You may have heard about dog fighting and are well aware of the cruelty of pitting one dog against another in a blood sport for human entertainment. You may have heard of an another extreme dog fight event, known as trunking, were two dogs are shut into the back of a car trunk and fight for survival. What most people are unaware of, is how fighting dogs are trained, and the cruelty of “bait animals”.

Imagine you give away your unwanted cat to a stranger. They appear nice and take the time to play with the cat. The take the cat and are gone. You are thrilled to be rid of the cat, and wonder if it had a good life... With any luck it did, but in areas where dog fighting is common, chances are high that your cat became a bait animal.

Bait animals are used to determine if a fighting dog has what it takes, if it is vicious, and aggressive. They are also used to build up a fighting dogs skill. Bunnies, kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs, are all used as bait animals. Sometimes bait animals are stolen, but more often than not, they are obtained free and legally by people who respond to “Free to Good Home” ads.

Bait animals are often abused prior to being placed with the fighting dog. They may have their teeth pulled, or have their mouth taped shut with duct tape. The bait animals are treated this way to prevent them from doing any damage to the fighting dog.

The bait animals may be tormented prior to being placed with the fighting dog, particularly if it is a puppy or dog, this is to get the bait animal in an aggressive position to entice the fighting dog to attack.

Needless to say the bait animals have no chance of survival. If only mauled, but still alive, they are used again, until they are either killed, or seen as useless and are destroyed.

How to Prevent Your Pet from becoming a Bait Animal

If you are giving away kittens, puppies, or adult pets, never assume that the person who wants them wants them as pets. Be very suspicious of a person who will not give you their phone number, or who does not ask about the animals vaccination history. Be very suspicious of a person who does not tell you a lot about themselves, where they live, or why they want a pet. Ask if you can do a quick “home check”.

Keep your pet safe. People will steal pets right out of their yard, but are more likely to pick up “stray” pets, cats and dogs who are loose roaming the streets out of their owners yard.

If you find a lost pet and place an ad saying you have found a pet, be certain the person coming to claim it can prove they own the pet, such as showing you a picture of it.

Summary

Dog fighting is a horrid sport. Until it is stopped we all must remember that this sport uses, and abuses, many animals – not just the fighting dogs. We must try to keep our pets safe.

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