Animal Abuse and Dog Fighting - Coursework Example

Animal abuse/ Dog fighting Animal abuse/ Dog fighting According to sociology, deviance is an act of wandering away from recognizedstandards in social behavior. Animal abuse as a result of an individual’s psychological state is termed as a deviant behavior in the community. Some individuals who have experienced early childhood mistreatment acts tend to be rough when handling animals in the society. This form of animal torture arises as a result of the psychological state of mind whereby, they seek to relieve their anger by mistreating animals (Brewster & Reyes, 2013). For example, dog fighting can be ranked as a deviant behavior and a form of mistreatment in dogs. Statistics indicate that 31 percent of victims under psychological control have sought vengeance on pets by battering them to seek satisfaction. However, these behaviors usually vary from one culture to another. This essay will address the history of dog fighting and how it is a deviant behavior socially. Furthermore, the paper will also include various groups that advocate against this form of animal abuse in the society amongst other aspects. An introduction to dog fighting Dog fighting is an example of a gory sport which involves two aggressive dogs engaging in a battle until one of them is declared the winner. In most cases, the loser is usually killed or tortured to death by his master. These dog fights have become prevalent in the United States where they are usually done secretly away from the public eye. This deadly sport also generates revenue that is usually obtained from admission and stud fees hence promoting gambling. As stated above, deviant behaviors are those that are socially unacceptable. Therefore, dog fights which are usually staged in abandoned or hidden places fall under animal cruelty. For example, in parts of Russia and Japan dog fighting is still considered legal and it is practiced for monetary gain (Semencic, 2013). History of animal abuse (Dog Fighting) The history of this bloody sport dates back in the Roman Empire. During the era of Emperor Claudius, more than 600 beasts were butchered at the Colosseum as individuals cheered. Dogs were also used during wars where they fought alongside the soldiers. In 43 A.D., the Romans were able to win the war against the British by the help of the Molossus dog breed from Greece. Even after their victory, the Romans were amazed with the ferocity of the Briton dogs that were more uncompromising and battle-ready (Homan, 1999). They started breeding and exporting war dogs to countries such as France. They also bred English Mastiffs that could be used in public amusements and in wars. In the 12th century, England also embraced the sport under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). England developed a sport that involved taunting dogs using other beasts such as bulls, which were chained for entertainment. In fact, the Queen was a devotee in the new sport which was occasionally used to entertain visitors. Her successor, King James I was also passionate with the bloody sport and even managed to construct several structures where they housed their bait animals. This made baiting a reputable form of entertainment for the aristocrats. During baiting, dogs usually bit the bears and the bulls which were chained as a form of taunt action. The dogs were also used to tenderize flesh (Homan, 1999). Later on, in the 19th century, the scarcity of bulls grew immensely since they were killed after the fight for the sale of their tender meat. In fact, butchers who sold meat that was not tenderized were usually fined. In this era, there was also a budding concern about issues related to animal cruelty. Therefore, in 1835, all baiting activities that took place in Britain were banned by the government. After the enactment of this law, a cheaper combat that involved dog-to-dog action materialized. The dogs were usually crossbred with other dogs to come up with ferocious fighting dogs. Dog fighting emerged as a very popular sport in both Europe and in the United States. The history of dog fighting in America dates back in the 1750s with the terrier breed. Even after outlawing dog fighting, various police departments promoted it “underground” as a form of entertainment. The police department also offered information to the public about dog fighting locations. In 1867, Henry Bergh made the sport illegal by forming an anti-cruelty organization for animals that banned all forms of animal fighting in the United States (Homan, 1999). This in turn led to the United Kennel Club withdrawing its endorsement of the sport in the country after reviewing the brutality suffered by these beasts. The Humane Society asserts that dog fights usually have a fatal ending. The fighting dogs are usually bred to fighting and overcoming their opponents. Their powerful jaws and claws can inflict severe wounds to the dogs. The dogs which in most cases are American pit bulls die of exhaustion or even blood loss. In some cases, these fighting dogs have even turned to harm individuals. Groups advocating against animal abuse (dog fighting) Various animal advocates claim that dog fighting is one of the pre-dominant form of animal cruelty and abuse based on the violence the dogs endure during training and in fights. As