n a dogfight, two dogs are put into a pit and they must fight to the end—until one is in “abuse reactive” behaviors. This means declared the winner and the other is dead. Dogfighting arises to support gambling. Bets that children reenact to animals the abusive are always placed on the dogs; dogfighting is thus considered to be “like the Saturday behaviors they have witnessed. In order to night poker game for hardened criminals and tens of thousands of dollars are wagered survive, traumatized children suppress and on the fights.” sublimate their feelings, because they can i not bear the pain caused by experiencing The animal abuse that is associated with documentation: “Almost all children inter feelings of empathy and kindness towards dog fighting is obvious to most of us. How viewed in the ninth grade classes in a high the abused animal. Furthermore, some chil ever, Michael Vick’s case in 2007 not only school in Pontiac, Michigan, had personally dren that witness a pet being abused might brought attention to the cruelty associated witnessed a dog fight . . . and most of them even subconsciously or actively elect to kill with the blood sport, but also to the mul believed that there was nothing wrong with the pet in an eff ort to gain control over the titude of public perceptions of dogfighting dog fighting.” These children were so desen situation. Exposures to high levels of animal and attitudes toward Pit bull–type dogs. sitized to violence that they did not perceive abuse and trauma desensitize children to Public opinion was divided between two it as morally wrong or cruel. The Interna violence and delay or prevent the develop opposing views. First there were those who tional Gang Research Project collaborated ment of healthy feelings of empathy. perceived dog fighting as animal abuse and with psychologists, city officials, religious Dogfighting has also been associated who argued that Michael Vick committed leaders, former gang members, and com with many social maladaptive activities, in “reprehensible acts of cruelty.” The dia munity residents, to show that dogfighting cluding use of guns, gang membership, drug Dogfighting, Animal Abuse, and Desensit i

metrically opposed view was held by those is very prominent and “a cornerstone of and gambling addictions, domestic vio who defended Michael Vick by mentioning illicit commerce in Detroit.” According to a lence, and other illegal activities. The blood his “cultural upbringing in the South” former gang member who was involved in sport and associated animal abuse seem to where dogfighting is considered a sport. youth educational programs, it is challeng be part of “a larger nexus of crimes and the Furthermore, Michael Vick’s case made ing to awaken youth to fundamental animal psyche behind them” as Sgt. David Hunt obvious the disagreement between Animal cruelty and the inhumane nature of the stated. Furthermore, dogfighting has been Rights and Animal Welfare groups. Animal blood sport. Sadly, there is a considerable used by gang members as a component of Welfare groups considered the fighting dogs current increase in dogfighting in Detroit. It initiation rituals. In spite of the rigorous and to be victims of cruelty and wanted to give has been argued that “the increase in dog abusive training techniques humans use them a second chance in life, while Animal fighting seems to have come at a time when to create a fighting dog, there are losers in Rights groups considered euthanasia as a small communities lack the manpower, re every dog fight. Some dogs refuse to fight fair treatment for the victims of cruelty. In sources, and education to eff ectively combat and they are killed by their owner as a con the field of animal cruelty investigation, the illegal sport.” sequence of their failure, thus allowing the dog fighting is inherently violence against The late gang analyst, Clyde Sherrod, owner to recover the status he lost because these animals. “Defeated dogs are killed and argued that there are many dangers of the dog’s poor performance in the ring. dumped; stolen dogs and cats are used to resultant from young childrens’ exposure Those losing dogs who survive the pit are train fighters and give them their first taste to dog fighting. He also noted the unfair also killed or even tortured and mutilated if of blood . . . Yet participants and dogfighters and futile aspects of not directly addressing the owner is particularly embarrassed by the do not consider dog fighting a brutal sport.” those social concerns through societal dog’s lack of courage, serving not only as a Regardless of the various justifications denial, and using the Pit bull as a scapegoat means of regaining lost respect but also as a and points of view, the fact is that of convenience. It is very interesting that mechanism to initiate young gang members dogfighting is a critical social problem dogfighters and Breed Specific Legislation into a culture of violence. because of the associated youth desensitiza supporters use the same neutralization According to the American Society tion to violence that results from early techniques and create urban myths in order for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals exposure to animal cruelty. Kalof and to blame the victims, the mixed breed dogs (ASPCA), animal cruelty consists of Taylor noted that today there are more than used for fighting: the Pit bulls. Furthermore, “Acts of violence or neglect perpetrated 40,000 dog fighters in the urban centers of Lockwood argued that children exposed to against animals.” Evidence supporting the United States, and included a shocking animal abuse as dogfighting, could engage the viewpoint that animal cruelty is linked

• 2011 / 2012 to domestic violence and child abuse is ever increasing and compelling. There is widespread acknowledgement of the historical evidence linking abusive behavioror towards animals with a high risk of those behaviors escalating towards humans. Onee strong rationale for implementing stricter anticruelty statutes is the recognition that by preventing animal cruelty, we thereby protect the public. Furthermore there are currently several US states that mandate thehee collaboration of animal abuse investigatorss and child or spousal abuse investigators. The connection between animal cruelty andd further toxic behaviors and violence in socii ety are well established. In an era where thee proliferation of crime and violent behaviorss becomes more and more prominent, it is off ization to Violence

major importance to investigate, locate andd prevent such behaviors. Henry Bergh, the founder of the ASPCA,, once noted, “Mercy to animals means mercy to mankind.” Henry Bergh founded the first ASPCA on April 10, 1866, in order to prevent cruelty to animals throughout the United States and implement the first Anticruelty Laws. These first Anticruelty Laws were a landmark contribution to societal benefit because they were the first in the United States to embrace protection of “all living creatures.” Henry Bergh’s goall was to educate and raise awareness about animal cruelty. He did so by first recognizingng the problem. Bergh pleaded on behalf of “these mute servants of mankind” and he pointed out that “This is a matter purely of conscience; it has no perplexing side issues.s. It is a moral question in all its aspects.” —M I, DVMVM

I want to deeply thank our wonderful MVMA Executivevee Director Karlene Belyea for her dedication to educate regarding dogfighting and prevent the associated animal suff ering, Dr. Barbara Kitchell for her help withh editing for this article and for being such a great and supportive mentor for my MS, and Dr. ParraCardona for helping me see the human side of this social issue.. References available from MVMA on request.

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