Companion Animals

Dog Fighting and Its Eradication

Dog fighting is illegal in most countries but remains widespread underground, causing severe suffering and creating connected welfare and human safety crises.

Key Facts

Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 US states and most countries
Tens of thousands of dogs are estimated to be involved in dog fighting in the US alone
Fighting dogs are chained, isolated, and conditioned through deprivation and training trauma
Dogs rescued from fighting operations often require months of behavioral rehabilitation
Connections between dog fighting, gambling, and other criminal activity are well documented

Welfare Considerations

Dog fighting causes profound welfare harm at every stage: breeding for aggression, deprivation-based conditioning, violent training, and the fights themselves. Dogs are often killed after losing or kept in conditions of permanent deprivation between fights. Rescued fighting dogs, however, show remarkable resilience when given skilled behavioral rehabilitation — challenging stereotypes about fighting dogs being irrecoverable.

What You Can Do

Report suspected dog fighting operations to animal control or law enforcement immediately
Support organizations providing behavioral rehabilitation for fighting dog survivors
Advocate for enhanced penalties for dog fighting participation in your jurisdiction
Challenge breed-specific legislation that targets dog fighting breeds rather than the practice itself