=es}}</ref>

=== Honduras ===
Dog fighting had previously been popular for decades amongst the poorest people of Honduras. The most common dog of choice for trainers was the American Pit Bull Terrier. Matches were held in the shanty towns of Tegucigalpa, with fights taking place in a simple sand pit surrounded by bleachers, often with only a few dozen spectators. Dog Fighting was more of a spectating pastime for those living in poverty than a form of gambling for locals. [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19991114/2995123/dog-fighting-on-the-rise-among-poor-of-honduras Dog Fighting On The Rise Among Poor Of Honduras | The Seattle Times]

On November 12, 2015, the Honduran National Congress approved the Animal Welfare Act which banned the use and ownership of fighting dogs. Anyone found subjecting a dog to, assisting in the management or organization of any form of dog fight training, matches or breeding programs can be imprisoned for 3–6 years.[https://animalequality.org/news/honduras-bans-use-of-animals-in-circuses-and-dog-fighting/ Honduras Bans Use Of Animals In Circuses And Dog Fighting]

=== Kuwait ===

Dog fighting became illegal in Kuwait as well as animal abuse as is stated "The law stipulates penalties of up to one year imprisonment and a fine of KD 1,000 for anyone who abuses, neglects or offers animals for sale ".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kuwaittimes.com/justice-for-animals/ | title=Justice for animals | date=9 April 2020 }}</ref>

=== Mexico ===
Dog fighting became illegal in Mexico on June 24, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title= Dog fights as sport now illegal in Mexico |date= 2017-06-24 |access-date= 2019-05-02 |newspaper= Mexico News Daily |url= https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/dog-fights-as-sport-now-illegal-in-mexico/ |quote= The blood sport of dog fighting became illegal today in Mexico. |archive-date= 2017-06-27 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170627001850/https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/dog-fights-as-sport-now-illegal-in-mexico/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Pacelle |first= Wayne |author-link= Wayne Pacelle |title= Mexico adopts felony-level penalties for dogfighting |date= 2017-04-26 |access-date= 2019-05-02 |website= [[Humane Society of the United States]] |url= https://blog.humanesociety.org/2017/04/mexico-adopts-felony-level-penalties-dogfighting.html |quote= [Mexico's] Senate has put the final stamp of approval on a comprehensive law that bans all dogfighting in the country and establishes tough penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for anyone involved in dogfighting activities like organizing fights, owning or trading a dog, and attending a fight as a spectator. |archive-date= 2019-05-02 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190502080933/https://blog.humanesociety.org/2017/04/mexico-adopts-felony-level-penalties-dogfighting.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Morocco ===
Some breeds of dog previously imported from France on the [[black market]] are now illegal. However, dogfighting as an activity has not been specifically banned.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Senoussi |first1=Zoubida |title=Moroccan Government Unveils Final List of Banned Dog Breeds |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/08/251970/moroccan-government-unveils-final-list-of-banned-dog-breeds/ |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=[[Morocco World News]] |date=9 August 2018 |language=en-us |archive-date=10 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810111852/https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/08/251970/moroccan-government-unveils-final-list-of-banned-dog-breeds/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== New Zealand ===
In accordance with the [[Animal Welfare Act 1999]], dog fighting is illegal within New Zealand. Breeding, training or owning dogs for fighting is also illegal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Animal Welfare Act 1999 |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1999/0142/latest/DLM50434.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_animal+welfare_resel_25_a&p=1 |website=www.legislation.govt.nz/ |access-date=30 August 2018 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035756/http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1999/0142/latest/DLM50434.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_animal+welfare_resel_25_a&p=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Pakistan ===
Even though it has recently been banned by law, it is still being practiced in rural Pakistan, especially in provinces such as [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Azad Kashmir]], [[Sindh]] and [[Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa]]. Now Karachi is the most popular city about pit bull fighting with the proper rules. There can be as much as millions of [[Pakistani Rupees|rupees]] at stake for the owners of winning dogs,<ref>{{cite web | title = Dog fighting in pakistan is alive and kicking | url = http://tribune.com.pk/story/325802/dogfighting-in-pakistan-is-alive-and-kicking/ | date = January 23, 2012 | access-date = August 27, 2012 | archive-date = April 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120423195522/http://tribune.com.pk/story/325802/dogfighting-in-pakistan-is-alive-and-kicking/ | url-status = live }}</ref> so different breeds have carefully been bred and selected specifically for the purpose, such as the [[Bully Kutta]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

=== Panama ===
Law 308 on the Protection of Animals was approved by the [[National Assembly (Panama)|National Assembly of Panama]] on 15 March 2012. Article 7 of the law states: 'Dog fights, animal races, bullfights – whether of the Spanish or Portuguese style – the breeding, entry, permanence and operation in the national territory of all kinds of circus or circus show that uses trained animals of any species, are prohibited.' Horse racing and cockfighting were exempt from the ban.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animanaturalis.org/n/23744/panama_prohibe_las_corridas_de_toros |title=Panamá prohíbe las corridas de toros |publisher=Anima Naturalis |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=6 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=6 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606150408/https://www.animanaturalis.org/n/23744/panama_prohibe_las_corridas_de_toros |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Paraguay ===
Organising fights between all animals, both in public and private, is prohibited in Paraguay under Law No. 4840 on Animal Protection and Welfare, promulgated on 28 January 2013. Specifically:
* 'The use of animals in shows, fights, popular festivals and other activities that imply cruelty or mistreatment, that can cause death, suffering or make them the object of unnatural and unworthy treatments' is prohibited (Article 30).
* 'Training domestic animals to carry out provoked fights, with the goal of holding a public or private show' is considered an 'act of mistreatment'. (Article 31)
* 'The use of animals in shows, fights, popular festivals, and other activities that imply cruelty or mistreatment, which may cause death, suffering or make them subject to unnatural or humiliating treatment' is considered a 'very serious infraction' (Article 32), which are punishable by between 501 and 1500 minimum daily wages (''jornales mínimos'', Article 39), and the perpetrator may be barred from 'acquiring or possessing other animals for a period that may be up to 10 years' (Article 38).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/954/de-proteccion-y-bienestar-animal |title=Ley Nº 4840 / de Proteccion y Bienestar Animal |work=Leyes Paraguayas |publisher=Biblioteca y Archivo del Congreso de la Nación |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=5 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=5 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605133325/https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/954/de-proteccion-y-bienestar-animal |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== The Philippines ===
Dog fighting is illegal in the Philippines, with those involved being convicted under animal cruelty laws.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Strother |first1=Jason |title=South Korean Dog Fighting Ring Organizers Return From Philippines |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2015/02/13/south-korean-dog-fighting-ring-organizers-return-from-philippines/ |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=13 February 2015 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035737/https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2015/02/13/south-korean-dog-fighting-ring-organizers-return-from-philippines/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Russia ===
Although animal cruelty laws exist in Russia, dog fighting is widely practiced. Laws prohibiting dog fights have been passed in certain places like Moscow by order of that city's mayor. In much of Russia, dog fights are legally held, generally using [[Caucasian Shepherd Dog]]s, [[Georgian shepherd]]s and [[Central Asian Shepherd Dog]]s. [[Temperament test]]s, which are a common and relatively mild form of dog fighting used for breeding purposes, are fairly commonplace. Most dog fights are traditional contests used to test the stamina and ability of working dogs used to protect livestock. Unlike fights with pit bulls and other fighting breeds, a veterinarian is always on hand, the contests are never to the death, and serious injuries are very rare. Most fights are over in minutes when it is clear which dog is superior. At the end of three rounds, the contest is declared a draw.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/world/europe/09dogfight.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1 |title=A Brutal Sport Is Having Its Day Again in Russia |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=9 February 2007 |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2014-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310213936/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/world/europe/09dogfight.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1 |url-status=live |last1=Chivers |first1=C. J. }}</ref>

