Dog Fighting as a Criminal Act
Prevention and Acceptance as a Serious Crime Against Animals
Jackie Phillips
Criminology, Post University
CRJ404 – Theoretical Criminology
Unit 7 Assignment: Course Project, Final Paper
Dr. Lyndall Godsall
Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 7
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, creating new laws that give dogs the respect they deserve as feeling beings and training law enforcement agencies to handle all the challenges of investigating a dogfighting operation, the seriousness of dog fighting would be raised far about its current level of ground.
Theory #1
Dog fighting is linked with many other crimes and both public officials and professional athletes have been connected to the blood sport. In the world of dogfighting 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 a 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.
Apply the theory to the criminal act.
“Why Do People Get Involved in Dogfighting?
There are many reasons people are drawn to dogfighting. The most basic is greed. Major dogfight raids have resulted in seizures of more than $500,000, and it is not unusual for $20,000 - $30,000 to change hands in a single fight. Stud fees and the sale of pups from promising bloodlines can also bring in thousands of dollars.
For others, the attraction lies in using the animals as an extension of themselves to fight their battles for them and to demonstrate their strength and prowess. However, when a dog loses, this can cause the owner of the dog to lose not only money, but status, and may lead to brutal actions against the dog.
For others, the appeal simply seems to come from the sadistic enjoyment of a brutal spectacle.” (No Author Given, 2023)
“Vick was denied any credit for taking responsibility for his crime. Hudson agreed with a federal probation officer's finding that Vick had lied about his hands-on killing of dogs and about his drug use. Vick tested positive for marijuana Sept. 13, violating the conditions of his release while he awaited sentencing.
Hudson recalled that Vick at one point said he only handed over two dogs to co-defendant Quanis Phillips, who killed them. On another occasion, Vick said he dropped a dog after Phillips tied a rope around the animal's neck, the judge added. "He did more than fund it," Gill said, referring to the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. "He was in this thing up to his neck with the other defendants." (No Author Given, 2007)
“Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., 62, the Pentagon’s deputy chief information officer for command, control, and communications, is charged with “promoting and furthering animal fighting venture,” the Maryland US Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
The investigation into Moorefield — who named his dogfighting business “Geehad Kennels,” an apparent homophone for “jihad” — began in 2018 when Anne Arundel County Animal Control discovered the bodies of two dogs in plastic bags that included mail addressed to his Arnold, Md., home, according to a recently unsealed affidavit in the case.”
Moorefield is accused of being involved in dogfighting throughout his career as a civilian employee for the Defense Department which began in October 2008 when he was hired as director of strategic planning for the Air Force Spectrum Management Office.
Since then, he has held various Pentagon leadership positions before taking on his current role in March 2020. He also served nine years in the Air Force before leaving the service in 1998, according to the profile. Moorefield’s involvement in dogfighting dates back more than two decades before prosecutors filed charges against him Sept. 26, the investigator alleged.
In a search of his cellphone, investigators discovered Moorefield listed at least 18 dogs on a dogfighting pedigree website dating back to “at least 2002.” Investigators also found “a device consisting of jumper cables attached to an electrical plug … used to electrocute a dog after losing a fight,” the ends of which where covered in dog hair and blood, according to the affidavit.
In encrypted messages, Moorefield reportedly conspired with associates to plan dogfights, referring to his female dogs as “hoes.” He also spoke about refereeing other dogfights in Baltimore.” (Doornbos, C., 2023)
Theory #2
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.
“The animals used in dog fights are exposed to both physical and psychological harm. The types of damage inflicted can include abuse during breeding, or by performing tail and ear docking to prevent their opponents from hanging on to these zones during fights and to generate more aggressive body language. Sharpening the teeth with a file, starvation, beatings, torture, and social isolation are also used to generate aggressive behaviors.
