Dog Fighting as a Criminal Act
Prevention and Acceptance as a Serious Crime Against Animals
Jackie Phillips
Criminology, Post University
CRJ404 Theoretical Criminology
CRJ404 Unit 2 Assignment: Course Project, Part 2
Dr. Lyndon Godsall
Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 2
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Dog Fighting as a Criminal Act
Prevention and Acceptance as a Serious Crime Against Animals
I. Introduction: Topic (Criminal Activity)
As a participant sport, most human beings would have no idea how extensive the sport reaches to all groups of people, in all countries, all over the world. For hundreds and hundreds of years, going all the way back to the Roman and British Empires, dogs have fought each other and other animals for sport, gambling and entertainment.
“The genesis of dogfighting as a sport can be traced to a clash of ancient civilizations. When the Romans invaded Britain in 43 A.D., both sides brought fighting dogs to the battlefield for the seven years of warfare that followed. The Romans may have won the war, but the British dazzled the victors with the ferocity of their dogs, which were far more battle-ready than their Roman counterparts. Thus emerged a canine market of sorts. The Romans began to import British fighting dogs for use not only in times of war, but also for public amusement. In Rome's Colosseum, large audiences would gather to watch gladiator dogs pitted against other animals, such as wild elephants. The vicious dogs, thought to have been crossbred with the Romans' own fighting breed, were also exported to France, Spain and other parts of Europe, eventually finding their way back to Britain.” (Villavicencio, M., 2007)
Preview Three Main Points of the Assignment
First, one of the largest issues in the world of dog fighting is that not only do police find the illegal act of fighting dogs, but also a long list of other organized crimes like murder, illegal weapons, gambling, cockfighting and narcotics are found at the fight scenes.
Second, the amount of suffering and pain, both physical and emotional, that these poor dogs endure during their short lives as fighters has been found by animal welfare groups to be on the far extreme.
Third, a huge step was made in 2007 when Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. This makes the act of dog fighting a national felony act that can be applied to all states on a federal level. Enforce the existing federal and state laws at each level.
“Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007: Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for violations of the AWA relating to: (1) sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture; (2) buying, selling, transporting, delivering, or receiving for purposes of transportation, in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal for participation in an animal fighting venture; and (3) using the mails or other instrumentality of interstate commerce to promote or further an animal fighting venture. Also amends the AWA to prohibit knowingly selling, buying, transporting, or delivering, in interstate or foreign commerce, a knife, a gaffe, or any other sharp instrument for attachment to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture.” (No Author Given, 2021)
Thesis statement
Do dogs deserve fair treatment as living beings and should human beings work very hard to end the evil and dangerous sport of dog fighting so that no more dogs are forced to face a horrible existence and untimely death in a pool of blood? Should human beings who participate in this blood sport at all levels face severe sentences, including extensive prison time? Of course! Just because animals are considered property and objects by law in a lot of places, doesn’t accurately give them the respect they deserve as living, breathing and feeling sentient beings just like all human beings and other animals. By strengthening and upholding existing dog fighting laws and creating new laws that give dogs the respect they deserve as feeling beings, the seriousness of dog fighting would be raised far about its current level.
II. Repercussions of the Problem
a. The extent of the problem
Dogfighting is a worldwide problem and affects every country, despite it being illegal in the majority of countries in the world. In the US, it is illegal in all states and is a federal crime with a massive underground world and a long list of other illegal acts connected to each fight.
b. Why should we be concerned?
We should be concerned because we should care about animals, and we should treat animals as sentient beings, rather than objects and property. Also, it is proven that a wide variety of other illegal acts like weapons, drugs, gambling, etc., also occur at these events. These events attract a wide variety of people who all have the wrong reasonsd for being there, which is to watch animals tear each other apart.
c. Who is affected?
Everyone is affected because they can have their pet stolen to be used as bait and training dogs. Also, children should not be allowed to view animals treated so poorly by irresponsible adults.
ii. Stories/Case Studies: Michael Vick
“In the late 2000s, NFL quarterback Michael Vick was linked to property in southeastern Virginia where authorities believe a multi-state dog fighting operation was based. In an interview with WAVY-TV, Portsmouth, Virginia, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and a teammate, offensive tackle Chris Samuels, defended Vick. Portis said that if Vick is charged and convicted of dog fighting, "then you're putting him behind bars for no reason. I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property. It's his dog. If that's what he wants to do, do it." Those comments were sharply criticized by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The Redskins and Portis himself later apologized, stating that his controversial remarks about dog fighting were insensitive and that he now realizes he "shouldn't have made the comments." He added, "At that time I had no idea the love people have for animals, and I didn't consider it when I made those comments." (No Author Given, 2023)
iii. Facts
“Top 10 Unbelievable Stats and Facts on Dogfighting
57% of Americans believe dogfighting doesn’t happen in their community.
Dog fights are illegal in all 50 states.
Dogs are abused and killed because of dogfighting every year.
Dog fights, on average, last 1 to 2 hours.
Large Japanese dogfight tournaments can feature up to 250 dogs
Harry Hargrove is responsible for approximately 1,000 dog deaths.
In 2021, over 100 Pitbulls used for dogfighting were seized by authorities.
Michail Vick, an NFL player, was caught organizing dog fights in 2007.
The history of dogfighting started in ancient Rome.