=== South Africa ===
Dog fighting has been declared illegal in the Republic of South Africa. However, it is still very popular in the underground world, with dog fighting being a highly syndicated and organized crime. The [[NSPCA]] ([[National Council of SPCAs]]) is the largest animal welfare organization in Africa, and has been the organization that has conducted the most raids and busts, of which the most recent was in 2013, where 18 people were arrested, and 14 dogs were involved. Dog fighting is practiced throughout the country, in the townships area where gangs and drugs are mostly associated with dog fighting.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Dog fighting has been well documented in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape region of [[Stellenbosch]]. The Stellenbosch Animal Welfare Society (AWS) frequently responds to complaints of nighttime dog fighting in the town of Cloetesville, in which hundreds of dogs fight. Young children may be used to transport fighting dogs to avoid the arrest of the owners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animal-info.co.za/dog-fights-back-news-again.html |title=Dog fights are back in the news… again |publisher=Animal-info.co.za |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2014-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226181134/http://www.animal-info.co.za/dog-fights-back-news-again.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=Caryle |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-167924565 |title=Hundreds of animals savaged in night-time dog fighting in Cloetesville |publisher= |access-date=}}{{dl|date=July 2021}}</ref>

==== Tsakane dog fighting case ====
In November 2013, the [[NSPCA]] arrested 18 suspects who were caught in the act of illegal dog fighting in [[Tsakane]] in the East Rand. The suspects were arrested and charged for illegal dog fighting. Dog fighting is a criminal and prosecutable offence in [[South Africa]]. 14 pit bull-type dogs were confiscated from the property and were used for fighting purposes. Some of the dogs were badly injured as a result of the fighting and had to be humanely euthanised.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news24.com/Archives/City-Press/18-arrested-for-dog-fighting-20150429|title=18 arrested for dog fighting|work=News24|access-date=2017-06-09|archive-date=2018-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023331/https://www.news24.com/Archives/City-Press/18-arrested-for-dog-fighting-20150429|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 February 2018, a guilty verdict was handed down on 17 of the suspects by the presiding Magistrate in the Nigel Regional Court. 10 men were found guilty of being spectators at this dog fight and were sentenced to two years under strict house arrest (Benedict Ngcobo, Gift Nkabinde, Sabelo Mtshali, Thabiso Mahlangu, Bongani Skakane, Lehlohonolo Nomadola, Thulane Dhlosi, Mxolisi Khumalo, Nkosana Masilela, Sipho Masombuka). All the convicted men were found unfit to possess firearms and found unfit to own dogs and, if found to be in possession of a dog, would be liable to 12 months direct imprisonment. Further to the life-changing conditions of house arrest, the 10 spectators were also sentenced to 360 hours of community service and a total of R50 000 to be paid to the [[NSPCA]]. During the course of this trial, one of the accused chose to plead guilty and was sentenced to R20 000 or 20 months imprisonment, which was suspended for five years on the condition that he did not re-offend.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nspca.co.za/success-stories/justice-in-tsakane-dog-fighting-case/|title=Justice in Tsakane Dog Fighting Case – NSPCA Cares about all Animals|date=2018-04-20|work=NSPCA Cares about all Animals|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528073335/https://nspca.co.za/success-stories/justice-in-tsakane-dog-fighting-case/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== South Korea ===
Dog fighting is illegal in [[South Korea]].<ref name="Linzey"/>

=== Taiwan ===
According to Article 10 of the Taiwan Animal Protection Law, any "fights between animals or between animals and people through direct or indirect gambling, entertainment, operation, advertisement and other illegitimate purposes" is prohibited and carries a fine ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$250,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animallaw.info/statute/taiwan-cruelty-taiwan-animal-protection-law|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215543/https://www.animallaw.info/statute/taiwan-cruelty-taiwan-animal-protection-law|url-status=dead|title=Taiwan – Cruelty – Taiwan Animal Protection Law &#124; Animal Legal & Historical Center|archivedate=June 2, 2021|website=www.animallaw.info}}</ref>

=== United Arab Emirates ===
Dog fighting is illegal in the [[United Arab Emirates]] according to Federal Law No. 16 of 2007 on animal welfare and its amendments in Federal Law No. 18 of 2016. It is considered an 'act of animal cruelty' that is punishable by either imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or a fine of 200,000 [[United Arab Emirates dirham]], or both.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/crime/dog-fighting-in-uae-incident-of-abused-rottweiler-pup-prompts-ministry-to-issue-warning-1.64177419 |title=Dog fighting in UAE? Incident of abused Rottweiler pup prompts ministry to issue warning |author=Ashley Hammond |work=[[Gulf News]] |publisher=[[Al Nisr Publishing]] |date=27 May 2019 |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603201812/https://gulfnews.com/uae/crime/dog-fighting-in-uae-incident-of-abused-rottweiler-pup-prompts-ministry-to-issue-warning-1.64177419 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
Dog fighting remains illegal under U.K. law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Winter |first1=Stuart |title=Dog News: Soaring numbers of dogs stolen and forced to FIGHT – make sure YOURS isn't next |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/965054/dog-news-theft-stolen-dogs-police-Staffies-French-bulldogs-cockapoo-fight-terrier |access-date=31 August 2018 |work=Express.co.uk |date=25 May 2018 |language=en |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035438/https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/965054/dog-news-theft-stolen-dogs-police-Staffies-French-bulldogs-cockapoo-fight-terrier |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite periodic dog fight prosecutions, however, illegal canine pit battles continued after the [[Cruelty to Animals Act 1835]] of England and Wales.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Glaze |first1=Ben |title=Mutilated dogs found dead at side of road were 'victims of fighting ring' |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mutilated-dead-dogs-found-dumped-12163887 |access-date=31 August 2018 |work=Daily Mirror |date=10 March 2018 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035620/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mutilated-dead-dogs-found-dumped-12163887 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Protection of Animals Act 1911]] was specific in outlawing "the fighting or baiting of animals".<ref>{{cite web |title=Protection of Animals Act 1911 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/27 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |access-date=8 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

