Tiller- (Skansen's- Ira in the M
I DO Exist...To- Drive You Batty | 
 | | