Over the past 15 to 20 years, dog fighting has quickly become an enormous problem in our community. This cruel activity is only a part of a larger picture of violent crime that has been difficult for many to fully grasp. It has been through education by concerned and informed citizens and humane organizations that law-makers, law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors and the greater community are beginning to better understand the immense scope of this gruesome problem which plagues our community. That is why it is imperative that we ALL continue to educate ourselves and others so that we can more affectively push for change and progress. Unchecked, dog-fighting results in a number of negative social and economic implications for every community.

Dog-Fighting Is a Violent Crime Issue, Not Just an Animal Welfare Issue

• Dog-fighting is intolerably cruel to animals.

  • Fighting dogs are often fought to the death, and those who do not die in the pit often suffer worse fates, later dying from either blood loss, infection, dehydration, or a combination of all three.
    Fighting Dogs are often kept in deplorable living conditions, without affection, shelter, food and water.
     

• There are well-documented cases of losing dogs being tortured by frustrated owners in ways so horrible that only a human being could think of them.

The Negative Effects of Dog-Fighting Ripple through the Entire Community

• Wagers on dog-fights can soar into the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the puppies of "champion" dogs selling internationally for as much as $50,000 a piece. This makes the motivation to keep dog-fighting a thriving blood-sport immense. Large profits fuel “investment” in other crimes and paint a picture that crime pays very lucratively.
   

• Those who both promote and attend dog-fighting are often associated with other violent crimes.
  Individuals who enjoy this repulsive activity are more likely to also be involved with illegal weapons, drugs, gangs, prostitution, increased human-on-human violent crime, domestic violence, and the pit bull attacks that the media is all too fond of reporting.
   

• Dog-fighting and animal cruelty only breed the capitulation of violent crimes throughout the community.

Peering Ahead: A Scary Outlook

• Law enforcement, law makers, and the judicial system are beginning to take a more serious look at dog-fighting as they begin to realize the far reaching implications that are brought about from ignoring this activity.
   

• One of the most surprising elements of this violent crime is the level at which children have become involved in dog-fighting.

  • The results from a study done by The Anti-Cruelty Society in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department are frighteningly astounding.

  • More than 25% of K-6th graders had attended at least one dog-fight. When asked about his experiences, one 3rd grade boy responded that dog fights are a great place to meet girls.
    Even more sadly, one child reported being the only person in the room who did not laugh at a dog going into shock and defecating itself at the end of a dog-fight to which his uncle had brought him.
     

• Placing children in an atmosphere that condones violence only hurts our abilities to build a strong foundation for our future as a society.
   

• The children who are taught from ages as young as four and five that animals are meant to be fought to the death and treated with cruelty are more likely to be future violent criminals.

How You Can Help

• Fortunately, you can make a difference. The first step is to educate yourself about the issue so that you can speak confidently to others; specifically those who can help put into place the policy changes which will create better enforcement of anti-dog-fighting laws.

  • Please take time to look through the links listed below, and never hesitate to contact NLOL for more information regarding how you can help.
     

• The second step is to speak out, to help educate the community and its leaders, including policy-makers and law-enforcement officials.

  • The primary victims of dog-fighting have no voices. Unlike humans, an animal is unable to tell us the story of what happened to him, they are victims without voices. We must speak for them by calling the police to report dog-fighting and animal cruelty, and by letting those who shape our laws and policy know that this issue is important to us and needs to be given more resources and attention, both in terms of prevention and prosecution.

Helpful Links:

HSUS: http://www.hsus.org
Article on Dog Fighting: Click here
Dog-Fighting Fact Sheet: Click here
The Connection Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence: Click here

ASPCA:
http://www.aspca.org
ASPCA: Fight Cruelty:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_dogfighting

Diane Jessup's Boldog Training Kennel/Working Pit Bull:
www.workingpitbull.com
Dog Fighting Info:
http://www.workingpitbull.com/dogfighting.htm

The Anti-Cruelty Society:
www.anticruelty.org
ACS information on Dog-Fighting:
http://www.anticruelty.org/dog_fighting.html

Chicago Police Department:
http://www.cityofchicago.org/police

CAPS Program: Get Involved in your community and voice your concerns to local law enforcement!:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org

Dog Advisory Work Group (DAWG):
http://www.dawgsite.org/
DAWG Court Advocacy Program:
http://www.dawgsite.org/advocacy.html

Izzy Works Productions (Producers of Out of the Pit: Dog-Fighting in Chicago):
www.izzyworks.com

Dog-Fighting Laws by State (You will be surprised):
http://www.api4animals.org/1055.htm

Courtesy of Aron Woolman (NLOL Chicago Advocacy Educator)