Sporting journals of the 18th and 19th centuries depict the [[Black Country]] and [[London]] as the primary [[England|English]] dog fight centers of the period.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Holt |first1=Richard |title=Sport and the British: A Modern History |date=1990 |publisher=[[Clarendon Press]] |isbn=9780192852298 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtChCoG6veMC |access-date=8 September 2018 |language=en |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020000931/https://books.google.com/books?id=vtChCoG6veMC |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 February 2019, the BBC News released an exposé on global dog fighting with strong U.K. links. <ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46991589 |title=Inside the illegal world of organised dogfighting |work=BBC News |date=13 February 2019 |access-date=2019-07-29 |archive-date=2019-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730195913/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46991589 |url-status=live }}</ref> The investigation started in June 2016, run by Hidden-in-Sight for the League Against Cruel Sports and latterly with the BBC. The exposé centred on a dog fighting group out of Bulgaria, who had been shipping fighting dogs around the world to over 20 countries. This exposé was the final piece of the Project BLOODLINE campaign that was set up to raise awareness of this cruel sport, the current weak sentencing options in the U.K. and show how animal crime links closely to existing policing priorities.

=== United States ===
{{Main|Dog fighting in the United States}}
Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.{{sfn|Gibson|2005|loc=section 8A}} In most of the U.S., a spectator at a dog fight can be charged with a felony, while some areas only consider it a misdemeanor offense. In addition, the federal U.S. [[Animal Welfare Act of 1966|Animal Welfare Act]] makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any dog for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture. The act also makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly use the mail service of the [[United States Postal Service]] or any instrumentality of interstate commerce for commercial speech for purposes of advertising a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, promoting or in any other manner furthering an animal fighting venture, except as performed outside the limits of the states of the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://animallaw.info/statutes/stusawa.htm#2156 |title=The Animal Welfare Act |publisher=[[United States Code]] |year=2008 |access-date=2013-10-22 |archive-date=2013-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055907/http://animallaw.info/statutes/stusawa.htm#2156 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the second largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history in August 2013, the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama]] handed down the longest prison term ever handed down in a federal dog fighting case: eight years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aspca.org/blog/strong-sentences-handed-down-alabama-court-historic-dog-fighting-case |title=Strong Sentences Handed Down By Alabama Court in Historic Dog Fighting Case |publisher=[[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] |date=November 12, 2014 |access-date=2014-11-17 |archive-date=2014-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116041604/http://www.aspca.org/blog/strong-sentences-handed-down-alabama-court-historic-dog-fighting-case |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a [[Michigan State University College of Law]] study published in 2005, in the U.S., dog fighting was once completely legal and was sanctioned and promoted during the Colonial period through the Victorian and well into the 20th century. In the second half of the 19th century, dog fighting started to be criminalized in the U.S.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

There is a US$5,000 reward for reporting dog fighting to [[the Humane Society of the United States]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/animal_fighting/dogfighting_how_to_recognize.pdf?authToken=f92a8604b208059a037c3e28338914270cd3592f&credit=web_id92404957 |title= How To Spot Dog Fighting and Get $5000 For Reporting |access-date= 2014-11-17 |archive-date= 2015-09-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031950/http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/animal_fighting/dogfighting_how_to_recognize.pdf?authToken=f92a8604b208059a037c3e28338914270cd3592f&credit=web_id92404957 |url-status= live }}</ref> From the HSUS: How to spot signs of dog fighting in your community: an inordinate number of pit bull-type dogs being kept in one location, especially multiple dogs who are chained and seem unsocialized; dogs with scars on their faces, front legs and stifle area (hind end and thighs); dog fighting training equipment, such as "breaking sticks" or "break sticks" used to pry apart the jaws of dogs locked in battle, which are a foot long, flat on one side and appear to be sharpened; tires or "spring poles" (usually a large spring with rope attached to either end) hanging from tree limbs; or unusual foot traffic coming and going from a location at odd hours.

[[CNN]] in 2007 estimated that in the U.S., more than 100,000 people are engaged in dog fighting on a non-professional basis and roughly 40,000 individuals are involved as professionals in the sport of dog fighting as a commercial activity. Top fights are said to have purses of $100,000 or more.<ref name="CNN-20070719">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/18/dog.fighting/|title=Dogfighting a booming business, experts say|date=2007-07-19|access-date=4 April 2013|work=CNN|archive-date=2013-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428023653/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/18/dog.fighting/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Further reading ==

* {{Cite journal |last=Espejo |first=Esther |date=2023 |title=Case report: First criminal conviction of dog fighting in Brazil: an international network organization |journal=Frontiers in Veterinary Science |volume=10 |doi=10.3389/fvets.2023.1327436 |doi-access=free |pmc=10800658 |pmid=38260207}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Loeb |first=Josh |date=2024 |title=UK dog fighting ring had cross-Channel reach |journal=Veterinary Record |volume=194 |issue=8 |pages=292–293 |doi=10.1002/vetr.4166|doi-access=free |pmid=38639257 }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Pierpoint |first=Harriet |date=2018 |title=Dog fighting: a role for veterinary professionals in tackling a harmful and illegal practice |journal=Veterinary Record |volume=183 |issue=18 |pages=563–566|doi=10.1136/vr.k4527 |doi-access=free |pmid=30413580 }}

== See also ==
* [[Breed-specific legislation]]
* [[Cockfight]]
* [[Cricket fighting]]
* [[Cur]] – Dog-fighting term for a cowardly dog<ref>{{cite book|title=Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations|date=5 April 2013|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc.|pages=372–373|doi=10.1002/9781118704738.app31|chapter = Dogfighting Terminology|isbn = 9781118704738}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.k9magazine.com/dog-fighting/|title=Dog Fighting in Britain: The Shocking Reality|website=www.k9magazine.com|access-date=13 September 2018|date=2012-06-28|archive-date=2018-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150330/http://www.k9magazine.com/dog-fighting/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Gameness]] – Dog-fighting term for the willingness to fight<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10388073|title=The shadowy, paranoid world of dogfighting|first=Geoff|last=Cumming|date=23 June 2006|access-date=13 September 2018|via=www.nzherald.co.nz|newspaper=NZ Herald|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150419/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10388073|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Spider fighting]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Alderton |first=David |author-link=David Alderton |date=1987 |title=The dog: the most complete, illustrated, practical guide to dogs and their world |location=London |publisher=New Burlington Books |isbn=0-948872-13-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Fogle |first=Bruce |author-link=Bruce Fogle|date=2009 |title=The encyclopedia of the dog |location=New York |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-0-7566-6004-8 }}
* {{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Hannah |year=2005 |title=Detailed Discussion of Dog Fighting |url=https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-dog-fighting |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=Animal Legal and Historical Center |publisher=[[Michigan State University College of Law]] |location=United States}}
* {{cite book |last=Morris |first=Desmond |author-link=Desmond Morris |date=2001 |title=Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds |location=North Pomfret, VT|publisher=Trafalgar Square Publishing |isbn=1-57076-219-8 }}
{{refend}}

