Dog fighting was banned in 1835, it was considered barbaric but yet this horrific form of dog abuse continues. It remains a significant animal welfare issue in the UK and worldwide. With many dogs which are not considered fighting dogs such as Greyhounds being exported and used for Dogfighting.

It’s one of the most horrific forms of organised animal cruelty, not only for the violence the dogs endure during fights but because of the trauma they suffer throughout their lives. The brutal training methods and fights inflict untold physical and mental suffering on dogs.

Dog fighting operates deep underground. There are many indicators that show dog fighting continues to be a significant animal welfare issue in the UK. Figures from the RSPCA show a steady number of calls relating to dog fighting over the last 10 years. With other evidence of dogs being imported for fighting, the clandestine sale of dogs in dark alleys for large sums of money, the need for dogs as protection, and the apparent growth in the number of stolen dogs also indicate it’s on the increase.

Dog Fighting and Other Serious Crime

Horrendous as dog fighting is, it’s not purely a matter of animal welfare. Evidence from the UK and internationally points to dog fighting being a ‘gateway’ crime to serious and organised crime including illegal firearms and drug supply. Links between animal abuse and human abuse are also clear. For this reason, in the United States, dog fighting is recognised by the FBI as a Grade A felony offence and it’s acknowledged as a way of identifying and tackling other criminal activity too. With likes of DMX and Micheal Vick all being sentenced and charged with dog fighting in the USA.

Dog Fighting in US

Dogs used for fighting are typically raised in isolation, they spend most of their lives on short, heavy chains. They are regularly conditioned for fighting through the use of drugs, including anabolic steroids to enhance muscle mass and encourage aggressiveness. Dogfighting victims may have their ears cropped and tails docked close to their bodies to minimize the animal’s normal body language cues and to limit areas that another dog can grab during a fight. Fighters usually perform this cropping/docking themselves using crude and inhumane techniques.

Although dogfighting is a felony in all 50 states, it continues to occur in every part of the country and in every type of community. Fights can happen in a variety of locations ranging from back alleys to carefully-staged enterprises. Fights typically take place in a 14-20 square-foot pit designed to contain the animals. Fights can last just a few minutes or several hours, and both animals may suffer injuries including puncture wounds, lacerations, blood loss, crushing injuries and broken bones. Although fights are not usually to the death, many dogs succumb to their injuries later, and losing dogs are often discarded, killed or brutally executed as part of the “sport.”

Dogfighting is often associated with other forms of criminal activity including illegal gambling and possession of drugs and firearms. By our estimate, there are tens of thousands of dogfighters in the U.S., forcing hundreds of thousands of dogs to train, fight, and suffer every year.