Another implication of dogfighting training on their welfare includes the administration of anabolic steroids (e.g., testosterone propionate) to promote muscle mass growth and strengthening. Owners may use illegal narcotics (e.g., ephedrine, cocaine, and methamphetamine) or substances, such as gunpowder and hot sauce, to increase the aggression of animals and reduce the perception of pain during the fight. These drugs are used without medical supervision, ignoring the serious cardiovascular consequences this may arise.
The use of shock or prong collars, hanging the dogs, and severe corrections with choke chains are usual practices during the training of dogs. Likewise, pulling weights and being starved and burned with lit cigarettes, or beaten with several objects to increase their strength and aggressivity are also elements that may cause injuries, tendon and ligament ruptures, persistent muscular pain, and emotional discomfort that affects the welfare of dogs. Indicators of negative mental states in dogs include spinning and circling, repeated bounding and rebounding, excessive licking with the formation of granulomas, excessive chewing of objects, and digging
Veterinary treatment performed by amateurs is another welfare cost, since physical lesions, such as puncture wounds, lacerations, blood loss, dehydration, shock, and bone fractures may become infected and deteriorate the overall health of the animal. Finally, dogs that have been retired from fighting are often simply killed by being shot or hanged.” (Padalino, B., 2022)
Apply the theory to the criminal act
“What happened to Michael Vick’s Dogs?
After the ASPCA-led evaluations, the dogs were put into one of four categories: euthanize; sanctuary 2 (needs lifetime care given by trained professionals, with little chance for adoption); sanctuary 1 (needs a controlled environment, with a greater possibility of adoption); and foster (must live with experienced dog owners for a minimum of six months, and after further evaluation adoption is likely). Rebecca Huss, a professor at the Valparaiso (Ind.) University School of Law and an animal-law expert, was placed in charge of the dispersal.
In the end, 47 of the 51 Vick dogs were saved. (Two died while in the shelters; one was destroyed because it was too violent; and another was euthanized for medical reasons.) Twenty-two dogs went to Best Friends, where McMillan and his staff chart their emotional state daily; almost all show steady improvement in categories such as calmness, sociability and happiness. McMillan believes 17 of the dogs will eventually be adopted, and applicants are being screened for the first of those. The other 25 have been spread around the country; the biggest group, 10, went to California with BAD RAP. Fourteen of the 25 have been placed in permanent homes, and the rest are in foster care.” (SI Staff, 2008)
Theory #3
There is a national problem that many law enforcement agencies are unprepared to take on dogfighting operations due to the lack of training in those laws. Many groups like the ASPCA and HSUS are working with agencies to provide training and give support to shelters to help the dog victims of the illegal sport of dogfighting. With this assistance from outside agencies, law enforcement agencies can enforce the existing federal and state laws at each level.
Dogfighting needs to be taken as a serious crime that involves humans as victims. Just because the victims of dogfighting aren’t human, doesn’t make the crime less important. 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.
Apply the theory to the criminal act.
The reason why dogfighting is low on the priority list of a lot of law enforcement departments is due to lack of training, skills and knowledge on how to handle all the difficulties that are commonly found at fight locations.
“Animal cruelty doesn’t just hurt animals. Research shows that some forms of animal cruelty are indicators of potential future violent acts against people. But effectively investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases presents unique challenges to law enforcement, prosecutors and animal welfare agencies alike.
The ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group is made up of investigators, lawyers, behaviorists and forensic veterinarians who collaborate with law enforcement agencies across the country to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of animal crimes and help rehabilitate animal cruelty victims.
The goal of this work is to save animals in jeopardy today, while helping law enforcement agencies build their own capacity to handle such cases independently in the future.” (Wolf, S., 2017)
“WHY PROSECUTE DOGFIGHTING?
Prosecutors may have a hard time devoting resources to non-human crime victims. Prosecutions often involve multiple defendants and multiple law enforcement agencies.
The practice is illegal in all 50 states, most of which include possession of dogs for the purpose of fighting, as well as being a spectator as illegal. Interstate activity relating to animal fighting is against federal law under the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act of 2007 with heavy penalties.
