Dogfighting causes severe suffering to dogs bred and trained for fighting. Law enforcement efforts have disrupted major networks, while rehabilitation programs have successfully rehomed former fighting dogs.
Dogfighting welfare involves multiple categories of suffering: the acute trauma of fights themselves, the chronic suffering of isolation and neglect between fights, and the psychological effects of deliberate conditioning for aggression. The success of rehabilitation programs following major busts has transformed understanding of fighting dogs - previously assumed to be irreversibly dangerous, most have been successfully assessed, rehabilitated, and placed in loving homes. This rehabilitation success demonstrates both the dogs' resilience and the effectiveness of positive, patient behavioral rehabilitation. Supporting both law enforcement and rehabilitation organizations addresses the welfare problem comprehensively.