A Blood Sport Exposed

[Spence]

From Washington Post reporter Paul Duggan we get a page one story on the dog-fighting industry. It’s a chilling and informative look into a savage and deeply immoral world that Michael Vick and the Bad Newz Kennels sunk into.
At Bad Newz, the indictment says, Purnell Peace, 35, shot two dogs “that did not perform well” in schooling. Vick, Peace and Quanis Phillips, 28, allegedly executed eight others by “hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.”

Sakach said such brutality is common. “Some guys just decide they’re going to exact some retribution for what they apparently feel is a betrayal.”

Pit bulls that survive schooling become full-time canine prizefighters. But not all have long careers.

In March 2003, according to the indictment, the men of Bad Newz Kennels traveled to a venue near Blackstone, Va., with two pit bulls that they entered in separate bouts. The bets: $13,000 per side on one match, $10,000 on the other. After both dogs lost, “Vick retrieved a book bag from a vehicle containing approximately $23,000 in cash” and gave it to the winning dog man.

The female dog defeated in the $13,000 match not only cost its owners a bundle of money but apparently suffered horrible injuries. So it was disposed of, the indictment says.

“Peace, after consulting with Vick about the losing female pit bull’s condition, executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal.”It’s a terrific piece of journalism. Read it all. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101997_pf.html)

[akhhorus]

Meanwhile, in the post, Courtland Milloy does everything he can to mitigate Vick's crimes.

[Evilsockm]

Sorry, yeah, off topic a bit.

[MONK_in_HOF]

"The reason for the Michael Vick thing . . . is because athletes have a keen insight into courage and determination, which is what pit bulls possess," said Bill Stewart, a breeder in Romance, Ark., who publishes the Pit Bull Reporter. "Athletes understand better than anyone what dogfighting is about. It's about two highly conditioned athletes going at each other with everything they have to try to win. It's the purest form of combat on earth."

I don't agree with this at all. Poor analogy IMO. This makes athletes sound like gladiators. These dogs aren't fighting b/c of their courage and determination, its all they know since they were trained that way, and it really is do or die for them.

[BurgundyNGold]

I don't agree with this at all. Poor analogy IMO. This makes athletes sound like gladiators. These dogs aren't fighting b/c of their courage and determination, its all they know since they were trained that way, and it really is do or die for them.
I agree with you 100%. Athletes know the gladiator spirit of fighting dogs? Hmmm... maybe we should have dunked Mike's head underwater when he lost a game?

[SpicyMcHaggis]

I don't agree with this at all. Poor analogy IMO. This makes athletes sound like gladiators. These dogs aren't fighting b/c of their courage and determination, its all they know since they were trained that way, and it really is do or die for them.

I agree with you 100%. Athletes know the gladiator spirit of fighting dogs? Hmmm... maybe we should have dunked Mike's head underwater when he lost a game?
That part puzzled me as well. Mostly what I was wondering is whether that guy is a dogfighter or not. Because if not, he sure sounds like someone who would be interested in getting involved with that activity. He also sounds like a complete idiot.

[BurgundyNGold]

That part puzzled me as well. Mostly what I was wondering is whether that guy is a dogfighter or not. Because if not, he sure sounds like someone who would be interested in getting involved with that activity. He also sounds like a complete idiot.
Oh, I can say with virtual certainty that the guy is a dog fighter, a facilitator or a regular attendee.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Oh, I can say with virtual certainty that the guy is a dog fighter, a facilitator or a regular attendee.
Yeah, I agree. But why would the quote not be anonymous if that is the case?

[akhhorus]

Sorry, yeah, off topic a bit.

No! I mean in the Wash Post, not your post lol.

[BurgundyNGold]

Yeah, I agree. But why would the quote not be anonymous if that is the case?
In case you hadn't noticed, these guys aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree. Plus, they don't think what they're doing is wrong. They're delusional about what they're doing to their victims. Like pedophiles.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

In case you hadn't noticed, these guys aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree. Plus, they don't think what they're doing is wrong. They're delusional about what they're doing to their victims. Like pedophiles.
Yeah, it's pretty clear that they have the intelligence of a cheeseburger, but still, I would guess that they at least know that what they are doing is illegal.
Well, maybe not even that..lol...