Dogfighting has been cited as a gateway crime involving juveniles. As part of gang activity, potential financial gain and the power of owning an aggressive dog, the practice can have an appeal.
According to the COPS office and the ASPCA, which partners with law enforcement in education and enforcement, most dogfight raids net illegal drugs and illegal weapons, as well as arrests on outstanding warrants. Dogfighting has been associated with violent crimes including assaults and homicides, as well as the obvious gambling offenses.” (Shults, J. F., 2021)
“The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) has taken this matter to heart, publishing special issues of its magazine “Sheriff & Deputy” on the link between animal cruelty and other crimes; the most recent edition can be downloaded here. Current NSA President John Layton created an Animal Cruelty and Abuse Committee. NSA also houses the National Law Enforcement Center on Animal Abuse (NLECCA), which has a number of practical resources for law enforcement. Two roll-call videos are available, “Cruelty and Neglect” and “Dog Fighting,” with plans for additional videos in the future. NLECAA has also collaborated with the Justice Clearinghouse to provide free webinars on topics related to law enforcement and animal cruelty.” (Thompson, J., 2019)
Which theory was the most effective and which was the least?
I think Theory #3 will be the most effective in tackling and solving the national and international issue of dogfighting. With proper training, law enforcement officers will be fully knowledgeable in how to handle all the challenges that occur when investigating dogfighting operations. They will know how to prosecute human offenders and they will know how to take care of the dog victims. Both pose different challenges to law enforcement agencies already overwhelmed with all the other offenses they will find at dogfights like drugs, weapons, warrants, money, underage juveniles, etc.
Tie up your course project with a call to action.
If a person sees or hears about a possible dogfighting operation, please make a quick call to the local law enforcement agency and they will be prepared to handle all the challenges and help the dogs as quickly as possible.
In conclusion, 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. These people bring to light how widespread the problem of dog fighting reaches, not just from ghetto streets, but to the highest levels of society and people on all levels and classes.
References
Doornbos, C., 2023, New York Post,“Senior Pentagon official ran vicious dogfighting ring — and executed losers with jumper cables,” https://nypost.com/2023/10/03/frederick-douglass-moorefield-jr-ran-vicious-dogfighting-ring-and-executed-losers-with-jumper-cables-feds
Gibson, H., 2005, Michigan State University College of Law, “Overview of Dog Fighting,” https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-dog-fighting
No Author Given, 2010, ASPCA, “Combating Dog Fighting, A Prosecutor’s Guide to Dogfighting Cases,” http://neacha.org/resources/prosecutors.dogfight.pdf
No Author Given, 2023, ASPCA, “A Closer Look at Dogfighting: What is Dogfighting?” https://www.aspca.org/investigations-rescue/dogfighting/closer-look-dogfighting
No Author Given, 2007, National Football League, “Vick sentenced to 23 months in jail,” https://www.nfl.com/news/vick-sentenced-to-23-months-in-jail-09000d5d804ed94f
Padalino, B., 2022, National Center for Biotechnology Information, “The Welfare of Fighting Dogs: Wounds, Neurobiology of Pain, Legal Aspects and the Potential Role of the Veterinary Profession.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9454875/
Shults, J. F., 2021, Police1.com, “Why Dogfighting Investigations Matter,” https://www.police1.com/investigations/articles/why-dogfighting-investigations-matter-mlKoL0OPqtZ3rTV7/
SI Staff, 2008, Sports Illustrated, “What Happened to Michael Vick’s Dogs,” https://www.si.com/more-sports/2008/12/23/vick-dogs
Thompson, J., 2019, Police1.com, “Why Addressing Animal Cruelty Crimes Matters,” https://www.police1.com/investigations/articles/why-addressing-animal-cruelty-crimes-matters-PKM36xqraV4fFrv2/
Wolf, S., 2017, Police1.com, “ASPCA training equips police with tools to investigate animal abuse,” https://www.police1.com/investigations/articles/aspca-training-equips-police-with-tools-to-investigate-animal-abuse-Nc43bwP4tgxtFAPB/
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