Dogs have been exploited for "blood sports" since ancient Roman times when dogs were forced to fight other animals, such as bulls and bears, in the Coliseum. This practice continued into the medieval times in England. In 1835 the Parliement outlawed this activity in the Humane Act of 1835. It was around that time that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed was developed and modern dog fighting was born.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was brought to America in 1817 and dogfighting quickly became a part of American culture. The United Kennel Club endorsed the "sport" and even went as far as developing rules and bringing in referees. By 1860 most states had outlawed dog fighting yet it continued to grow in popularity as an American pastime into the 20th century. Fights were held at popular public forums on a regular basis "and the sadistic culture became immortalized in the annals of American history and folklore" (Gibson). The "sport" was driven further undergroun by the 1930's and 1940's as organizations like the United Kennel Club withdrew their endorsements.
By 1976 dog fighting was outlawed in all states, however it only recently began to receive any kind of attention by law enforcement. "By all accounts, dog fighting continues to surreptiously thrive in America: its prosperity due in large part to the chronic apathy of and denial by the legal system" (Gibson)
It is shocking that dog fighting has been around for so long, but to be completely honest I am less surprised to find out it was around in ancient times than by the fact that it is still practiced and appreciated by human beings today. Hopefully dog fighting will soon be nothing but history.
Gibson, Hanna. “Dog Fighting Detailed Discussion.” Animal Legal and Historical Center. 2005. Michigan State University College of Law. http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm
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