stated above, the losing animal was usually shot dead, electrocuted or tortured to death through whippings. There are various organizations that advocate against dog fighting. Some of these organizations include the Humane Society (United States) (HSUS), Canadians for Animal Welfare Reform (CFAWR), The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RPSCA) and the United Kennel Club among other renowned institutions. The ASPCA whose efforts are documented world widely continually works in ensuring that dogs are not subjected to animal abuse (Brewster & Reyes, 2013). This non-profit institute was formed in 1866, with its headquarters in New York. The organization was the first of its kind in the Western world to decree and put into effect anti-cruelty laws against animals. The organization established the first animal hospital in 1912 where pets and farm animals would receive treatment from various diseases. By 2008, the organization has salvaged approximately 800 animals that were victims of animal cruelty. These animals were usually rescued and given temporary shelters until they were recommended for adoption. The Humane Society which also has its headquarters in the United States is a nonprofit organization that deals with addressing animal-related malice. Founded in 1954 by Myers Fred with the help of other partners, this entity aims in stopping the exploitation of animals. They have persistently backed up civic laws that center on animal fighting. For example, in 2007, HSUS called for the suspension of Michael Vick- an NFL quarterback -after allegations that he was tangled in dog fighting events. Unlike other organizations, HSUS has also channeled its support to wildlife which are hunted for pleasure or as a sport. Animals such as wolves, wild horses, marine life and chimpanzees are protected by HSUS against animal cruelty acts. According to CFAWR, there are two major forms of animal cruelty across the animal abuse spectrum. This two forms of abuse can either be active and passive. In active cruelty, the animal is exposed to deliberate harm while passive cruelty focuses on negligence that creates continued distress. As seen from the history of dog fights, we are able to ascertain that the fighting dogs were exposed to both forms of cruelty (Brewster & Reyes, 2013). The APSCA together with other organizations have even formulated various strategies to assist in ending dog fighting practices. Some of the strategies include alerting the relevant authority, protecting your pets, adopting a pit bull and educating others in the society about the disgust related to dog fighting. Parents are also encouraged to teach their children about the horrors associated with dog fighting by sensitizing them on the importance of ending this vice. Approximately 30 percent of the dogs that are housed in shelters all over the United States are pit bulls. Most of these dogs are euthanized because they are aggressive and cannot socialize with other dogs and even individuals. Research reveals that various disturbing facets have been established from this bloody sport. In most cases, children are usually present at dog fighting events. In Baltimore, this has been regarded as a child welfare issue since children are exposed to various forms of brutality. This has promoted their callousness to animal distress and the eagerness for viciousness. Furthermore, the sport has also been associated with illegal practices such as gambling. In dog fights, the spectators usually place bets on the potential winner of the fight. In various instances, guns and drugs have also been nabbed at dogfights since the loser dog is usually tortured to death or simply killed by a gunshot (Brewster & Reyes, 2013). Technology and how it changed the trajectory of the behavior Integration of technology in the animal protection against abuse and cruelty is a significant aspect in minimization of such cases. Most members of the society easily torture animals and get away with it since no serious actions can be taken against them. The advent of technology such as filming enables the prosecutors to have first-hand information and evidence of the case of animal cruelty they are dealing with. Given that prosecutions have been categorized, it is simpler to group the crimes under their categories so as to know the right charges. Technology has also enabled officers dealing with dogfight raids to obtain information about the locations where they take place. Therefore, they are able to respond quickly to rescue these grief-stricken dogs. As a matter of fact, access to such information allows the law enforcement authorities to reach out to various methods and measures for creating awareness and punishing the animal abusers. The advent of computer simulations is one of the major breakthroughs experienced in dealing with animal cruelty issues that occur. The ability of using such technology to create various computer simulations of animals that is used in collecting evidence and conducting animal abuse research in the community. This has led to a significant decline in the number of abuse being carried out on animals especially dog fights which endangers the life of the fighting dogs. The virtual animals break the monotony of the turmoil underwent by such animals in the hands of their owners. In addition, technology has