Into the pit: The terrifying trend of dogfighting

By Gary Cohen
Medill Reports - Chicago

From birth fighting dogs are trained to do only one thing - attack and kill other animals. The American pit bull terrier, a strong, determined breed with a high prey drive, has become the animal of choice for dogfighters in recent years.

Pit bulls are bred by dogfighters for aggression the same way racehorses are bred for speed, said Serrano. Only animals with unusual levels of hostility and consistent success in the ring are being bred. The practice is creating a race of pit bulls with elevated aggression levels toward other animals.

The bloody fights can last for several hours until one or both of the dogs are physically incapable of going on, due, in most cases, to severe blood loss or trauma. Bloodthirsty crowds cheer on the dogs as they tear at each other, and thousands of dollars can be wagered on the outcome.

Even the canine winners of dogfights often die from their injuries. If they do survive, they are patched up to fight again. If their fighting career has been successful enough, they are pulled out of the ring and bred to produce more fighting dogs.

Because veterinarians are required by law to report suspected dogfighting activity to police, dog handlers often learn rudimentary veterinary techniques to treat their injured dogs. Dogfighters frequently use staples to close gaping wounds or pump the dogs full of antibiotics.

If a dog survives after losing a fight, it is generally killed. In dogfighting culture, there is little use for a dog that won't or can't fight.

"They could be tortured - strangled, suffocated, set on fire," said Elliott Serrano, community outreach specialist for the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago. "Or, in many cases, the dogfighters will say, 'The dog's not worth the bullet.' So they won't shoot the dog. A lot of these dogs will be tossed into the garbage and allowed to just bleed to death there."

The great irony, Serrano said, is that most dogfighters honestly believe they love their dogs. Having grown up in a culture of violence, they believe the dogs are just fulfilling their intended purpose.

"But in the very end, the dog is the one that pays the ultimate price for whatever benefit the owner gets," Serrano said. "So it's really not a symbiotic relationship. It's a parasitic relationship."