Animal Fighting

Dog Fighting

     Pit Fighting

     Street Fighting

Cockfighting

Baiting: The Unfair Fight

     Bear Baiting

     Hog Baiting

Take Action

As many of us know, animal fighting has a long, cruel history of “entertaining” the ignorant masses, while an uncaring few profit at the suffering and deaths of sentient beings.  From the ancient days of Greek coliseums to the modern day Spanish arenas and backyard “pits” of the U.S., animal fighting has been unfortunately engrained in human culture for centuries.

Thankfully, as long as there has been animal fighting, there have also been humane-minded people who resist these callous sports.  As years pass and beliefs evolve, humans become more civilized, responsible, and humane; we resist with even greater tenacity than ever before the belief that animal fighting is morally or culturally acceptable.

Though most of us no longer see the value of siccing lions upon humans or dogs against bears, and while many forms of animal fighting are now defunct, these various cruel bloodsports still exist in modern times.

Dog Fighting                                                    Back to Top

Whether done for professional or street purposes, dog fighting is a very cruel form of entertainment and power-mongering.  Dogs forced to participate in fighting are treated with absolute coldness.  They often live in isolation and squalor, and are beaten regularly to make them vicious.  Dogs that do not fight well or become poor fighters are disposed of with equal cruelty.  These sentient beings—deserving of our respect and kindness—are drowned, shot, beaten, electrocuted, and even tied to railroad tracks to be hit by trains.

Dogs trained to fight are not the only animals who suffer: many cats, small dogs, pigs, and other animals are used for “practice” in dog fighting.  Animals are sometimes purchased for this purpose, but many are stray and lost animals, or are stolen from local neighborhoods and homes.

Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia; yet, two main illicit forms of this cruel entertainment continue throughout our nation today: professional operations conducted in pits and informal street fighting. 

Pit Fighting                                                        Back to Top

“Pit fighting” is typically a professionally-operated, underground dog-fighting ring.  The pit is very much like a small arena or coliseum, where the gruesome battles take place as bystanders cheer on.  Operators invest significant time and money into acquiring and training dogs to become top fighters.  Very specific breeding and training practices are employed to produce highly valuable blood lines.  For instance, treadmills are used in training to force dogs to run for hours upon hours to build muscle and endurance.  Dogs are also forced to tread water for hours for the same purpose.

Gambling at pit fighting can be a major source of profit for an invested few, while many other people simply bet for “fun.”  A Humane Society of the United States estimate suggests some $500 million moves through the illicit industry each year.  Professional operations take extreme measures to promote their activities while remaining under the radar of specialized state and federal law enforcement agencies tasked with infiltrating and busting these operations.  Many dog-fighting rings are disguised as breeding kennels, such as was the case with Michael Vick.

Violence does not stop with the animals.  Drugs, theft, assault and murder occur hand-in-hand with pit fighting operations.  The events are fraught with cultural and traditional ties, and are sadly, passed from generation to generation.  It is extremely unfortunate for the children who attend these events that their families intentionally encourage them to be exposed to and even participate in violent and immoral activities.  As the children age, they often continue this terrible cycle of cruelty.

Street Fighting                                                               Back to Top

Street fighting is an informal form of dog fighting.  It tends to be loosely organized and carried out for profits and entertainment, but as expert Scott Giacoppo of the Washington Humane Society of DC has documented for many years, street dog fights are mostly about demonstrating symbolic power among gang members of inner city urban areas.

Dogs may be bred and trained in similar methods to that of pit fighting; however, many times street dogs are not of “high” blood lines and are more likely to be abused by their handlers.  These dogs not only participate in vicious fights, but are also used to intimidate locals, move drugs, and provide protection from attacks by other gang members.

Pit bulls are the top choice of dogs for street fighting, and here again, culture comes into play: urban youth are pummeled with hip and glamorous images of tough pit bulls—from clothing to music to sports drinks.  Young teens may view keeping and fighting pit bulls as a legitimate form of acceptance and protection on violent streets.  Very quickly, pit bull street fighting can become a part of their urban culture.

Cockfighting                                                                Back to Top

Cockfighting is a blood sport that cruelly manipulates the natural tendencies of male poultry, or roosters, to defend their territories and mates.  The bird handlers often tie sharp objects or stabbing implements to the cock’s feet, so that as the birds violently scramble at each other in attempt to intimidate or injure, they may cause lethal injury.

