Dog fighting is an underground blood sport where dogs who have been bred, conditioned and trained to fight are pitted against each other for entertainment and profit. Fights average 1-2 hours in length, and usually end with one or both dogs being killed. Dog fighting is illegal in the United States and in Washington State; however, like other organized crimes, it still occurs regularly and can be difficult to find, prove, or enforce.
History & Laws
Dog fighting has roots in history from hundreds of years ago when dogs were not only pitted against other dogs for sport, but also against other animals like bears and bulls as a sanctioned activity. Dog fighting was first outlawed in England in 1835 by the Parliament in the Humane Act of 1835. By the early 1900’s, dog fighting became less tolerated by American society, and states began to outlaw the activity one-by-one. It wasn’t until 2008, after a high-profile case involving NFL player Michael Vick, that it became a nationwide felony.
However, federal law allows for the prosecution of animal fighting activities related to interstate or foreign commerce only, which can be difficult to prove. Thus, state and local laws are still required to prosecute the animal fighting activity itself, as well as animal cruelty and animal neglect.
Dog Fighting Laws in Washington State
Dog fighting clauses were first introduced in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) in 1982, when 2 new sections were added related to fighting: applying a misdemeanor for dogs fighting any other animal, and a gross misdemeanor for dog fighting. Gross misdemeanors carry a larger punishment than simple misdemeanors.
In 1994, this language was updated to change the terminology from ‘dog fighting’ to ‘animal fighting,’ most likely due to the lack of ability to apply the law to cockfighting cases, another type of animal fight where two male chickens are pitted against each other, often with metal spikes attached to their spurs.
Most recently, the RCW was amended in 2005 to change animal fighting from a gross misdemeanor to a Class C Felony and add language to specify a range of activities that typically occur to support animal fighting (breeding, buying or selling animals; organizing and promoting fighting events; obtaining pet animals for use as bait, etc).
Goals of Dog Fighting
There are many reasons people participate in or want to spectate dogfighting:
Profit - Major dog fight raids have resulted in the seizure of half a million dollars or more. It is not uncommon for dogfights to rake in $20,000 - $30,000 for a single fight. Breeders can make thousands of dollars selling puppies from promising bloodlines, or in stud fees.
Drug Trafficking - Drug dealers and gang members often conduct and attend organized fights as a forum for gambling and drug trafficking.
Show of Strength - Some dog fighters use the dogs as an extension of themselves to fight their battles for them and to demonstrate their strength and prowess. This is particularly common in adolescent dog fighters.
Entertainment - Some dog fighters and spectators enjoy watching and/or participating in bloodsports.
Intersection with other Crimes
Historically, the crime of dog-fighting was considered an isolated animal welfare issue, and as such was ignored, denied, or disregarded by law enforcement. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, dog fighting gained popularity and the intersections between dog fighting and other crimes and community violence was exposed. It is now well known that the people engaged in dog fighting are often also involved in other crimes, such as: organized crime, gangs, racketeering, illegal gambling, illegal weapon possession, and drug trafficking. Over one-third (35%) of search warrants executed for animal abuse or dogfighting investigations in Chicago have resulted in seizure of narcotics and/or guns.
Victims of Dog Fighting
You may be surprised to learn that the dogs forced to fight are not the only victims of dog fighting. Animals used to encourage fighting behavior, called bait animals, experience significant stress and are often ripped apart alive. Human children that grow up around dog fighting are systematically desensitized and more prone to violent behavior as teens and adults.
Fighting Dogs
Dog fighting is one of the most serious forms of animal abuse as it requires recurrent cruelty and neglect to condition and train fighting animals, most dogs spend their entire lives without adequate food, water, or shelter. Fights between dogs are only stopped upon severe injury and/or death of one or both dogs. These injured dogs never receive proper veterinary care.
In order to condition and train dogs to fight, a variety of cruel devices and mechanisms are used:
Catmill (aka Jenny) - requires a chained animal to run in circles, while chasing a small bait animal (such as a cat or rabbit) hung from a rotating beam. Dogs are ‘rewarded’ with the bait animal once a training session is complete.
Chains - heavy chains are wrapped around the dogs necks to build their neck and upper body strength. Often, additional weights will be attached to the neck to build further strength. Some dog fighters make their dogs train with these weights attached.
Flirtpole - a handheld pole with a lure attached intended for the dog to chase.
Rape Stand - a device used to restrain a female dog for the purposes of breeding.
Springpole/Jumppole - a device that strengthens a dog’s jaw muscles and back legs by hanging a bait animal, hide, or tire and having the dog jump at it until their jaw can lock on. There are many variations of this device, including simply hanging a caged bait animal from a tree.
Pry bars, bite sticks, or breaking sticks - used to pry the dog’s jaws apart once it has gripped onto another animal/item.
Treadmills - to increase overall cardiovascular fitness and endurance, particularly as dogs otherwise stay chained.
Drugs - fighting animals are given drugs like cocaine and steroids to increase their performance and incite them to fight.
Bait Animals
Bait Animals are small animals, usually cats, rabbits, and small dogs that are used to incite attack in a fighting dog. Bait animals are often confined to an area they cannot escape from or are tied up and are torn apart alive by one or more dogs until death. Bait animals are obtained in a variety of ways: free pet ads in newspapers and on sites such as Craigslist, adopted from a local shelter, purchased from a local pet store, and even stolen from a neighbor's backyard or while tied up outside of a shop.
Children
Children in communities where dog fighting occurs are routinely exposed to the violence that is inherent within the blood sport from an early age. They become systematically desensitized to the suffering, and ultimately become criminalized themselves.
In 2014, the Farm Bill which contained the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act was signed into law, making it a federal crime punishable by up to 3 years in prison for bringing a child under the age of 16 to an animal fighting event.
How to Recognize Dog Fighting
Dog fighting is a violent and highly secretive organized criminal activity that can be difficult for the public to spot and for law enforcement to prove and enforce. Many of the same skills and resources required to conduct an undercover narcotics bust are necessary for a successful dog fighting sting operation. Not all cities are equipped or resourced to conduct such operations, and those that are may not be resourced to care and maintain the living animals seized as evidence in such cases.
While most dog fighting activities are kept private, there are some signs that you can keep an eye out for, if you think dog fighting may be taking place near you:
Multiple dogs on heavy chains on the property, or kept in a basement or garage.
The dogs may have fresh wounds or scars in various stages of healing on their head, neck and legs.
Dogs on the property frequently change/rotate.
Training and breeding devices such as springpoles or rape stands are present.
Blood spatters on property or remains of small animals present.
Abundant veterinary supplies and manuals - most dog fighters will not take their animal to the vet and treat them on their own.
Know the terminology behind potential breeding and selling operations: ‘game bred’ dogs, ‘Champion’ or ‘Grand Champion’.
Subscription to pro-dog fighting publications such as American Game Dog Times, The Sporting Dog Journal, The American Warrior, The Pit Bull Chronicle, and more.
Dog Fighting in Seattle
How prevalent is dog fighting in Seattle? It is difficult to say. If we go by the data, the Seattle Animal Shelter (the government entity that provides citywide animal services) received seven (7) dogfighting complaints from 2016 to 2022. Unfortunately, one cannot base any conclusions on this data. There is zero public education on the issue. As stated before, it is primarily a private crime that occurs behind closed doors. Witnesses may be afraid to come forward. In light of the extreme case of Elmer J. Givens in nearby Tacoma, we cannot make any assumptions that the same does not occur within our own city limits. It may just be another example of animal welfare being an invisible issue in Seattle.
Resources
Seattle Animal Shelter Complaint Data, 2016-2022