Dog fighting- the face of cruelty in the US

The epidemic of dog fighting is evidently spreading. Pit bulls that had lost their fights in northern New York were thrown into the garbage while still alive. This incredible gruesome practice gained national attention when former Football star Michael Vick convicted of dog fighting was sent to jail. Ken Ross, police chief for the Westchester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says many of the fights are gang related. Each gang trying to prove whose dog is tougher and by association whose gang is tougher. This underground clandestine practice is apparently very popular and widespread. An official with the animal protection service of Westchester county thinks that the police know just about the tip of the iceberg in criminal dog fighting.

Vicks dogs are enjoying some human kindness at a sanctuary far from where they were used in the dog fighting. They are in the Utah animal sanctuary and are frolicking in a special enclosure built for them. Vicks assets are being used to fund their rehabilitation.  

In dog fighting pit bulls are typically pitted against each other until one kills the other. Spectators who often bet on the outcome seem to enjoy the misery of animal being mangled to death. The losing dogs that don’t die are done away with by electrocution hanging or just beating to death. Some are just thrown into the garbage.

Police have started investing time and money trying to apprehend criminals of this kind. Many more undercover officers are being used to gain access to the most secretive rings of this practice. The practice is a felony in most states and attempts are being made to make punishment for these types of practices much stiffer.

Its all a bit sick.