When I mentioned the word dog to you what image comes to mind?
Man’s best friend! Loyal and faithful companion! A member of your family!
However, to a dog fighting syndicate the word dog means big money and they use and abuse these wonderful creatures entrusted to our care.
We trust that our letter will highlight the plight of dogs used either for fighting purposes or as bait by these despicable people.
With the huge number of dogs going missing recently, particularly big breeds such as pit bulls, Staffordshire terriers, bull terriers, bull dogs or mixed cross breeds as well as so-called aggro breeds – it is a huge concern to all us animal lovers and dog owners.
Most people think dog fighting does not happen around here because they have not seen or heard anything about it.
Wake up people!
It happens probably in your town or city but because it is a secretive underground activity only people involved in it know exactly when and where each fight takes place.
One bet on a fight was reportedly as high as R 1.5 million – sick – hey??
Dog fighters have to put in a lot of effort to train their dogs to fight as naturally these dogs are gentle, loving, affectionate and tolerant breeds.
They are used by dog fighters because they are strong and muscular with strong jaws.
They are extremely gentle and loving to humans and are very eager to please them even if it means enduring high levels of pain.
This means they are easy to train in whatever ways the human wants.
Dog fighters know that if trained to do so these dogs can do a lot of damage.
If the dog does not win a fight and does not die from their wounds or from being abandoned and left to die from their injuries, it is punished for humiliating their owners because of not being willing enough or good enough fighters.
The chances of these fight dogs that are rescued been adopted are very low.
If a dog has been a fighting victim almost nobody will give it a chance of a home.
People are too frightened that the dog fighter’s influence on them may have damaged them too badly and they do not trust them.
These dogs’ chances of ever feeling genuine love are extremely low.
Most are put to death, having only ever felt pain and neglect.
And if you think this is inhumane – wait!
This is kitten and puppy season – your cat or dog is what is commonly used for bait in order to train fight dogs.
Dog fighting rings (participants, etc.) steal pets (any sort – they don’t care if it is a dog or a rabbit!) to use as bait animals for training the dogs.
They go to people offering animals free to a good home, dressed in a suit with their wives and kids, etc. and collect kittens and puppies to use as bait animals.
Dogs used as bait for dog fighting practices are often muzzled or their mouths are bound with duct tape so they cannot defend themselves and injure the prize dogs.
These poor innocent, defenceless animals are literally torn to shreds by the prize dogs.
What types of people are involved in dog fighting you may ask?
Dog fighting tends to be associated with poorer areas of society both urban and rural, less educated people and gang members.
People involved in dog fighting are often found to be involved in gang related violence and other criminal activities.
however, people from every walk of life can also be involved (possibly even your neighbour).
Some people may argue that dog fighting is a tradition that has taken place for centuries.
They may also say that it is part of their culture or heritage and that they enjoy being involved in a community that generations of their family have been involved in.
There is no excuse good enough for animal abuse. People are supposed to have evolved and become civilized over time.
We can protest and put rhino horns, etc. on our cars and buy fluffy, stuffed toys against rhino poaching.
We can toyi-toyi against woman and child abuse.
But what about man’s best friend – the dog – who will speak up against abuse of them? Who will put an end to these dog fighting rings? What are our police force and government doing to protect their rights to protect us their loving owners?.
Trust that this letter has opened your eyes and shaken you up to care like it did us.
Concerned pet lovers and owners
Eds note: Letter shortened. This letter is the opinion of a reader and the information presented as fact is not confirmed as such by the editor or staff of the Springs Advertiser. We have published this letter is the spirit of hearing our readers’ thoughts and make no claims as to the accuracy of the material presented.
