What You Should Know About Animal Fighting
Any breed of dog can be the victim of illegal animal fighting. Often small breed
dogs, and even cats, are used to “bait” larger fighting dogs in order to encourage
their fighting drive.
Anatomy of a Dog Fight
In a dog fight, two dogs are placed in a pit enclosed by plywood walls, where they
must fight before a cheering crowd until one dog is too injured or exhausted to
continue. The fights may last from several minutes to more than two hours, and the
dogs usually suffer painful injuries, including multiple puncture wounds, deep lacerations,
and broken bones. Dogs often die from dehydration, blood loss, infection, exhaustion
or shock as a result of the fight, and owners may kill the losing dogs by gunshot
or other inhumane methods.
Anatomy of a Cock Fight
In a cock fight, specially bred roosters, called gamecocks, are pitted against each
other in small arenas with razor-sharp, three-inch steel blades attached to their
legs. There, trained to fight and often drugged with stimulants and steroids, they
plunge and slash each other in a deadly duel. The gaffs inflict deep puncture wounds,
wings and legs are broken, and eyes are gouged out. A cockfight usually results
in the death of one of the birds and sometimes in the death of both.
Street Fighting
Impromptu “street fighting” between two dogs in public often involves local gang
members, who will encourage their animals to engage in this activity to give themselves
status among their peers. The dogs involved in street fighting are often used as
“weapons”, making them considerably more dangerous to any individual. These are
the dogs most likely to be seen by members of the community.
Warning Signs
Here are just a few of the possible warning signs of illegal animal fighting:
- The Condition of the Animals. Dogs may be missing pieces of their
ears, tails, toes, or an eye. Recent bite marks or scars will be seen around their
necks, shoulders, and legs. Birds may be shaved on their chests and their combs
and wattles may be cut off.
- Suspicious Activity in Your Neighborhood. Two or more Pit Bulls
(the most commonly used breed) tied up in a yard with heavy chains around their
necks. A tire or piece of thick rubber hung from a tree or pole in an effort to
strengthen a dog’s jaws. A lot of traffic coming and going in one area (from both
humans and dogs). The cars may have out-of-state license plates.
NC Animal Fighting Law
§ 14-362.2. Dog fighting and baiting
- A person who instigates, promotes, conducts, is employed at, provides a dog for,
allows property under the person's ownership or control to be used for, gambles
on, or profits from an exhibition featuring the baiting of a dog or the fighting
of a dog with another dog or with another animal is guilty of a Class H felony.
A lease of property that is used or is intended to be used for an exhibition featuring
the baiting of a dog or the fighting of a dog with another dog or with another animal
is void, and a lessor who knows this use is made or is intended to be made of the
lessor's property is under a duty to evict the lessee immediately.
- A person who owns, possesses, or trains a dog with the intent that the dog be used
in an exhibition featuring the baiting of that dog or the fighting of that dog with
another dog or with another animal is guilty of a Class H felony.
- A person who participates as a spectator at an exhibition featuring the baiting
of a dog or the fighting of a dog with another dog or with another animal is guilty
of a Class H felony.
- This section does not prohibit the use of dogs in the lawful taking of animals under
the jurisdiction and regulation of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
§ 14-362. Cock fighting
A person who instigates, promotes, conducts, is employed at, allows property under
his ownership or control to be used for, participates as a spectator at, or profits
from an exhibition featuring the fighting of a cock is guilty of a Class I felony.
A lease of property that is used or is intended to be used for an exhibition featuring
the fighting of a cock is void, and a lessor who knows this use is made or is intended
to be made of his property is under a duty to evict the lessee immediately.
Your Role
If you suspect that animals are being bred, raised, and/or trained for use in fighting
exhibitions, don’t ever intervene yourself. People involved in this activity are
often quite dangerous, and it’s not uncommon for illegal drugs and guns to be present
at animal fights. Please contact:
- Forsyth County Department of Animal Control
(336) 703-2490
- Winston-Salem Police Department
(336) 773-7700