ANTI-DOGFIGHTING CAMPAIGN: Don t Hate the Player, Hate the Game Landry Starks 3/18/2017 1
Executive Summary As Dogs 2 nd Chance works to give homeless and abused dogs the life they deserve, we want to take a public stand against the cruelty and brutality that is dog fighting. Thousands of dogs are subjected to this cruelty every day, in every city. Without our help, the dogs are left voiceless and helpless as they await their next cruel and potentially fatal fight. So it s our job to help put an end to dog fighting by reporting possible cases and charging all the individuals involved. What s the Problem? Dog fighting is a serious issue that affects many breeds, especially bully breeds, which include the pit bull and American Staffordshire Terrier. Dogs are conditioned and bred for the specific purpose of fighting another dog until one can no longer fight, most battles ending in a fatality of one of the competitors. CNN reports that as many as 40,000 Americans are involved in professional dog fighting while another 100,000 may be involved in informal street-fighting. This means that every day, hundreds of thousands of dogs live in fear and anguish. The business of dog fighting has been around since ancient times. It can be traced https://www.bing.com/images Anti-dogfighting campaign showcasing the face of the fight. This puppy could be the next one in the ring. 2
back to when Romans invaded Britain in 43 A.D. and dogs were used as part of the warfare. Despite the laws, dogfighting is big business, said John Goodwin, an expert on animal fighting with the Humane Society. It's impossible to estimate the amount of money involved, but the purse for a top-level professional fight could be $100,000. However, no amount of money could warrant the anguish that these dogs face daily. The Stance We Take Dogs 2 nd Chance works hard to rescue and adopt out as many dogs as we can. Our goal is a carefree, happy and healthy dog who feels safe and nurtured, says Linda Sutphin, founder and president of the organization. With this mission in mind, we cannot stand silent while the problem with dog fighting stays at large. For the most part, the practice goes on in our own backyard, staying concentrated in urban areas and the rural South. Nationally, about 30 percent of all dogs in animal shelters are pit bulls, the breed used for dogfighting; in some areas, that figure can climb to 60 percent, according to findings from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.) While not all rescued pit bulls are involved in the dog fighting, many bear the hallmarks of the industry: a fight-crazy disposition and the scars to prove it, says John Goodwin of the Human Society of the United States. And even though some of these dogs are rescued from this lifestyle and put into loving homes, there are also many times where the former fight dog must be euthanized because of its taught aggression towards humans or other animals. There is no definitive number on how many fight dogs are rescued annually from these situations, but Goodwin says that about 4 million pit bulls (or breeds thereof) in U.S. shelters are euthanized each year. Dogs 2 nd Chance strives to help put an end to dogfighting and prosecute those that are 3
involved in it. "Dog fighting is a cruelty-for-profit industry," said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President & CEO, and we mustn t stop fighting until these dogs don t have to. What Can Be Done About It? In the past 50 years, the laws on dog fighting, and the consequences of someone found guilty of it, have come a long way. It is now considered a felony in all 50 states and additional charges can be increased if one brings a minor to the place the fights occur. This is a huge win for those working to stop dog fighting, as investigating these activities can be time consuming as well as expensive. In 2016, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to renew the guidelines surrounding dogfighters. The new guidelines raise the recommended sentencing https://www.bing.com/images This shows statistics of how animal cruelty is dealt with once reported. Continuing to call and reach out to local rescue groups is vital to get these animals the help the deserve. range for animal fighting from 6-12 months to 21-27 months jail time. That was a 250 percent increase in the minimum recommended sentence. However, the guidelines for federal sentencing have not been updated to reflect these increased sentencing changes. Because of this, many people convicted of this heinous crime only receive three to six months in jail, and some get by with just probation. That is why it is so important to report animal cruelty. No animal should have to suffer because no one reported it 4
when it was happening. In order to help people, get started, Humane Society, a partner of Dogs 2 nd Chance, gives suggestions on ways people can help stop dog fighting in their community: 1. Spread the word about our $5,000 reward by ordering a free reward action pack, which includes posters, postcards, brochures, and stickers with information about our reward for you to post around your neighborhood. You can also download our dogfighting poster [PDF] and print it out. 2. Help take a bite out of dogfighters. Urge your local radio station to run one of our public service announcements (available in English or Spanish) about our standing $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction of illegal dogfighting. 3. You can also fundraise for local bus ads, billboards, and PSA placements. Fundraising is a great way to get the kids involved: Have them hold a bake sale or car wash. 4. Do you have friends who offer services or own stores? Have them donate half their proceeds of a weekend toward our Animal Cruelty Response and Reward Fund. 5. Educate the masses (or at least your circle of friends). Order a copy of our educational video, "Life on the Chain, Death in the Ring," and invite your friends over for a viewing party. Pictures are worth a thousand words, and there is no better way to get people motivated to do something than to let them see the problem. Host a party and then split into groups to plaster the city with reward posters. Ideas to help stop dog fighting from The Human Society s website Getting in touch with local authorities or humane society when you see, or even suspect, a animal might be used to fight, can be the difference between a dog living a life full of torment, fear, and anguish or a life knowing what it truly means to be man s (or woman s) best friend. 5
References Bing Images Anti Dogfighting. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2017, from https://www.bing.com/images/search CNN Staff. (2007, July 19). Dogfighting a Booming Business Experts Say. Retrieved March 17, 2017. Dog Fighting. (2010, January). Retrieved March 19, 2017, from http://www.aspca.org/animalcruelty/dog-fighting Sutphin, L. (n.d.). About Dogs 2nd Chance. Retrieved March 19, 2017, from http://dogs2ndchance.org/about-dogs-2nd-chance/ Taking Action to Stop Dogfighting. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2017, from http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/dogfighting/tips/dogfighting_action.html Villavicencio, M. (2007, July 19). A History of Dogfighting. Retrieved March 18, 2017. 6