Animal fighting causes severe and deliberate suffering to the animals involved and is illegal in most countries but continues to be practiced clandestinely.
Animal fighting represents the deliberate infliction of severe suffering for entertainment and profit, making it among the most clear-cut welfare violations. Animals bred for fighting are selected for aggression and pain tolerance, then trained using methods that include abuse and deprivation. Fighting events themselves cause serious injuries including lacerations, broken bones, and death. Animals who survive fights often live with untreated injuries. Dogs rescued from fighting operations frequently have profound behavioral trauma requiring long and skilled rehabilitation before they can be safely rehomed. The cultural embedding of animal fighting in some communities makes elimination challenging, but the severity and clarity of the welfare harms justify strong enforcement and significant penalties for participation.