Let's really talk Michael Vick - Part TWO

Read "Part One" here.

Dog fighting "roles" and equipment:

The assholes that participate in dog fighting are "professionally" known as dog men. Along with the dogs who are used for fighting, dog men also own breeding dogs and bait dogs.

Breeding dogs (like #49 from Part One) are females who were previously successful in fights, and are specifically used for breeding purposes with other successful male fighting dogs. Generally, their teeth will be removed so they can't bite the stud, and a rape stand will be used to hold her down.

Bait dogs are used in the training process - to test the dog's fighting instinct - and are often killed in the process of training, or after, as a reward. Dog fighters typically remove the bait dog's teeth and starve them, so they can't defend themselves. Because owning a dog is costly, bait dogs are most times stolen from backyards (meaning a fence alone does not keep your dog safe - PLEASE watch your dogs) or found by newspaper/Craiglist ads saying: "free dog to good home." Other bait animals are puppies, kittens, rabbits, or other feral animals.

Prior to training, potential fighting dogs are tested in what's called a "roll". They are placed in the pit (after days of starvation) with another dog to test their fighting ability and aggressiveness. 

It's important to note that 80% of pit bulls who are raised specifically in professional fighting operations (with zero socialization) will not even scratch - meaning, they won't even cross the line to engage with the other dog. 

The 80% are often "discarded" or used for bait. The 20% dogs who show enough aggression are extensively trained, drugged, and have their ears/tails docked. Dog men will dock the ears and tails, so opponents cannot grab ahold of them during a fight - but also, so opponents cannot read the other dog's mood. The equipment in training fighting dogs vary. Almost all include: 

• treadmills 
• catmill/jenny - like a carnival horse walker but with bait dangled to make the dog run 
• jump pole - a pole dangling a rope with bait attached (so dogs can jump and dangle - strengthening their legs and jaws)
• flirtpole - a handheld pole with bait attached
• chains - wrapped around their necks in lieu of collars
• weights - either while running or all the time (added to the chains)
• bait (see above)
• drugs. vitamins, and supplements - ex: testosterone, weight gain supplements, speed, steroids, cocaine, etc.
• rapestand - for breeding
• electric shocking devises - as torture or to increase aggression
• break sticks - to separate "fanged" dogs

Dog Fighting:

The scary thing about dog fighting is that it occurs in lower class, middle class, and upper class communities. A seasoned dog fighting investigator estimated that there are forty thousand dog fighters alone in the United States. 

There are three different kinds of dog fighters: street fighters, hobbyists, and professionals. Street fighting is typically spontaneous and gang-related, done in efforts for the owners to prove their "manhood". Hobbyists fight for entertainment and added income. They own a few dogs, partially train them, and put them in pre-arranged fights.

Professionals are "skilled" and take great pride in their dogs' lineage. They own several (typically around 35-50+) which are raised specially for dog fighting, dog breeding, or as bait dogs. They have specific training methods and own elaborate equipment along with supplements, steroids and pain meds.

Wagers are typically around 20-30 thousand dollars a fight, but can raise up to the hundreds of thousands. Breeding is a major part of professional dog fighting - as puppies of the "winning bloodlines" can sell around $10,000 a pup. "One dog who was described as a particularly successful fighter generated over $100,000 in stud fees in a single year." Dogs are transported to different states and fighting pits, depending on where the professional dog man wants to "compete".

Professionals train the dogs for a six week period known as "the keep" - which gets the dog in shape but also primes his/her aggression. Each dog man's personal methods used in training and priming aggression is often times treated just as "special" as a secret family recipe.

Professionals stick to set of strict rules known as the "Cajun Rules" - a neutral party holds the deposit of the bet (typically a third) for each fighter before the fight begins. Each dog is weighed prior to the fight and if they exceed the weight limit, the owner immediately forfeits. Following getting weighed, the dogs are bathed by the opposing dog's owners to ensure that poison is not covering their fur.

The "pit" is a square or rectangle area in the center of room, measuring in around 12-20 ft a side. Walls prevent the dogs from escaping. Light colored carpet is generally used in the pit for dogs to get traction, and so the blood is easily visible.

Prior to the fight, the dogs enter the pit with their owners and a referee. Two corners of the pit have diagonal "scratch" lines that the dog and owner must stay behind before the fight begins. Once the referee yells: "FIGHT"  - the dogs are released and charge towards each other.

The dog men stay in the pit encouraging the dogs to continue. The fight can last from 10 minutes to several hours. If a dog loses interest, they are often times electrically shocked to increase aggression. If the dog fails to reengage, the fight is called and the other dog wins.

At times, the dogs need to be separated after being "fanged" (where a dog's tooth gets stuck in the skin of the other) and the owners will use a break stick to separate them. The battle goes on until one of the handlers call the match (forfeiting) or a dog is too wounded to continue or dies.

Following the fight, the winning dog is immediately treated, and the other is most often times killed in front of the audience as part of the "entertainment".

 

Click here to read Part Three