Aren’t pit bulls used in dog fighting?
Sadly, many individuals out there breed and raise pit bulls to fight other dogs. If you take a highly driven, eager-to-please dog like a pit bull and raise him to be a family companion and exercise buddy, he will excel at his task. If you raise this muscular dog to be a fighter, he will excel at that, too. Pit bulls strive to please their owners and be the best at whatever they’re taught to do; this trusting, determined personality has been exploited by dogfighters for blood sport. The same drive exploited in underground fighting rings can be channeled through activities like obedience training and structured games.
Please visit BAD RAP’s page on the type of dogs used in fighting rings: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/gamebred.cfm
Is dog fighting a problem in Philadelphia?
Yes. As is the case in many cities, Philadelphia has numerous underground dog fighting rings.
The dogs involved in these operations are not rare, vicious breeds, but everyday pit bulls that end up with the wrong people the wrong situations.
The dogs are the true victims of dog fighting,
In order to combat dog fighting, the focus must be not on the abusers, but on the dogs. If you are an owner or foster parent of a pit bull, you have the power to change public perception simply by showing your neighbors how sweet and well-mannered a pit bull really is. If everyone in the city saw pit bulls as the loving, playful companions they are truly meant to be, the abuse of pit bulls in dog fighting would no longer be a problem.
Anti-pit bull efforts such as Breed-Specific Legislation help promote the dog fighting fad by propelling the myth that pit bulls are inherently aggressive and unpredictable.
Pit bull advocates and rescue organizations are in the best position to educate the public
If you would like to do something about dog fighting in Philadelphia, consider donating to PAWS or other organizations devoted to the rescue of pit bulls. Also consider adopting or fostering a pit bull, or volunteering to walk or train them in shelters. If you think you have witnessed evidence of dog fighting, file a cruelty report with the PSPCA by calling their 24-hour hotline at 1-866-601-SPCA (7722) or emailing a full description of the incident to cruelty@pspca.org.