=== News articles ===
* {{Cite news | last = Staff | title = Dog fighting in Acadiana: Video part 1 | work = KLFY TV 10 | date = 30 November 2007 | url = http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?s=7428267 | access-date = 2007-11-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071208191748/http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=7428267 | archive-date = 8 December 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}
* {{Cite news|last=Webster |first=Richard |title=Dog fighting remains big business in Louisiana |work=[[New Orleans City Business]] |date=26 November 2007 |url=http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?re |access-date=2007-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314113120/http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=24958 |archive-date=2008-03-14 |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite news | last = Burke | first = Bill | title = Once limited to the rural South, dogfighting sees a cultural shift | work = [[The Virginian-Pilot]] | date = 17 June 2007 | url = http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=126838&ran=241086 | access-date = 2007-06-17 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235159/http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=126838&ran=241086 | archive-date = 26 September 2007 }}
* {{Cite news | author = Staff| title = Detroit Rapper Young Calicoe Raided After Dog Fighting Video Goes Viral | work = [[Forbes.com]] | date = 7 July 2012 | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/07/11/detroit-rapper-young-calicoe-raided-after-dog-fighting-video-goes-viral-1/ | access-date = 2012-07-11}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Dog fighting}}
* [http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University College of Law]
* [http://www.animallaw.info/articles/armpusanimalfighting.htm Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University College of Law's Table of State Anti-Animal Fighting Laws]
* [http://www.knockoutdogfighting.org/ Knock Out Dog Fighting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730010231/http://www.knockoutdogfighting.org/ |date=2020-07-30 }}


{{Baiting}}
{{Baiting}}
{{Domestic dog}}
{{Humane Society|state=collapsed}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Baiting]]

[[Category:Animal combat sports]]
[[Category:Baiting (blood sport)]]
[[Category:Cruelty to animals]]
[[Category:Dog fighting breeds|*]]
[[Category:Dog fighting breeds|*]]
[[Category:Dog-related professions and professionals]]
[[Category:Dog-related professions and professionals]]
[[Category:Organized crime activity]]

[[Category:Animal combat organized by humans]]
[[es:Pelea de perros]]
[[he:קרב כלבים]]
[[ja:闘犬]]
[[no:Hundekamp]]
[[pt:Luta de cães]]
[[sr:Борба паса]]
[[fi:Koiratappelu]]
[[sv:Hundhetsning]]

Latest revision as of 23:18, 27 December 2024

Dog baiting by Azim Azimzade, 1938

Dog fighting is a type of blood sport that turns game and fighting dogs against each other in a physical fight, often to the death, for the purposes of gambling or entertainment to the spectators.[1] In rural areas, fights are often staged in barns or outdoor pits; in urban areas, fights are often staged in garages, basements, warehouses, alleyways, abandoned buildings, neighborhood playgrounds, or in the streets.[2][3] Dog fights usually last until one dog is declared a winner, which occurs when one dog fails to scratch, dies, or jumps out of the pit.[4] Sometimes dog fights end without declaring a winner; for instance, the dog's owner may call off the fight.[4]

"A Dog Fight at Kit Burn's" by Edward Winslow Martin (James D. McCabe). USA, 1868
"Fighting dogs getting wind" by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, 1818[5]

Dog fighting generates revenue from stud fees, admission fees and gambling. Most countries have banned dog fighting, but it is still legal in some countries, such as Japan,[6] and Albania.[7] The sport is also popular in Russia.[8][needs update]

History

[edit]
A dogfight, by Paul Sandby, c. 1785
A fight between a dog and Jacco Macacco, the fighting monkey, at the Westminster Pit, London. 1822
An English broadside advertising an upcoming event at the Westminster Pit, London, featuring a match between the monkey, Jacco Macacco and a dog, also dog fights, badger-baiting and bear-baiting, c. November 1821

Europe

[edit]

Blood sports in general can be traced back to the Roman Empire.[9] In 13 BC, for instance, the ancient Roman circus slew 600 African beasts.[10] Dog fighting, more specifically, can also be traced to ancient Roman times. In AD 43, for example, dogs fought alongside the Romans and the British in the Roman Conquest of Britain.[9] In this war, the Romans used a breed that originated from Greece called the Molossus; the Britons used broad-mouthed Mastiffs, which were thought to descend from the Molossus bloodline and which also originated from Greece.[11] Though the British were outnumbered and ultimately lost this war, the Romans were so impressed with the English Mastiffs that they began to import these dogs for use in the Colosseum, as well as for use in times of war.[9] While spectators watched, the imported English Mastiffs were pitted against animals such as elephants, lions, bears and bulls, and also against gladiators.[9]

Later, the Romans bred and exported fighting dogs to Spain, France and other parts of Europe until eventually these dogs made their way back to England.[9] Though bull-baiting and bear-baiting were popular throughout the Middle Ages up to the 19th century in Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, the British pitted dogs against bulls and bears.[11] In 12th century England during the feudal era, the landed aristocracy, who held direct military control in decentralized feudal systems and thus owned the animals necessary for waging war, introduced bull baiting and bear baiting to the rest of the British population.[11] In later years, bull-baiting and bear-baiting became a popular source of entertainment for the British royalty.[11] For instance, Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603, was an avid follower of bull- and bear-baiting; she bred Mastiffs for baiting and would entertain foreign guests with a fight whenever they visited England.[11] In addition to breeding Mastiffs and entertaining foreign guests with a fight, Queen Elizabeth, and later her successor, King James I, built a number of bear gardens in London.[12] The garden buildings were round and roofless, and housed not only bears, but also bulls and other wild animals that could be used in a fight.[12] Today, a person can visit the Bear Garden Museum near the Shakespeare Global Complex in Bankside, Southwark.[citation needed]

With the popularity of bull- and bear-baiting, bears needed for such fights soon became scarce.[11] With the scarcity of the bear population, the price of bears rose and, because of this, bull-baiting became more common in England over time.[11] Bulls who survived the fights were slaughtered afterwards for their meat, as it was believed that the fight caused bull meat to become more tender.[11] In fact, if a bull was offered for sale in the market without having been baited the previous day, butchers were liable to face substantial fines.[11] Animal fights were temporarily suspended in England when Oliver Cromwell seized power, but were reinstated again after the Restoration.[12] Dog fighting, bull-baiting, and bear-baiting were officially outlawed in England by the Humane Act of 1835.[13] The official ban on all fights, however, actually served to promote dog fighting in England.[12] Since a small amount of space was required for the pit where a dog fight took place, as compared to the ring needed for bull- or bear-baiting, authorities had a difficult time enforcing the ban on dog fighting.[12]

