Dogfighting: An exciting sport

[Larry Anders]

Though I may be in the minority, I feel that dogfighting is wholesome, educational, family entertainment for kids of all ages.

There's nothing quite like taking the wife and kids to an exciting Saturday night dogfight, watching the glee in my children's eyes while two vicious, hulking canine beasts, their muscles rippling with adrenaline, tear each other to pieces, fighting to their glorious deaths in the pit like latter-day animal gladiators.

The excitement builds when the dogmen arrive after sundown; often driving expensive SUVs pulling custom trailers containing their prized fighting dogs. One by one the contenders are led from the trailers while others look on in admiration, some among them wishing that they too were dogmen. Others size up the contenders, determining the amount they will place in bets.

Bookmakers, quickly jotting odds on small chalkboards, start collecting money as enthusiastic bettors yell, "Two thousand on Imperator," or "Put me down for five hundred bucks on Lucky Lady."

Victory or death is the nature of the sport of dogfighting, each dogman, thousands invested in the breeding, training and care of his fighter, petting and giving his beloved champion animal encouragement before they are placed in the pit. A referee is in the pit before the fight; his job is to start the contest by placing the dogs within fighting distance of each other before the scratch line. Once the fight starts, the referee stays in the pit and enjoys the spectacle, watching for one of the dogs to turn.

Illustrating the educational value of the family sport of dogfighting, one evening while watching two dogs in a particularly bloody match, my youngest son asked me what were those purplish veiny things hanging from the belly of one contender.

"They're intestines son," I replied, admiring the dying canine's gameness as it continued to fight on, unto the death. At another match, my eldest son smiled and watched in amusement while a dog called King Odin, blinded in both eyes during the fight, clumsily latched on to the right foreleg of the opponent. Using all his strength, King Odin clamped down and bit the leg off at the shoulder, tearing the joint from the socket. Staring in astonishment with the rest of the crowd, I had never seen such incredible power come from the jaws of a game bull terrier. Curiously, at the end of the match King Odin, though blinded and ostensibly retired due to his injuries, was declared the winner, while the opposing animal, a three year old, four time champion bitch called Silver Streak, bled to death in one corner of the pit.

Another plus with regard to dogfighting is the community atmosphere promoted by the sport; friendly neighbors and fellow church members all gathering around the pit for conversation, good food, and entertainment. Many of the wives make tasty dishes to bring to the dogfights, and cold kegs of Coors and Budweiser are always a welcome addition. The local police chief often brings these beverages, along with coolers of soft drinks for the kids.

Dogfighting has been a part of American culture since before the beginning of the Republic, and is as American as apple pie and the 4th of July. Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin were avid dogfighters, each keeping kennels of ferocious canines for their amusement, often pitting beasts from their kennels against each other in exciting contests of animal strength and endurance.

Drawing on the long history of the sport, I feel that some soul searching is in order, and after careful debate and reflection, it should be proposed that dogfighting be again made legal in all fifty states and territories of the United States of America.

[Bigkat31]

I think you are a truly sick person who not only needs help but also need to put your ass in the ring with me for five minutes so i can beat you to death, may god help you!

[Mrs Anonymous]

I think you made this story up myself..........You just want attention, and decided this would spark some of us to get pissed off........I don't believe a word of this.......prove it you stupid idiot.

[Mr Inn Kogneeto]

I think the dude's telling the truth - I've been to dogfights. You'd be surprised at the people you find at matches - cops, firemen, clergy, and even politicians. From where I sit, it seems everybody's into dogfighting.

[Mrs Anonymous]

Well, from where I sit, most people ARE NOT. We like to get together for potlucks having conversation, etc...but we sure as hell like other forms of entertainment other that watching two damn dogs eat each other alive with guts, veins, and eyes hanging out while we are "enjoying our homemade apple pie"..........I wonder what "Larry Anders" would think if one of those dogs used in the dogfights got a "taste" of his child and tore him to pieces. Stupid bastard.

[Bigkat31]

You tell them Mrs Anonymous, its not normal to get enjoyment out of something so brutal i just don't understand people that would go to watch such a thing, and why would someone take their children to watch what type of person would want to expose their children to this.