Cockfighting occurs informally, but most often, it is a professional operation similar to that of dog pit fighting, in which significant time and money is invested in the birds and the operation.  Dozens of magazines and books, many published decades ago, are held in great esteem by cockfighters for their directives of successful cockfight breeding and pit operations.

Thankfully, in August 2008, Louisiana became the final U.S. state to ban cockfighting.  Louisiana has a long history of cockfighting ventures, and passing the ban was a tough, but successful struggle.  Nonetheless, it will be many years before cockfighting is significantly reduced.  Cockfighters are determined to simply continue their way of life underground.  As an interview with one such an enthusiast in an August 2008 Washington Post article demonstrates, the culture of fighting is strong.

“It’s my heritage, I guess there are other people that want to be president of the United States or senators or whatever.  Me, I want to be a cockfighter. . . . . . I would rather do it out in the wide open where everyone knows it and sees it because I am not ashamed of cockfighting."

Baiting: The Unfair Fight                                                          Back to Top

Animal baiting is a bloodsport in which various species of animals are used to “bait” a dog into fighting.  The animals, such as badgers, bulls, donkeys, hogs, and bears are harassed, angered, and then sicced upon by trained and/or vicious dogs.  Bait animals are chained or fenced in to prevent escape.  They also are mutilated and controlled in some fashion so as to render them weaker and less dangerous to the dogs.  The dogs are sometimes allowed to attack and tear at the victim animals until the death.

While animal baiting was historically popular, it is now illegal throughout most of the world.  But just as with modern dog and cockfighting, animal baiting sadly continues in some countries today, including the U.S.  Two prominent animal baiting sports include bear and hog baiting.

Bear Baiting                                                                                                  Back to Top

This disturbing and sad form of animal fighting, though illegal, is popular in Pakistan.  Bears are obtained through a variety of illicit means, including poaching wild adults to steal cubs for later fighting.  The animal’s protective teeth are often removed and their claws filed down so that the bear will incur little damage to the 1 – 3 dogs, typically pit bull crossbreeds, sicced on the defenseless bear during the fight.  Bears cry out in pain, frustration, anger and fear as betting patrons and animal-handlers coldly watch on. 

To preserve their investment, animal fighters usually breakup dog-bear fights before a bear or dog can be lethally harmed.  Sadly, handlers often subject the sensitive and intelligent bears to several fights each day and constant neglect and suffering. 

Thankfully, through cooperative efforts of the Pakistan government and animal rescues, bear baiting in the country has been significantly reduced in the last few years.  The number of bears involved has dropped from 400 to 50 animals.

Hog Baiting                                                                                                   Back to Top

Often referred to as hog-doggin’ or hog-dog rodeos, this illicit sport is unfortunately popular and prevalent in our nation.  Overshadowed by dog and cockfighting, and with its misleading “rodeo” title, hog baiting has been a quietly growing bloodsport for several decades.

Just as with bear baiting, the pigs, typically feral animals, are mutilated to render them less dangerous to attacking dogs.  Their protective tusks are often painfully removed and the animal is forced to fight with excruciating injuries.  Many farm animal and pig sanctuaries in the U.S. have taken in rescued pigs who’ve endured severe wounds to their face and ears during hog-dog fights.  The intelligent and benign animal’s floppy ears are often ripped or bitten off during attacks.  The pigs appear, ironically, similar to fighting pit bulls whose ears are cropped.

Since a highly-publicized HSUS investigation in 2003, several states have banned hog baiting.

Take Action to Help End Animal Fighting                             

Animal fighting is a heinous source of sport, entertainment, profit, and glory.  NHES forthrightly opposes every form of animal fighting and baiting; we eagerly await the day when all people across the world share the humane belief that needlessly forcing animals to battle to the death has no place in a civilized and just society.

What can you do to change what is happening to animals used for fighting? First, you can choose to avoid supporting animal cruelty by not attending, betting on, or viewing these events. Other humane actions include:

• Educate your friends, family, and coworkers as to the cruel nature inherent in animal fighting, whatever its form or legality.
• Support law enforcement efforts to crackdown on animal fighting: report any suspicions to local authorities.
• Do not support or attend animal fighting events overseas; encourage foreign leaders to take a stand against this cruel entertainment.
• Lobby to ensure anti-fighting federal and state regulations work effectively to protect the animals; make sure those regulations are enforced.

Updated September 2009                                                                      Back to Top

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