immensely shifted the dynamics dog fight events through ensuring animal rights are clearly aired out to the society through cross platforms and debates being conducted by legislators. The ability to start online campaigns on various social networking sites is very essential in eradicating dogfights. This effectively utilizes the internet and social media platforms as grounds for creating the awareness on various species of pets that are deemed to be vulnerable to abuse of any nature. Through the online platforms the community can be urged to avoid indulging in deviant behaviors with animals such as dogfights and baiting. The various ideologies that are not in line with the norms of behavior in the society should be avoided and condemned. The use of technology in putting up digital advertisements against animal cruelty is also an essential move since it enhances the importance and urgency in the society as a whole. The advertisements are a symbol of the collective action required to end the animal brutality through utilization of current technology advancements. The launch of such online campaigns ensure accountability and responsibility rests in the hands of general community members. So as to end the abuse experienced by fighting dogs, technology plays has played a significant role in tracking animals from a remote location using computerized systems and applications. The life of fighting dogs According to research, fighting dogs are usually penned or chained with heavy chains, starved and triggered in extreme survival instincts to encourage the animal to be aggressive (Semencic, 2013). Some of these dogs are even injected with steroids, chain baited and involved in extreme physical exercises to make them powerful against their prospected opponents. Some of the dog owners have even gone a step further to cut their dogs’ ears and sharpening their teeth or even feeding the dog roach poison to have smelly fur hence, scaring off its opponent. During the dog fights, the winner dog is usually forced to fight again to generate more stud fees to its owner. The winning dog is also used to breed for profit purposes. Relevant statistics reveal that puppies that are used later on to fight cost up to $5,000. The sport has been kept alive by the money generated from the illegal gambling that takes place in this ‘underground’ events. Individuals involved in dogfighting have gone to extensive lengths to avoid the law. The law and dog fighting Dogfighting is a criminal act under the federal laws in most states in the United States. In such states, there are several penalties that are levied to dogfighting spectators. For instance attending an animal fight can attract a jail term of up to three years together with a $250,000 fine (Animal Legal Defense Fund, 2011). In 2007, the police raided Michael Vick’s house and found evidence that he was involved in dog fighting. The search revealed that among dogs captured in the raid, 49 of them were pit bulls. The animal behaviorist team considered one of the dogs for euthanasia while the other 48 dogs were fit for adoption. After the prosecution of Vick, animal combats have been publicized to the entire world as a deviant behavior. His exposure made a global alert on the viciousness of dogfighting (Animal Legal Defense Fund, 2011). LeShon Johnson who was also an NFL player has also been charged with offences linked with dog fighting. According to these two individuals, they considered dogfighting as a thrill. Witnesses claimed that the fights usually took place at night and the gambling purses were in thousands of dollars. Conclusion In the societal set conventions, deviant behavior can be deemed as behaviors that ultimately shift from the societal norms that are acceptable at the given period. Deviant behavior is deemed to have undervalue the various norms of social behavior. Animal abuse in the historic world was viewed to be happening as a result of the public demand within the society. This has become a deviant behavior given that it goes beyond the societal set standards on morality and respect to the various animals and children in the American society. However, animal cruelty greatly differs from other deviant behaviors since it involves increased aggression and death at extreme extent. As stated above, dogs which are used in fighting are usually exposed to extreme living conditions. The animal cruelty data patterns do not by any means conform to any set protocols of societal wanted behaviors. The society takes advantage of the stringent existing laws on animal cruelty with their lack of enforcement compared to other laws so as to mistreat animals. Law enforcement plays an important role in the protection of various animal rights from abuse as it will be viewed under the various activities undertaken to advocate against such behavior (Brewster & Reyes, 2013). References Animal Legal Defense Fund. (2011). Animal Fighting Case Study: Michael Vick. Retrieved from http://aldf.org/resources/laws-cases/animal-fighting-case-study-michael-vick/ Brewster, M. & Reyes, C. (2013). Animal Cruelty: A multidisciplinary approach to understanding. Durham: Carolina Academic Press. Homan, M. (1999). A complete history of fighting dogs. New York: Howell Book House. Semencic, C. (2013). Gladiator Dogs. Studio City: Digital Fabulists. Read More