{"id":9701,"date":"2022-03-02T10:29:55","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T10:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=9701"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:17:46","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T14:17:46","slug":"dog-fighting-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/dog-fighting-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Scary Dog Fighting Statistics in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogfighting is one of the most dreadful animal abuse practices, so the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dog fighting statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we\u2019re presenting here are sure to make you at least a bit sad. You\u2019ll be shocked at how big the \u2018industry\u2019 is and just how bad it treats the animals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='top-10-unbelievable-stats-and-facts-on-dogfighting'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top 10 Unbelievable Stats and Facts on Dogfighting<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#57% of Americans\">57% of Americans<\/a> believe dogfighting doesn\u2019t happen in their community.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog fights are <a href=\"#illegal in all 50 American states\">illegal in all 50 American states<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogs are <a href=\"#abused and killed\">abused and killed<\/a> because of dogfighting every year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog fights, on average, <a href=\"#last 1\u20132 hours\">last 1\u20132 hours<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large Japanese dogfight tournaments can <a href=\"#feature up to 250 dogs\">feature up to 250 dogs<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harry Hargrove is responsible for approximately <a href=\"#1,000 dog deaths\">1,000 dog deaths<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2021, <a href=\"#over 100 Pitbulls used for dogfighting\">over 100 Pitbulls used for dogfighting<\/a> were seized by authorities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michail Vick, an NFL player, was <a href=\"#caught organizing dog fights\">caught organizing dog fights<\/a> in 2007.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"#history of dogfighting\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">history of dogfighting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> started in ancient Rome.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogfighting has been <a href=\"#present in America\">present in America<\/a> since the 1800s.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='devastating-dogfighting-stats-to-make-you-think'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Devastating Dogfighting Stats to Make You Think<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think dogfighting is a part of the past, you\u2019ll be surprised by our <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dogfighting statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You\u2019ll also understand why <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/animal-abuse-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dogfighting is referred to as organized cruelty<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. So, let\u2019s go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='1-57-of-americans-believe-dogfighting-doesn%e2%80%99t-happen-in-their-community'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. 57% of Americans believe dogfighting doesn\u2019t happen in their community.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(ASPCA, 2018)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But even if they suspect something shady is happening, many of them won\u2019t do anything about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although 92% of the people interviewed said they would report dogfighting if they suspected it, only 53% actually reported it when they saw it happen. On the other hand, 25% did absolutely nothing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The numbers come from a poll, though, so they should be taken with a grain of salt.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='2-approximately-40000-people-participate-in-organized-dogfighting-in-the-us'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Approximately 40,000 people participate in organized dogfighting in the US.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Humane Society of the United States)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As it\u2019s so difficult to identify the people involved in dogfighting, this number is not precise. But, there are indications that the numbers are much higher, as these are only those involved in organized fighting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='3-dog-fights-are-illegal-in-all-50-american-states'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Dog fights are illegal in all 50 American states.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Animal Legal &amp; Historical Center, 2014)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizing dog fights is a felony, and it\u2019s additionally persecuted by the Federal Animal Welfare Act. A person found guilty can go to jail for up to 5 years. Unfortunately, depending on prosecution, the organizer of dog fights can get away with a fine or be put on probation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What some people don\u2019t know is that it\u2019s also illegal to watch a dog fight. Spectators in dog fights can get up to one year of jail time or pay up to $5,000, or both. Bringing a minor to the fight increases the punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='4-on-average-20-people-are-arrested-during-a-raid'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. On average, 20 people are arrested during a raid.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Police1, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This comes from the arrest statistics, which show that anywhere between 1 and 123 people involved with the organization of dog fights can be arrested in just one raid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides these arrests, police, on average, find and seize around 35 dogs, but this number can go up to 500.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='5-research-shows-that-hundreds-of-thousands-of-dogs-are-abused-and-killed-because-of-dogfighting-every-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Research shows that hundreds of thousands of dogs are abused and killed because of dogfighting every year.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Animal Legal Defense Fund, 2020)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are only the estimated numbers, though. However, since only <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007%2Fs12117-017-9302-y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one group of perpetrators injured and killed 420\u2013640 dogs in more than four years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the number is unlikely to be much lower.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since dog fights are illegal and only a tiny percent of perpetrators get busted, there are no exact reports on this subject. Many never get discovered, and those who do will never report the real kill numbers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='6-reporting-organized-dogfighting-can-get-you-5000'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Reporting organized dogfighting can get you $5,000.