[Mrs Anonymous]

I agree, it is absolutely sick to get "enjoyment" out of such a sport. I know, such things happen in real life, out in the wild in nature, but to breed them to fight is wrong..........

[Ribald]

I don't think dogfighting is funny at all.

I think it is hilarious!

[Bigkat31]

you know what i think would be hilarious is taking battery acid and slowly pouring it on you and listening to you scream in pain while i laugh now that would be hilarious!

[Mrs Anonymous]

Why do you find it so ammusing?

[Mrs Anonymous]

Hey "LARRY ANDERS" you haven't said anything. I have some questions for you. Okay, I thought dogfighting was illegal in all 50 states. Am I wrong? Is there a state that this goes on legally? Are you from Washington yourself? What part? Tell me LARRY ANDERS if I am mistaken...If this is not a legal event, then how have they gotten by with it all these years? Please, do tell.........

[Sick People]

How is this funny or hilarious? Two innocent animals abused and tortured for human enjoyment. Anyone who loves this activity should be beaten to a pulp with others watching and placing bets, then when it is all over, we should let you bleed out and electrocute you, for shear enjoyment.

This is why pit bulls have such bad reputations. They are forced into an inhumane lifestyle of torture and abuse. We then wonder why they bit children and attack their owners, come on people are you really that stupid. As an owner of a wonderful pit bull, who was on her way to be used in fights, I can tell you that after working to restore a balanced temperament, she is probably one of the best dogs that I have ever owned. She is gentle, sweet and loyal, but for some reason, ahem, I am not sure what it could be, people are extremely skittish around her, just because she is a pit bull.

[Mrs Anonymous]

I think this "LARRY ANDERS" is a fake.........come on LARRY, why don't you say something? I want to talk to you........

[Mrs Anonymous]

Larry Anders, you started this conversation, at least get on here and talk about this.....

[Larry Anders]

Hello Mrs. Anonymous,

I am responding your request, but I see very little reason for a dialogue other than this response. My circle of friends and I enjoy dogfighting and consider it to be a legitimate, exciting, family oriented sport of endurance and strength. Those like you do not enjoy dogfighting and are intolerant of those who have a different viewpoint regarding the sport. Hence, I feel that we are diametrically opposed and can come to no agreement. That is unfortunate, but is probably the truth.

People who enjoy dogfighting are at present a minority in the United States, and those in the minority have struggled for centuries to preserve their culture and traditions. That is what I and those like myself are doing, preserving and enjoying a time-honored sport that goes back to our forebears. In my opinion, there is nothing bad, criminal or immoral about dogfighting. I personally think of dogfighting as a cherished tradition to be passed down through the generations. For example, my eldest son, Lawrence Anders III, is now an apprentice dogman assisting my brother Charles.

As far as the law is concerned, the sport of dogfighting is now considered a serious crime in all fifty states. In the past dogfighting was legal, and rightfully so. Conversely, abortion was considered a serious crime in the past, and it was also illegal to help runaway slaves before the civil war. Abortion is now legal, and slave ownership is illegal, and rightfully so. There is a myriad of other examples that can be cited, like alcohol prohibition; and each of these past laws were as bad as the draconian laws passed against dogfighting. American freedom is at issue here, and I submit that dogfight enthusiasts are being denied their rights, inasmuch as gays are being denied their rights with regard to marriage.

It is overwhelmingly accepted that dogs are animals, common chattel, and have no rights under the law. Those who own animals have rights according to the Constitution, and should be allowed to do as they please with the animals they own. Further, some dogs, like Bull Terriers, are bred to fight and do in fact enjoy the game of survival of the fittest. Those dogs that do not survive the ordeal of the pit are culled from the gene pool in order to improve the breed. In addition, there have been studies made comparing champions of the past to those of today. Champion Bull Terriers of the fifties, if it were possible to conduct a match with their improved game dog descendants of today, would be annihilated in the pit in perhaps only five minutes. Such improvement in performance over so short a span of time is incredible, and illustrates that today’s educated dogmen are on the right track with regard to eugenic matings and pedigree matching of the animals. One can only imagine how the game dog of tomorrow will perform in the pit if current trends continue.

