Sarah+F’s+OpEd+Article



Precise breeding and careful calculations ensure that the master’s competitor is the largest, fiercest, and the most powerful of any other. They are bred not only to appear aggressive, but to instinctively attack with the intent to kill. The observers place their bets and watch with excitement as “man’s best friend” fights for their master’s glory. There comes a low growl deep from within the beast’s throat. With a swift, powerful flexing of their huge thigh muscles the animals lunge forward and collide with each other. One sinks its claws into his opponent’s leg while the other plunges its fangs into soft, warm flesh. There is a yelp of agony and the fighters release. The smaller one who is slightly shorter in the legs and holds a lighter head submissively backs up against the blood-spattered wall. His master angrily jabs at him with a pole and yells as he returns to the fight. There is more thrashing of claws, snapping of teeth, and whimpers coming from the looser. Hand-fulls of fur fly into the air as the two scramble about the arena. Eventually, a man separates the two by prying the larger one off of the limp and lifeless carcass of the smaller dog. The master congratulates his victor by putting a large chain around his neck. He is then escorted to his pole just outside the sweaty building. Once he is secured to the pole he lies down in the cold dirt and begins to lick clean the wounds on his forearms. The gashes on his face will eventually turn in to life-long scars which he will wear as proof of the horrific life he lives. His master receives his cash reward and smugly shoves another fearless dog into the arena.

How anyone can bare to witness such a horrifying scene is one question, but how someone can find this gruesome act entertaining is another. A dog is man’s best friend. They have feelings of pain and suffering just like every human does. Because dogs don’t have a voice of their own they are taken advantage of and used in sick sports such as dog fighting. It is a cruel and wicked, let alone illegal sport which has not only been a major tragedy in the past, but also continues to be part of the present. Dogs love us unconditionally and define what it means to be loyal. It is time everyone started to treat them the same way in return.