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Humane Society of the United States)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The money is offered by the Humane Society of the United States, but not everybody gets it. You\u2019ll only get the money if the organizer of dog fights you reported is arrested and convicted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you don\u2019t get the prize money, you should still report. If you recognize the signs of a dogfighting organization \u2014 scarred dogs on heavy chains, training equipment, or fighting pits \u2014 call 911 immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='7-owners-of-dogfighting-%e2%80%9cchampions%e2%80%9d-earn-around-100000-annually-just-from-stud-fees'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Owners of dogfighting \u201cchampions\u201d earn around $100,000 annually just from stud fees.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PETA)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The owners of female dogs pay the fees for puppies that are more genetically predisposed to be aggressive and, thus, more likely to win fights. The female dog often gets tied up while violated to prevent her from hurting the male.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='8-dog-fights-on-average-last-1%e2%80%932-hours'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Dog fights, on average, last 1\u20132 hours.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Humane Society International, 2019, Lewiston Sun Journal, 2018)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fights end when one of the dogs can\u2019t fight anymore. Dogs that lose either die during the fight succumb to injuries later or are killed by their owner after the fight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even their deaths are painful \u2014 most owners kill them by hanging, electrocuting, or drowning. Rarely they are shot, but this is usually avoided to not draw any attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='9-large-japanese-dogfight-tournaments-can-feature-up-to-250-dogs'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Large Japanese dogfight tournaments can feature up to 250 dogs.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Newsweek, 2016)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to some interviews from 2016, there can be between 60 and 100 dogs fighting in the smaller tournaments. Almost all pit bull fights are sponsored by the Japanese mafia \u2014 the Yakuza.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides all the facts against it and the mafia&#8217;s involvement, dog fights are still legal in most parts of Japan. What\u2019s even worse \u2014 watching dog fights is considered a family-friendly activity by those involved.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='recorded-dogfighting-cases-%e2%80%94-stats-and-facts'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recorded Dogfighting Cases \u2014 Stats and Facts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, we\u2019ve prepared some reported cases and busts that happened during 2020 and 2021, as well as some infamous cases that have changed the way people look at dogfighting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='10-in-a-dogfighting-bust-in-2020-the-police-have-found-over-150-dogs'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. In a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dogfighting bust<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2020<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the police have found over 150 dogs.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The United States Department of Justice, 2020)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the largest bust of the year. The chain of crime extended through four states and was also connected to cocaine distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were many people involved in this crime, including Vernon Vegas, one of the most prominent dogfighting trainers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='11-according-to-official-dog-fighting-statistics-for-2021-over-100-pitbulls-used-for-dogfighting-were-seized-by-authorities'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. According to official <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dog fighting statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2021<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, over 100 Pitbulls used for dogfighting were seized by authorities.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(CityWatch Los Angeles, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More precisely, 42 were discovered in Florida, 35 in North Carolina, 19 in Virginia, and 34 in Georgia. All of the seizings happened during the first half of the year, so more reports are yet to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since statistics show that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/pit-bull-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pit bulls are the most used dog type for dog fights<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, these numbers shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='12-during-the-dog-fighting-ring-bust-in-august-2021-10-people-were-arrested'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. During the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dog fighting ring bust<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in August 2021, 10 people were arrested.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NBC New York, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since they also saved 89 dogs, this is regarded as perhaps the largest bust in New York history. Before the bust, the organization was highly profitable \u2014 $175,000 per fight was the regular bet for one person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='12-harry-hargrove-a-dogfighting-trainer-is-responsible-for-approximately-1000-dog-deaths'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. Harry Hargrove, a dogfighting trainer, is responsible for approximately 1,000 dog deaths.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Medium, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This death count comes from the fact that this man had a four-decade-long career in the field of dogfighting. The number is approximate but is believed to be even higher \u2014 at some point, Hargrove had over 250 dogs at once.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He sold dogs online, trained them for dog fights, and organized dogfighting events. He was known as a \u201cdogfighting kingpin\u201d until he was arrested in 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='13-michail-vick-an-nfl-player-was-caught-organizing-dog-fights-in-2007'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13. Michail Vick, an NFL player, was caught organizing dog fights in 2007.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Washington Post, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is definitely one of the most <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">famous dog fighting cases<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the US. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pawschicago.org\/news-resources\/news-features\/animal-welfare\/animal-welfare-news-item\/showarticle\/dog-fighting-exposed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were 66 dogs found<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on Vick\u2019s property. He later admitted to organizing dogfighting, killing dogs, and betting illegally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What separates this case from most others is the fact that most of the dogs were actually resocialized and adopted. This is especially fortunate considering their condition and the fact that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/animal-shelter-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pit bulls generally have a hard time getting adopted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='surprising-dog-fighting-statistics-and-facts'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surprising <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog Fighting Statistics and Facts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re interested in learning more about dog fighting history or want to know what happens to the animals in dog fights, read on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='14-the-history-of-dogfighting-started-in-ancient-rome'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">history of dogfighting<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> started in ancient Rome.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Medium, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The phenomenon can be traced back to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historic-uk.com\/HistoryUK\/HistoryofEngland\/The-Romans-in-England\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roman conquest of Britain, which started in 43AD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This means that humans have been organizing dog fights for almost 2000 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Roman times, the dogs didn\u2019t just fight other dogs. They were made to fight lions, people (gladiators), and, believe it or not, elephants.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='15-dogfighting-has-been-present-in-america-since-the-1800s'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15. Dogfighting has been present in America since the 1800s.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Britannica, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the beginning, it was considered a great sport and even supported by the United Kennel Club. They created the rules and provided referees. However, by 1976, all states had outlawed dogfighting, and it started to switch to more illegal circles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, it\u2019s still practiced no matter the punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='16-dogs-suffer-from-many-life-threatening-injuries-because-of-fights'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16. Dogs suffer from many life-threatening injuries because of fights.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Bristol Live, 2018)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep wounds, broken bones, and severe bruises are just some of them. In addition, they lose a lot of blood, their wounds get infected, and many die from all the injuries. A study has found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/avmajournals.avma.org\/view\/journals\/javma\/251\/12\/javma.251.12.1424.xml?tab_body=abstract#d1734349e1371\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">96.8% of the dogs examined had injuries to their limbs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, 93.5% of them had head injuries, while most had injured teeth, mouth, and necks. After all, they are trained to attack those areas precisely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides injuries, the dogs are often malnourished, dehydrated, and rarely alive for long after a lost fight.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='faq'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id='why-is-dogfighting-bad'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is dogfighting bad?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogfighting is bad because it harms animals in many ways. Animals involved in dogfighting are chained, starved, trained to fight to the death, and often brutally killed in the end. Even the dogs who \u201cwin\u201d the fights might still die from their injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Lewiston Sun Journal, 2018)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-common-is-dog-fighting-in-the-us'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How common is dog fighting in the US<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogfighting is quite common. We couldn\u2019t find any precise info, but research from 2007 showed that over 40,000 people participated in dogfighting and organized it professionally, while thousands did it as amateurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Humane Society of the United States)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-many-dog-fights-happen-a-year'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many dog fights happen a year<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since dog fights are illegal, there are no sources to show the exact numbers. However, ASPCA assisted with uncovering about 200 dogfighting cases in the past decade. Since these are only the ones that were busted, the numbers are probably much higher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also know that the numbers are pretty high in Japan, where dog fights are legal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(ASPCA, 2018, Newsweek, 2016)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-many-pit-bulls-die-a-year-from-dogfighting'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many pit bulls die a year from dogfighting<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no reports on pit bull deaths from dogfighting, but we know that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/277341666_Dog_fighting_A_Nasty_Work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">around 16,000 dogs die each year due to dogfighting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, most of which are pit bulls. However, since dog fighting is illegal and participants want to remain unknown, getting exact results is impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are some estimates that hundreds of thousands of dogs suffer from abuse related to dogfighting. Still, there is no precise info on deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Animal Legal Defense Fund, 2020)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='what-is-a-bait-dog-in-dogfighting'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a bait dog<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in dogfighting?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bait dogs are dogs used to train fighting dogs by getting them used to mutilating another dog. A bait dog can be any dog that is not physically strong or aggressive. In other words, it can be any dog not suitable for dog fighting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their teeth often get plucked out, or their mouths might be taped to prevent any damage to the fighting dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are generally stolen, but they might also come from unsuspecting people who give their dogs up for adoption. The bait dogs can also come from a fighting dog\u2019s litter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(News24, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='ending-note'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ending Note<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all the numbers we\u2019ve shown you, you surely understand how big this illegal industry is and how many animals suffer because of money and entertainment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it\u2019s disheartening that this happens every day, knowing something is done about it is good, and we can all help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, we hope that our <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dog fighting statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mean something to you, and you\u2019ll report any suspicious activity you ever stumble upon.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='sources'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.animallaw.info\/article\/chart-state-dogfighting-laws\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animal Legal &amp; Historical Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aldf.org\/article\/identifying-signs-of-dogfighting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animal Legal Defense Fund<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspca.org\/about-us\/press-releases\/aspca-national-poll-reveals-dogfighting-goes-underreported-despite-hundreds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ASPCA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspca.org\/investigations-rescue\/dogfighting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">APSCA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bristolpost.co.uk\/news\/bristol-news\/horrific-injuries-dog-fighting-rings-1976062\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bristol Live<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/pro-and-con-breed-specific-legislation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britannica<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citywatchla.com\/index.php\/cw\/animal-watch\/21868-dog-fighting-is-thriving-in-u-s-hundreds-of-pit-bulls-seized-in-2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CityWatch Los Angeles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/historyofyesterday.com\/the-man-who-killed-1-000-dogs-c189f535bd08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">History of Yesterday<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsi.org\/issues\/dogfighting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humane Society International<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newbernsj.com\/story\/news\/2018\/02\/26\/dogfighting-its-worse-than-you-think\/12909557007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lewiston Sun Journal\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/lessons-from-history\/a-brief-history-of-dogfighting-56a1c0af0da5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medium<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnewyork.com\/news\/local\/crime-and-courts\/10-people-arrested-89-dogs-seized-in-possible-largest-dogfighting-bust-in-ny-history-suffolk-da\/3211381\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NBC New York<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/news24\/SouthAfrica\/News\/spca-shines-light-on-horrors-of-using-live-bait-in-dog-fighting-20210513\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">News24<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/2016\/09\/09\/japanese-dogfighting-494843.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newsweek<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/issues\/animals-in-entertainment\/cruel-sports\/dogfighting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PETA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.police1.com\/investigations\/articles\/why-dogfighting-investigations-matter-mlKoL0OPqtZ3rTV7\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police1<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanesociety.org\/sites\/default\/files\/docs\/dogfighting-how-to-identify-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Humane Society of the United States<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/graphics\/2019\/sports\/michael-vick-dogfighting-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Washington Post<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/georgia-man-pleads-guilty-result-multi-state-dog-fighting-drug-trafficking-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S. Department of Justice<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why is dogfighting bad?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Dogfighting is bad because it harms animals in many ways. Animals involved in dogfighting are chained, starved, trained to fight to the death, and often brutally killed in the end. Even the dogs who \u201cwin\u201d the fights might still die from their injuries.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How common is dog fighting in the US?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Dogfighting is quite common. We couldn\u2019t find any precise info, but research from 2007 showed that over 40,000 people participated in dogfighting and organized it professionally, while thousands did it as amateurs.\u00a0\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many dog fights happen a year?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Since dog fights are illegal, there are no sources to show the exact numbers. However, ASPCA assisted with uncovering about 200 dogfighting cases in the past decade. Since these are only the ones that were busted, the numbers are probably much higher.\u00a0\\n\\nWe also know that the numbers are pretty high in Japan, where dog fights are legal.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many pit bulls die a year from dogfighting?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"There are no reports on pit bull deaths from dogfighting, but we know that around 16,000 dogs die each year due to dogfighting, most of which are pit bulls. However, since dog fighting is illegal and participants want to remain unknown, getting exact results is impossible.\\n\\nThere are some estimates that hundreds of thousands of dogs suffer from abuse related to dogfighting. Still, there is no precise info on deaths.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is a bait dog in dogfighting?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Bait dogs are dogs used to train fighting dogs by getting them used to mutilating another dog. A bait dog can be any dog that is not physically strong or aggressive. In other words, it can be any dog not suitable for dog fighting.\\n\\nTheir teeth often get plucked out, or their mouths might be taped to prevent any damage to the fighting dog.\\n\\nThey are generally stolen, but they might also come from unsuspecting people who give their dogs up for adoption. The bait dogs can also come from a fighting dog\u2019s litter.\u00a0\"}}]}<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for the ultimate dog fighting statistics? Everything about dogfighting arrests, busts, history is here for you. Read on to find out more. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/dog-fighting-statistics\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from 16 Scary Dog Fighting Statistics in 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":9702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9701"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9701\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}