Dog fighting is an organized, illegal blood sport that is typically associated with gambling and gang activity. Obviously, this destructive, cruel sport impacts the dogs who are viciously attacked and injured; sometimes fatally. But dog fighting also impacts the people and the neighbourhoods where the fights are held.
Learn to recognize the signs of dog fighting and you'll be able to contact the appropriate authorities. Here are some of the signs to look for:
- The majority of fighting dogs will have their ears cropped. This prevents another dog from grabbing the ears during a fight.
- Watch for dogs who are always injured or dogs who have an unusual amount of old scars
- Watch for dogs that are consistently chained in a yard. Because fighting dogs are so strong, chains are typically heavy-linked. Sometimes weights are attached to the chain so that the dog builds muscle as it moves about.
- Watch for groups of people constantly coming and going to or from a particular house or building
If you do suspect that dog fighting is happening, contact the authorities immediately. You can:
- Call the police
- Call an animal rescue organization
- Call Animal Control for your area
Never try to interfere with or approach the people having the dog fight. Dog fights are illegal and organized; you can safely assume that the people hosting the fight are dangerous.
Never approach or attempt to rescue a fighting dog. In spite of the fact that the dog is a victim of this cruel sport, fighting dogs are trained to be aggressive and are extremely dangerous.
By learning to recognize and report illegal dog fighting, you can help to end this vicious sport for good.