United States

[edit]

In 1817, the bull and terrier crossbreeds were brought to America and dog fighting slowly became part of American culture.[1] Yet, though historical accounts of dog fighting in America can be dated back to the 1750s, it was not until the end of the Civil War (1861–1865) that widespread interest and participation in the blood sport began in the United States.[3] For instance, in 1881, the Mississippi and Ohio railroads advertised special fares to a dog fight in Louisville; public forums such as Kit Burns' Tavern, "The Sportman's Hall", in Manhattan regularly hosted matches.[1] Many of these dogs thrown into the "professional pits" that flourished during the 1860s came from England and Ireland — where citizens had turned to dogs when bull-baiting and bear-baiting became illegal in their countries.[3]

In 20th century America, despite the expansion of laws to outlaw dog fighting, dog fighting continued to flourish underground.[3] Aiding in the expansion of dog fighting were the police and firemen, who saw dog fighting as a form of entertainment amongst their ranks.[3] In fact, the Police Gazette served as a go-to source for information about where one could attend a fight.[3] When Henry Bergh, who started the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), witnessed police involvement in these fights, he was motivated to seek and receive authority for the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Agents to have arresting power in New York.[3] Additionally, Bergh's 1867 revision to New York's animal cruelty law made all forms of animal fighting illegal.[3] However, According to the ASPCA website, the Humane Law Enforcement department of ASPCA has been disbanded and NYPD has taken over its duty.[3] As laws were passed to outlaw the activity, high-profile organizations, such as the United Kennel Club, who once endorsed the sport by formulating rules and sanctioning referees, withdrew their endorsement.[1]

On July 8, 2009, one of the largest dog fighting raids in U.S. history occurred. Law enforcement seized over 350 dogs, mostly pit bulls, and arrested 26 people across eight states. Most of the dogs were expected to have to be euthanized, as their harsh upbringing did not prepare them to be able to be safely placed in an adoptive home.[14][15]

Breed origins

[edit]
Fighting Dogs by George Morland, circa 1800

According to one scholar, Richard Strebel, the foundation for modern fighting dogs came from five dog types: the Tibetan Mastiff, the English Mastiff (out of which came the Dogue de Bordeaux, the Bulldog, and the Pug[citation needed]), the Great Dane (out of which came the Broholmer and the Boxer), the Newfoundland, and the Saint Bernard (out of which came the Leonberger).[12][16]: Table 1  However, Dieter Fleig disagreed with Strebel and offered the following list as composing the foundation of modern fighting dogs: the Tibetan Mastiff, the Molossus, the Bullenbeisser, the Great Dane, the English Mastiff, the Bulldog, the bull and terrier, and the Chincha Bulldog.[12][17][16]: Table 1  Other early dog types used for fighting included the Blue Paul Terrier,[18] the Córdoba Fighting Dog,[19] and the Dogo Cubano.[20]

The foundation breed of the fighting dog was, in its outward appearance, a large, low, heavy breed with a powerful build, strongly developed head, and tremendously threatening voice.[12] Additionally, these foundation breeds were also bred for a powerful jaw that would enable them to defend and protect humans, to overpower and pull down large animals on a hunt, and to control large, unmanageable domestic animals.[12] These dogs were also sometimes equipped with metal plates, chains, and collars with sharp spikes or hooked knives in order to be used in wars throughout history.[12]

When bull-baiting became popular in England due to the shortage of bears, bull-baiters soon realized that large fighting dogs were built too heavy and too slow for this type of combat.[11] When fighting a bull, dogs were trained to grab onto the bull's nose and pin the bull's head to the ground.[11] If the dog failed to do this, the bull would fling the dog out of the ring with its horns.[11] The British therefore decided to selectively breed fighting dogs for shorter legs and a more powerful jaw.[11] These efforts resulted in the Old English Bulldog.[11]

However, when countries started outlawing bull- and bear-baiting, dog fighters started pitting dogs against other dogs.[11] With the prevalence of such combat, dog fighters soon realized Bulldogs were inadequate and began to breed Bulldogs with terriers for more desired characteristics.[11] Terriers were most likely crossbred with Bulldogs due to their "generally rugged body structure", speed, aggression, and "highly developed gameness".[11] Yet, there is a debate over which type of terrier was bred with Bulldogs in order to create the bull and terrier. For instance, Joseph L. Colby claimed that it was the old English White Terrier that the bull and terrier is descended from, while Rhonda D. Evans and Craig J. Forsyth contend that its ancestor is the Rat Terrier.[11] Carl Semencic, on the other hand, held that a variety of terriers produced the bull and terrier.[11]

Eventually, out of crossbreeding Bulldogs and terriers, the English created the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.[3][21][22] When the Staffordshire Bull Terrier came to America in 1817, Americans began to selectively breed for gameness and created the American Pit Bull Terrier (originally known as the Pit Bull Terrier), which is a unique breed due to its absence of threat displays when fighting.[11][23][22][24] Bull Terriers,[25][22] Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and American Staffordshire Terriers,[26][22][24] are all breeds that are commonly labeled as "pit bulls".[27] The fact that pit bulls were historically bred to fight dogs, bulls, and bears has been used as one of the justifications in some US cities to implement breed-specific legislation.[28] Other breeds in which dogs at various stages of the breed history have sometimes been used as fighters include the Akita Inu,[29] the Boston terrier,[16]: Table 1  the Bully Kutta,[30] the Ca de Bou,[31] the Dogo Argentino,[32] the Gull Dong,[citation needed] the Gull Terrier,[citation needed] the Neapolitan Mastiff,[33] the Presa Canario,[34] the Spanish Mastiff,[35] and the Tosa.[36][37]

Societal aspects

[edit]

After interviewing 31 dogmen and attending 14 dog fights in the Southern United States, Evans, Gauthier, and Forsyth theorized on what attracts men to dog fights.[38] In their study, Evans, et al., discussed dog fighting's attractiveness in terms of masculinity and class immobility.[38] In the United States, masculinity embodies the qualities of strength, aggression, competition, and striving for success. By embodying these characteristics, a man can gain honor and status in his society.[38] Yet, working class occupations, unlike middle or upper class occupations, provide limited opportunities to validate this culturally accepted definition of masculinity.[38] So, working class men look for alternative ways to validate their masculinity and obtain honor and status. One way to do this is through dog fighting.[38] This is supported by the Evans, et al. findings: the majority of committed dogmen were mostly drawn from the working class, while the middle and upper classes were barely represented.[38] Men from middle and upper classes have opportunities to express their masculinity through their occupations; dog fighting, therefore, is just a hobby for them while it plays a central role in the lives of working class men.[38]

Aside from enjoyment of the sport and status, people are also drawn to dog fighting for money.[3] In fact, the average dog fight could easily net more money than an armed robbery or a series of isolated drug transactions.[39]

Bait animals

[edit]