In closing, dogfighting is a cherished tradition, it is our right, and hopefully enthusiasts will succeed in restoring this honorable sport to its rightful place in American society.

Sincerely,

Lawrence Anders, Jr.

[Mrs Anonymous]

You never did answer my question about "where" this takes place.......are you yourself from Vashon, WA? I'm curious, because I have heard dogfighting has been going on through the years where I am from too.......

[Dr Who]

I think Larry is a lawyer.

[Mrs Anonymous]

Ha! He may very well be! Larry (Lawrence Anders Jr.), you are totally ignoring me right now. You've succeeded in making me curious. At least talk to me about this. WHERE are you from? Tell me how this takes place........I'm curious. What kind of place or community participates? Did you grow up watching dog fights? Come back and talk to me..........

[Larry Anders]

Mrs. Anonymous,

If you believe that I am going to reveal my exact location to you, you are mistaken. I have perused your earlier remarks and you are not truly interested in learning about the sport of dogfighting or anything of the sort. You are clumsily attempting to ascertain if I am gullible or arrogant enough to tell you of times, logistics, and locations; any revelations with regard to the preceding, implied or otherwise, would be of immense use to those allied against dogfighting. In fact, I candidly suspect you are one of them. Ergo, such is privileged information given to fellow trusted enthusiasts on a need-to-know basis; I will not give you anything useful in that regard. Let’s just say I reside in a domicile located within the State of Washington.

I will tell you of the following, most of which you probably already know:

As far as how game dog matches are held, and where, within the United States, in nearly every city and town, there are groups of dedicated dogfight enthusiasts, male and female, that handle the planning of events and the secure, remote locations where the events will be held. I leave it up to you to speculate what type of location. Estimates place the total number of American game dog enthusiasts at approximately 40,000 individuals. Many of these people are professionals; some of which are employed in upper echelons of government and law enforcement. That is how professional dogmen are still able to operate mostly unfettered, even in today’s unfriendly and bigoted atmosphere.

Local contests are held from late spring to late summer; there are national playoffs and championship matches held every year in the fall, much like the World Series or the Superbowl. You never hear about them, but they occur every year. For instance, the current heavyweight (55 – 65 pounds) Grand Champion Bull Terrier is a dog of Boudreaux pedigree called Mister T, owned by a businessman from the Mid-Atlantic region. Rumor has it the T stands for terminator, as he took out a seasoned challenger in ten minutes flat, when the usual match lasts from forty-five minutes to an hour.

Continuing on, please don’t think that just anyone can gain admittance to a professional dogfight. Those enthusiasts who attend professional matches have been part of the dogfighting tradition for several generations, most dating back to the 1950’s or earlier. It may surprise you that amateur dogmen like Michael Vick are considered as little more than outsiders, whose actions only further the unwarranted prejudice against dogfighting. Further, the dogs that Vick tried to fight would have had mincemeat made out of them in seconds by current Grand Champion Bull Terrier dogs like Cerberus, Havoc, or Mister T, or current Grand Champion Bull Terrier bitches like Cybil, Lady Satan II, or Madame Blavatsky.

As I wrote earlier, the sport of dogfighting is a legitimate, time-honored tradition, pitting the best game bred dogs in exciting contests of canine strength and endurance. I have been an enthusiast of the sport since I was a teenager, and an elder was a highly respected dogman.

Hopefully, this detailed reply has satisfied your alleged curiosity.

Sincerely,

Lawrence Anders, Jr.

[Mrs Anonymous]

Your are WRONG Larry Anders. I did NOT know how the sport of dogfighting takes place or WHAT is involved. That is WHY I am so curious. Yes, you are partially correct when you accuse me of "clumsily attempting" to obtain information. I've been overwhelmed by the fact this has been hidden from our society all these years, yet we know this goes on every year. It is something most people do not think about when they think of sports. I like baseball. I love the St. Louis Cardinals, yet they had a REALLY bad year.(Still love them). I like animals, and I live on a farm, but when our animals or other stray dogs come around and try to fight with ours, we try to run them off or get rid of them. I don't want any other animals fighting with ours. Are you from the city,(Large or small) or are you from a rural community? I think there is a difference in how a person perceives this type of sport..........