[MONK_in_HOF]

In case you hadn't noticed, these guys aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree. Plus, they don't think what they're doing is wrong. They're delusional about what they're doing to their victims. Like pedophiles.

Well the rural south isn't typically known for its educational merits.

[AGibbsGirl]

Good Lord have a look at Stewarts "Pit Bull Magazine" website. The rantings continue...
I appreciate his right to his political stance but, why on a website about Pit Bulls?

http://www.pbreporter.com/index.htm

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Good Lord have a look at Stewarts "Pit Bull Magazine" website. The rantings continue...
I appreciate his right to his political stance but, why on a website about Pit Bulls?

http://www.pbreporter.com/index.htm
Wow. That site is seriously messed up.

[Evilsockm]

No! I mean in the Wash Post, not your post lol.

Oh, in that case, maybe I'll repost it. I really hope this isn't a threadjack, it's just been bugging me.

A good article. Outlines the brutality and sadism in dogfighting nicely.

You know what I cannot understand at all? How is it that people are equating what happens in dogfighting to what happens in hunting? I've seen this crop up several times in this saga. (let me preface this with the following: I personally am NOT a hunter. However, I know several people who are.)

In dogfighting, 2 innocent animals are brutally "schooled" to viciously tear each other to shreds for nothing more than a contest and a bet between savage human beings, who for whatever sad, sad reason enjoy this. Losing or uncombative animals are disposed of in the most horrid, sadistic, gruesome ways imaginable (Hanging? Electrocution?? Drowning??? Body-Slamming????), to give their owners a sense of "retribution" for the "betrayal" of a losing animal. (God help if these people breed and their children lose, say, a football game). The fights take place in shady underground locations, and "casualties" are disposed of in garbage bags, near railroad tracks, or just thrown out the windows of cars. Lovely picture, isn't it?

In hunting, an animal is hunted out in it's own environment, killed respectably, as quickly and painlessly as possible. The goal isn't sadistic blood lust, but mostly (at least around here) a desire for a low cost source of food that can be used to feed the hunter's family for months to come. Even if this is not the case, usually any meat or salvageable parts can be donated by the hunter to local charity organizations, which can then distribute them to needy families (this is often what happens during trophy hunts. For example, in Alaska, meat from trophy caribou and bear hunts goes to the native Eskimo population.) The animals and their habitats are usually greatly respected, even revered, by the hunters. Also, hunting is strictly regulated to help control animal populations and prevent starvation epidemics (and by virtue of this, suffering) in game animal populations. Not to mention, a large portion of the money gained through sales of hunting licenses goes to conservation efforts for the animals and thier habitats (there's a reason it's called a "conservation" stamp).

Do these sound like the same kinds of activities? I don't think so. In fact, I would wager to say that if any of the hunters I associate with caught a fellow hunter sadistically torturing a game animal, they'd likely beat the living snot out of the guy, and absolutely ensure that the person was referred to the authorities for the strictest possible punishment. In short, most hunters don't play that.

Are there some barbaric, bloodthirsty hunters out there? I'm sure the answer to that question is yes, sadly. However, I don't think blood thirst is the norm for the hunting population, and I'd have to say that it cannot be anything but the opposite in dogfighting.

In short, the difference, IMHO, is respect. Hunters (again, usually) greatly respect the animals that they take in the course of a season, and are thankful to the animals for providing. Dogfighters don't respect the animals, not really. The dogs are just tools to a possible quick buck for them. Shame.

Also, for clarity, I own 2 dogs, both labs, and I would do anything to keep them from any harm.

[WarEagle]

Good Lord have a look at Stewarts "Pit Bull Magazine" website. The rantings continue...
I appreciate his right to his political stance but, why on a website about Pit Bulls?

http://www.pbreporter.com/index.htm

Oh, that site's a hoot! The brave Pit Bull fighters endorse Ron Paul!! You can't write this stuff.

[MONK_in_HOF]

Oh, that site's a hoot! The brave Pit Bull fighters endorse Ron Paul!! You can't write this stuff.

The message is clear, elect him now or anarchy will never prevail !!