"Bait" animals are animals used to test a dog's fighting instinct; they are often mauled or killed in the process. Many of the training methods involve torturing and killing of other animals.[39] Often "bait" animals are stolen pets such as puppies, kittens, rabbits, small dogs and even stock (pit bulls acquired by the dog fighting ring which appear to be passive or less dominant).[40] Other sources for bait animals include wild or feral animals, animals obtained from a shelter or animals obtained from "free to good home" ads.[41] The snouts of bait animals are often wrapped with duct tape to prevent them from fighting back and they are used in training sessions to improve a dog's endurance, strength or fighting ability.[42] A bait animal's teeth may also be broken to prevent them from fighting back.[40] If the bait animals are still alive after the training sessions, they are usually given to the dogs as a reward and the dogs finish killing them.[39]

Types of dog fighters

[edit]

Street fighters

[edit]

Often associated with gang activity, street fighters fight dogs over insults, turf invasions, or simple taunts like "my dog can kill your dog".[3] These type of fights are often spontaneous; unorganized; conducted for money, drugs, or bragging rights; and occur on street corners, back alleys, and neighborhood playgrounds.[3] Urban street fighters generally have several dogs chained in backyards, often behind privacy fences, or in basements or garages.[43] After a street fight, the dogs are often discovered by police and animal control officers either dead or dying.[3] Due to the spontaneity and secrecy of a street fight, they are very difficult to respond to unless reported immediately.[3]

Hobbyists and professionals often decry the techniques that street fighters use to train their dogs.[3] Such techniques include starving, drugging, and physically abusing the dog.[3]

Hobbyists

[edit]

Hobbyists fight dogs for supplemental income and entertainment purposes.[3] They typically have one or more dogs participating in several organized fights and operate primarily within a specific geographic network.[3] Hobbyists are also acquainted with one another and tend to return to predetermined fight venues repeatedly.[43]

Professionals

[edit]

Professional fighters breed generations of skilled "game dogs" and take great pride in their dogs' lineage.[43] These fighters make a tremendous amount of money charging stud fees to breed their champions, in addition to the fees and winnings they collect for fighting them.[43] They also tend to own a large number of dogs — sometimes 50 or more.[3] Professionals also use trade journals, such as Your Friend and Mine, Game Dog Times, The American Warrior, and The Pit Bull Chronicle, to discuss recent fights and to advertise the sale of training equipment and puppies. Some fighters operate on a national or even international level within highly secret networks.[43] When a dog is not successful in a fight, a professional may dispose of it using a variety of techniques such as drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method.[3] Sometimes professionals and hobbyists dispose of dogs deemed aggressive to humans to street fighters.[3]

Gang and criminal activities

[edit]

Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[44] While dog fighting statutes exist independently of general anti-cruelty statutes and carry stiffer penalties than general state anti-cruelty statutes, a person can be charged under both or can be charged under one, but not the other — depending on the evidence.[44] In addition to felony charges for dog fighting, 48 states and the District of Columbia have provisions within their dog fighting statutes that explicitly prohibit attendance as a spectator at a dog fighting exhibition.[45] Since Montana and Hawaii do not have such provisions, a person can pay an entrance fee to watch a dog fight in either state and not be convicted under these statutes. Additionally, 46 states and the District of Columbia make possessing, owning or keeping a fighting dog a felony.[46]

While dog fighting was previously seen as isolated animal welfare issues — and therefore rarely enforced, the last decade has produced a growing body of legal and empirical evidence that has revealed a connection between dog fighting and other crimes within a community, such as organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, and/or gangs.[47] Within the gang community, fighting dogs compete with firearms as the weapon of choice; indeed, their versatile utility arguably surpasses that of a loaded firearm in the criminal underground. Drug dealers distribute their illicit merchandise, wagers are made, weapons are concealed, and the dogs mutilate each other in a bloody frenzy as crowds cheer them on.[43] Violence often erupts among the usually armed gamblers when debts are to be collected and paid.[43] There is also a concern for children who are routinely exposed to dog fighting and are forced to accept the inherent violence as normal.[48] The routine exposure of the children to unfettered animal abuse and neglect is a major contributing factor in their later manifestation of social deviance.[48]

Animal welfare and rights

[edit]

Animal advocates consider dog fighting to be one of the most serious forms of animal abuse, not only for the violence that the dogs endure during and after the fights, but because of the suffering they often endure in training, which ultimately can lead to death.[citation needed]

According to a filing in U.S. District Court in Richmond by federal investigators in Virginia, which was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and published by The Baltimore Sun on July 6, 2007, a losing dog or one whose potential is considered unacceptable faces "being put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method".[49] Some of the training of fighting dogs may entail the use of small animals (including kittens) as prey for the dogs.[citation needed]

[edit]
Laws regarding dog fighting (breeding, organising and attending) around the world:
  Nationwide ban
  Some subnational bans
  No bans
  No data

Dog fighting has been popular in many countries throughout history and continues to be practiced both legally and illegally around the world. In the 20th and 21st centuries, dog fighting has increasingly become an unlawful activity in most jurisdictions of the world, despite the fact that in cultural practice it may be common.[citation needed]

Dog fighting is illegal throughout the entire European Union and most of South America.[50] The American Pit Bull Terrier is by far the most common breed involved in the blood sport. The Dogo Cubano and Córdoba Fighting Dog were used for fighting a century ago, but both of these breeds have become extinct.[citation needed]

Afghanistan

[edit]

Previously banned by the Taliban during their rule, dog fighting has made a resurgence throughout Afghanistan as a common winter weekend pastime, especially in Kabul, where the fights are public and often policed to maintain safety to the spectators. Dogs are not fought to the death, but to submission.[51][needs update?]

Albania

[edit]

Dog fighting has been legal in Albania for over 25 years in professional fights.[7]

Argentina

[edit]

Article 3.8 of Law 14.346 on the Ill-Treatment and Acts of Cruelty to Animals of 1954 explicitly prohibits 'carrying out public or private acts of animal fights, fights of bulls and heifers, or parodies [thereof], in which animals are killed, wounded or harassed.'[52]

Australia

[edit]

Dog fighting and the possession of any fighting equipment designed for dog fighting is illegal in all Australian states and territories.[53] The illegal nature of dog fighting in Australia means that injured dogs rarely get veterinary treatment, placing the dog's health and welfare at even greater risk.[53] "Restricted Breed Dogs" cannot be imported into Australia. These include the Dogo Argentino, the Tosa, the Fila Brasileiro, the Perro de Presa Canario and the American Pit Bull Terrier. Of these, the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Perro de Presa Canario are the only breeds currently known to exist in Australia and there are strict regulations on keeping these breeds, including a prohibition on transferring ownership.[54]

Bolivia

[edit]

Bolivia passed a law in 2003 or 2004 criminalising dog fighting.[55]

Brazil

[edit]

