Dog Fighting: Why you should care
 

Dog fighting is a child welfare issue

• Frequently children are present at dogfights with a father, older brother or uncle.
• Children are exposed to exhibits of extreme brutality, illegal gambling, drugs and guns associated with these cruel events.
• A person who arranges or conducts a dogfight is guilty of a felony in Maryland and is subject to a $5,000 fine and three years imprisonment. A person who attends a dogfight is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to $1,000 fine and 90 days imprisonment. In both cases the court can order psychological counseling paid for by the criminal.
• Psychiatrists have demonstrated the link between a history of cruelty to animals and seriously abnormal aggressive behavior directed toward humans.
• Dogs trained for fighting have been known to attack innocent children for no known reason. Each year 80 percent of all humans killed by dogs are children
  

Dog fighting has a negative effect on the community

• Dog fighting should not be a concern for "animal lovers" only. Dogfights dehumanize and degrade the community. It is closely linked to other illegal activities.
• Illegal drugs are often sold for cash and used at dogfights. Illegal gambling on the fights outcome generates more cash on hand. Firearms and other weapons are very common at dogfights because of this large amount of cash.
• Fighting dogs may promote emotional desensitization and increase human aggression toward family and neighbors.
• Dogs trained to be vicious for dog fighting may be dangerously aggressive. The very presence of these fighting dogs in a community greatly increases the risks of attacks on not only other animals but humans as well. In the average year there are 1,000 bite investigations performed by the Baltimore City Health Department.

Dog fighting is cruelty to animals

• Dogs participating in these fights are severely injured and often violently die.
• Dogs who survive the fights often painfully die days or weeks later from their fight injuries.
• Dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals are used as "bait" to "blood" fighting dogs. These "bait" animals may be stolen pets or animals found in "free to good home" ads that are killed by fighting dogs in training.

What can you do?

Violence, drugs and weapons are associated with dog fighting. Help reduce the crime and violence in your neighborhood by reporting suspected dog fighting and vicious dogs to 311. You may remain anonymous.