Dogfighting has been present in America since the 1800s.” (Stojanovic, M., 2022)
III. Body
a. Introduce Theory #1
First, one of the largest issues in the world of dog fighting is that not only do police find the illegal act of fighting dogs, but also a long list of other organized crimes like murder, illegal weapons, gambling, cockfighting and narcotics are found at the fight scenes. The average person probably assumes that just average street people are at dog fights, but there are many cases where professional athletes and public officials have been arrested and charged with dog fighting. Just recently 20-year Pentagon official was arrested for dog fighting. Of course, the very famous case of Michael Vick, a professional basketball football player convicted dog felony dog fighting in 2007.
b. Introduce Theory #2
Second, the amount of suffering and pain, both physical and emotional, that these poor dogs endure during their short lives as fighters has been found by animal welfare groups to be on the far extreme. Animal Rights groups have stepped in and to say that these defenseless animals don’t deserve this torture. Plus, it has been discovered that dogs are forced to train with chains and lack of food and water. Dogs suffer their entire lives from these fights and are often euthanized. Stolen pets are found when used as bait to train the dogs. They are also kept in inhumane conditions before and after the fights. There needs to be victim rights for these poor dogs who have no choice but to participate and suffer great amounts and die horrible deaths.
c. Introduce Theory #3
Third, a huge step was made in 2007 when Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. This makes the act of dog fighting a national felony act that can be applied to all states on a federal level. Enforce the existing federal and state laws at each level.
d. Create an Action Plan
1. Theory #2:
Victim Rights for the Dogs forced to fight. The technical name is Blood Sports. Law Enforcement agencies must be prepared to take care of the dogs found at the fights.
“If Dogfighting Is So Widespread, Why Don’t More Cases Come to Light?
Dogfighting is a violent and highly secretive enterprise that is extremely difficult for law enforcement and investigative professionals to infiltrate. A dogfight investigation requires many of the same skills and resources as a major undercover narcotics investigation and challenges the resources of any agency that seeks to respond to it.
An additional complication is that the evidence likely to be seized in a raid includes the dogs—living creatures who must be taken care of and maintained while the judicial process unfolds. Most prosecutors would be happy to take on every dogfighting case they could, but they are limited by the human and animal care resources available to them.” (No Author Given, 2023)
2. Theory #3:
Enforce the laws in all states and federally to say that all dog fighting violations are felonies with prison sentences required.
3. Theory #1:
Be prepared to find a wide variety of other violations and have the knowledge how to deal with all those other violations like drugs, weapons. Dog Fighting goes beyond dogs being forced to fight and law enforcement must be prepared.
“Societal impact, gang, and criminal activities
For many years, even after it was outlawed, dog fighting was considered an isolated animal welfare issue, and as such was ignored, denied, or disregarded by law enforcement agencies. However, it has now been established that the dog fighting culture is often intimately connected to other criminal activity, with dog fighters frequently involved in organized crime, racketeering, drug distribution, or gangs, and dog fighting events often facilitating gambling and drug trafficking.” (No Author Given, 2023)
IV. Conclusion
First, one of the largest issues in the world of dog fighting is that not only do police find the illegal act of fighting dogs, but also a long list of other organized crimes like murder, illegal weapons, gambling, cockfighting and narcotics are found at the fight scenes.
Second, the amount of suffering and pain, both physical and emotional, that these poor dogs endure during their short lives as fighters has been found by animal welfare groups to be on the far extreme.
Third, a huge step was made in 2007 when Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. This makes the act of dog fighting a national felony act that can be applied to all states on a federal level. Enforce the existing federal and state laws at each level.
Do dogs deserve fair treatment as living beings and should human beings work very hard to end the evil and dangerous sport of dog fighting so that no more dogs are forced to face a horrible existence and untimely death in a pool of blood? Should human beings who participate in this blood sport at all levels face severe sentences, including extensive prison time? Of course! Just because animals are considered property and objects by law in a lot of places doesn’t accurately give them the respect they deserve as living, breathing and feeling sentient beings just like all human beings and other animals. By strengthening and upholding existing dog fighting laws and creating new laws that give dogs the respect they deserve as feeling beings, the seriousness of dog fighting would be raised far about its current level of ground in the dirt ground.
References
Villavicencio, M., 2007, National Public Radio, “A History of Dogfighting,” https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12108421
No Author Given, 2023, ASPCA, “A Closer Look at Dogfighting,” https://www.aspca.org/investigations-rescue/dogfighting/closer-look-dogfighting
No Author Given, 2023, Wikipedia, “Dog Fighting in the United States,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_fighting_in_the_United_States#Societal_impact,_gang,_and_criminal_activities
No Author Given, 2023, Wikipedia, “Dog Fighting in the United States,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_fighting_in_the_United_States#Increased_enforcement,_penalty
No Author Given, 2023, Humane Society of the United States, “The Facts About Dogfighting,” https://www.humanesociety.org/dogfighting
No Author Given, 2023, Animal Legal Defense Fund, “Animal Fighting: Federal Law,” https://aldf.org/article/animal-fighting-facts/animal-fighting-federal-law/
No Author Given, 2023, Wikipedia, “Dog Fighting in the United States,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_fighting_in_the_United_States#Professional_athletes,_entertainers
No Author Given, 2021, National Sheriff’s Association, “Animal Fighting,” https://www.sheriffs.org/animal-fighting#:~:text=Animal%20Fighting%20Prohibition%20Enforcement%20Act,transporting%2C%20delivering%2C%20or%20receiving%20for
Stojanovic, M., 2022, Petpedia, “16 Dog Fighting Statistics for 2023,” https://petpedia.co/dog-fighting-statistics/
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