In Brazil, Federal Decree 24.645 promulgated in 1934 by president Getúlio Vargas specifically prohibited 'to cause an animal to fight with another'.[56] Additionally, article 32 of the Federal Environmental Crimes Law (9.605 of 12 February 1998) prohibits abuse and cruelty against animals under the penalty of imprisonment from three months to one year, and a fine.[57][56]

Canada

[edit]

Dog fighting has been illegal in Canada since 1892; however, the current law requires police to catch individuals during the unlawful act, which is often difficult.[58]

China

[edit]

Dog fighting is allowed under Chinese law, although gambling remains illegal.[59]

Costa Rica

[edit]

In Costa Rica, dog fights were illegal for decades as a misdemeanor; since 2014 and after a legal reform, they became a felony and are punished with up to three years of imprisonment.[60][61]

India

[edit]

Dog fighting is prevalent in some parts of India, particularly in the state of Haryana.[62] The practice is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.[63]

Japan

[edit]
Japanese fighting dog Tosa Inu

According to historical documents, Hōjō Takatoki, the 14th shikken (shōgun's regent) of the Kamakura shogunate was known to be obsessed with dog fighting, to the point where he allowed his samurai to pay taxes with dogs. During this period, dog fighting was known as inuawase (犬合わせ).[citation needed]

Dog fighting was considered a way for the samurai to retain their aggressive edge during peaceful times. Several daimyōs (feudal lords), such as Chōsokabe Motochika and Yamauchi Yōdō, both from Tosa Province (present-day Kōchi Prefecture), were known to encourage dog fighting. Dog fighting was also popular in Akita Prefecture, which is the origin of the Akita breed.[citation needed]

Dog fighting evolved in Kōchi to a form that is called tōken (闘犬). Under modern rules, dogs fight in a fenced ring until one of the dogs barks, yelps, or loses the will to fight. Owners are allowed to admit defeat, and matches are stopped if a doctor judges that it is too dangerous. Draws usually occur when both dogs will not fight or both dogs fight until the time limit. There are various other rules, including one that specifies that a dog will lose if it attempts to copulate. Champion dogs are called yokozuna, as in sumo. Dog fighting is not banned at a nationwide level, but the prefectures of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama and Hokkaidō all ban the practice.[64] Currently, most fighting dogs in Japan are of the Tosa breed, which is native to Kōchi.[citation needed]

The European Union

[edit]

Dog fighting is illegal throughout the European Union.[50]

Bulgaria

[edit]

In 2019, an investigation by Hidden-in-Sight for the League Against Cruel Sports and the BBC highlighted a global trade in fighting dogs centered in Bulgaria.[65] Subsequently, in April, a raid took place where 58 people were arrested at the site of two fighting pits.[66]

Greece

[edit]

In October 2018, Vice.Gr released an exposé into dog fighting in Greece and the Balkans. This covered how dog fighting is linked to serious organised group in the country. The piece was advised by Hidden-in-Sight.[67]

Ireland

[edit]

Dog fighting has been illegal in Ireland for over 150 years, although the sport is still popular in underground circles.[68]

Guatemala

[edit]

Article 62 §h of decree no. 5-2017 – Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Guatemala, enacted in April 2017, explicitly prohibits the promotion of, participation in and organisation of shows that include fighting between dogs.[69]

Honduras

[edit]

Dog fighting had previously been popular for decades amongst the poorest people of Honduras. The most common dog of choice for trainers was the American Pit Bull Terrier. Matches were held in the shanty towns of Tegucigalpa, with fights taking place in a simple sand pit surrounded by bleachers, often with only a few dozen spectators. Dog Fighting was more of a spectating pastime for those living in poverty than a form of gambling for locals. Dog Fighting On The Rise Among Poor Of Honduras | The Seattle Times

On November 12, 2015, the Honduran National Congress approved the Animal Welfare Act which banned the use and ownership of fighting dogs. Anyone found subjecting a dog to, assisting in the management or organization of any form of dog fight training, matches or breeding programs can be imprisoned for 3–6 years.Honduras Bans Use Of Animals In Circuses And Dog Fighting

Kuwait

[edit]

Dog fighting became illegal in Kuwait as well as animal abuse as is stated "The law stipulates penalties of up to one year imprisonment and a fine of KD 1,000 for anyone who abuses, neglects or offers animals for sale ".[70]

Mexico

[edit]

Dog fighting became illegal in Mexico on June 24, 2017.[71][72]

Morocco

[edit]

Some breeds of dog previously imported from France on the black market are now illegal. However, dogfighting as an activity has not been specifically banned.[73]

New Zealand

[edit]

In accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999, dog fighting is illegal within New Zealand. Breeding, training or owning dogs for fighting is also illegal.[74]

Pakistan

[edit]

Even though it has recently been banned by law, it is still being practiced in rural Pakistan, especially in provinces such as Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Now Karachi is the most popular city about pit bull fighting with the proper rules. There can be as much as millions of rupees at stake for the owners of winning dogs,[75] so different breeds have carefully been bred and selected specifically for the purpose, such as the Bully Kutta.[citation needed]

Panama

[edit]

Law 308 on the Protection of Animals was approved by the National Assembly of Panama on 15 March 2012. Article 7 of the law states: 'Dog fights, animal races, bullfights – whether of the Spanish or Portuguese style – the breeding, entry, permanence and operation in the national territory of all kinds of circus or circus show that uses trained animals of any species, are prohibited.' Horse racing and cockfighting were exempt from the ban.[76]

Paraguay

[edit]

Organising fights between all animals, both in public and private, is prohibited in Paraguay under Law No. 4840 on Animal Protection and Welfare, promulgated on 28 January 2013. Specifically:

  • 'The use of animals in shows, fights, popular festivals and other activities that imply cruelty or mistreatment, that can cause death, suffering or make them the object of unnatural and unworthy treatments' is prohibited (Article 30).
  • 'Training domestic animals to carry out provoked fights, with the goal of holding a public or private show' is considered an 'act of mistreatment'. (Article 31)
  • 'The use of animals in shows, fights, popular festivals, and other activities that imply cruelty or mistreatment, which may cause death, suffering or make them subject to unnatural or humiliating treatment' is considered a 'very serious infraction' (Article 32), which are punishable by between 501 and 1500 minimum daily wages (jornales mínimos, Article 39), and the perpetrator may be barred from 'acquiring or possessing other animals for a period that may be up to 10 years' (Article 38).[77]

The Philippines

[edit]

Dog fighting is illegal in the Philippines, with those involved being convicted under animal cruelty laws.[78]

Russia

[edit]

Although animal cruelty laws exist in Russia, dog fighting is widely practiced. Laws prohibiting dog fights have been passed in certain places like Moscow by order of that city's mayor. In much of Russia, dog fights are legally held, generally using Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, Georgian shepherds and Central Asian Shepherd Dogs. Temperament tests, which are a common and relatively mild form of dog fighting used for breeding purposes, are fairly commonplace. Most dog fights are traditional contests used to test the stamina and ability of working dogs used to protect livestock. Unlike fights with pit bulls and other fighting breeds, a veterinarian is always on hand, the contests are never to the death, and serious injuries are very rare. Most fights are over in minutes when it is clear which dog is superior. At the end of three rounds, the contest is declared a draw.[79]

