Dog fighting is illegal in all US states and many countries worldwide but persists as an underground activity causing severe suffering to thousands of animals annually.
Dogs used in fighting suffer severe physical injuries including lacerations, broken bones, and internal bleeding during fights. Between fights, they are often kept on heavy chains in isolation, unable to socialize or exercise normally. Training methods involve forced fighting and desensitization to pain. Losing dogs may be killed by owners or left to die of untreated injuries. The psychological trauma of fighting dogs requires patient rehabilitation, and many dogs display fear-based behaviors that complicate rehoming.