You see fighting dogs and roosters in movies about poor communities and, for the most part, it is easy to imagine that this is all happening in some faraway land and that it is not real. However, illegal animal fights are still very much a thing. Despite the effort by the animal rights activists, these animals are still forced to fight each other and develop a vicious behavior to survive. Today, we will examine what types of fights exist and where they can be found.
Dogfighting
Dogfighting is both illegal and very lucrative. It is common for several thousands of dollars to exchange hands in a single fight. The winner gets to live another day. The loser gets beaten or killed by the owner as a failed investment, provided it doesn’t die in the ring.
Common breeds used for fighting in the US are Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and, most commonly, Pit Bull Terrier. It is for this reason that there are people who consider certain breeds of dogs aggressive and dangerous by default.
Dog fights can be organized in alleys or in underground locations. In an effort to curb this activity, the US has made even watching dog fights illegal. Still, they persist, even though today there are many other places where you can seek fun, like online bingo sites where no one gets hurt. There are variations where dogs are pitted against hogs to see how fast they can take them down. The sad truth is that even the rescued dogs are sometimes so deranged with the abuse and neglect that they have to be put down.
Cockfighting
In a cockfight, two cocks get into a ring with a blade attached to one of their legs. Some people use common breeds, while others opt for the more aggressive ones. The winner is the bird that survives the clash.
It is a federal crime in 40 US states, meaning that there are places in the US where it is still legal.
Popular locations for this type of animal fight are Asian countries, Spain, and Latin America.
Fighting That Is Still Legal
There are several animal fights that are still legal, with the effort by the animal rights groups to eliminate them. They include bullfighting in Spain, Portugal, and Latin American countries. In bullfighting, a bull charges against the matador, equipped with a red cape and a sword to kill the bull. The matador has their own entourage of people to either distract the animal or pierce it with spears.
Insect fighting and spider fighting are still present in Asian countries and have a long tradition, so there is little chance of them becoming outlawed any time soon.
Common insects to fight are crickets and the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle.
Why the Interest?
Some people revel in carnage and the adrenaline of a fight. Others see animal fighting as a lucrative business which they regulate themselves without any interference from the government, apart from raids. People buy and sell animals for fights for profit as well.