South Africa

[edit]

Dog fighting has been declared illegal in the Republic of South Africa. However, it is still very popular in the underground world, with dog fighting being a highly syndicated and organized crime. The NSPCA (National Council of SPCAs) is the largest animal welfare organization in Africa, and has been the organization that has conducted the most raids and busts, of which the most recent was in 2013, where 18 people were arrested, and 14 dogs were involved. Dog fighting is practiced throughout the country, in the townships area where gangs and drugs are mostly associated with dog fighting.[citation needed]

Dog fighting has been well documented in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape region of Stellenbosch. The Stellenbosch Animal Welfare Society (AWS) frequently responds to complaints of nighttime dog fighting in the town of Cloetesville, in which hundreds of dogs fight. Young children may be used to transport fighting dogs to avoid the arrest of the owners.[80][81]

Tsakane dog fighting case

[edit]

In November 2013, the NSPCA arrested 18 suspects who were caught in the act of illegal dog fighting in Tsakane in the East Rand. The suspects were arrested and charged for illegal dog fighting. Dog fighting is a criminal and prosecutable offence in South Africa. 14 pit bull-type dogs were confiscated from the property and were used for fighting purposes. Some of the dogs were badly injured as a result of the fighting and had to be humanely euthanised.[82] On 5 February 2018, a guilty verdict was handed down on 17 of the suspects by the presiding Magistrate in the Nigel Regional Court. 10 men were found guilty of being spectators at this dog fight and were sentenced to two years under strict house arrest (Benedict Ngcobo, Gift Nkabinde, Sabelo Mtshali, Thabiso Mahlangu, Bongani Skakane, Lehlohonolo Nomadola, Thulane Dhlosi, Mxolisi Khumalo, Nkosana Masilela, Sipho Masombuka). All the convicted men were found unfit to possess firearms and found unfit to own dogs and, if found to be in possession of a dog, would be liable to 12 months direct imprisonment. Further to the life-changing conditions of house arrest, the 10 spectators were also sentenced to 360 hours of community service and a total of R50 000 to be paid to the NSPCA. During the course of this trial, one of the accused chose to plead guilty and was sentenced to R20 000 or 20 months imprisonment, which was suspended for five years on the condition that he did not re-offend.[83]

South Korea

[edit]

Dog fighting is illegal in South Korea.[50]

Taiwan

[edit]

According to Article 10 of the Taiwan Animal Protection Law, any "fights between animals or between animals and people through direct or indirect gambling, entertainment, operation, advertisement and other illegitimate purposes" is prohibited and carries a fine ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$250,000.[84]

United Arab Emirates

[edit]

Dog fighting is illegal in the United Arab Emirates according to Federal Law No. 16 of 2007 on animal welfare and its amendments in Federal Law No. 18 of 2016. It is considered an 'act of animal cruelty' that is punishable by either imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or a fine of 200,000 United Arab Emirates dirham, or both.[85]

United Kingdom

[edit]

Dog fighting remains illegal under U.K. law.[86] Despite periodic dog fight prosecutions, however, illegal canine pit battles continued after the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 of England and Wales.[87] The Protection of Animals Act 1911 was specific in outlawing "the fighting or baiting of animals".[88]

Sporting journals of the 18th and 19th centuries depict the Black Country and London as the primary English dog fight centers of the period.[89]

On 13 February 2019, the BBC News released an exposé on global dog fighting with strong U.K. links. [90] The investigation started in June 2016, run by Hidden-in-Sight for the League Against Cruel Sports and latterly with the BBC. The exposé centred on a dog fighting group out of Bulgaria, who had been shipping fighting dogs around the world to over 20 countries. This exposé was the final piece of the Project BLOODLINE campaign that was set up to raise awareness of this cruel sport, the current weak sentencing options in the U.K. and show how animal crime links closely to existing policing priorities.

United States

[edit]

Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[44] In most of the U.S., a spectator at a dog fight can be charged with a felony, while some areas only consider it a misdemeanor offense. In addition, the federal U.S. Animal Welfare Act makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any dog for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture. The act also makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly use the mail service of the United States Postal Service or any instrumentality of interstate commerce for commercial speech for purposes of advertising a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, promoting or in any other manner furthering an animal fighting venture, except as performed outside the limits of the states of the U.S.[91]

In the second largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history in August 2013, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama handed down the longest prison term ever handed down in a federal dog fighting case: eight years.[92]

According to a Michigan State University College of Law study published in 2005, in the U.S., dog fighting was once completely legal and was sanctioned and promoted during the Colonial period through the Victorian and well into the 20th century. In the second half of the 19th century, dog fighting started to be criminalized in the U.S.[citation needed]

There is a US$5,000 reward for reporting dog fighting to the Humane Society of the United States[93] From the HSUS: How to spot signs of dog fighting in your community: an inordinate number of pit bull-type dogs being kept in one location, especially multiple dogs who are chained and seem unsocialized; dogs with scars on their faces, front legs and stifle area (hind end and thighs); dog fighting training equipment, such as "breaking sticks" or "break sticks" used to pry apart the jaws of dogs locked in battle, which are a foot long, flat on one side and appear to be sharpened; tires or "spring poles" (usually a large spring with rope attached to either end) hanging from tree limbs; or unusual foot traffic coming and going from a location at odd hours.

CNN in 2007 estimated that in the U.S., more than 100,000 people are engaged in dog fighting on a non-professional basis and roughly 40,000 individuals are involved as professionals in the sport of dog fighting as a commercial activity. Top fights are said to have purses of $100,000 or more.[94]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Espejo, Esther (2023). "Case report: First criminal conviction of dog fighting in Brazil: an international network organization". Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 10. doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1327436. PMC 10800658. PMID 38260207.
  • Loeb, Josh (2024). "UK dog fighting ring had cross-Channel reach". Veterinary Record. 194 (8): 292–293. doi:10.1002/vetr.4166. PMID 38639257.
  • Pierpoint, Harriet (2018). "Dog fighting: a role for veterinary professionals in tackling a harmful and illegal practice". Veterinary Record. 183 (18): 563–566. doi:10.1136/vr.k4527. PMID 30413580.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ Gibson 2005, section 1C.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Boucher, B.G. (2011). Pitt Bulls: Villains or Victims? Underscoring Actual Causes of Societal Violence. Lana'i City, Hawaii: Puff & Co Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9826964-7-7.
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  5. ^ "Sir Edwin Landseer". Philadelphia : Philadelphia Museum of Art. October 4, 1981 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Gibson 2005, section 3.
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Bibliography

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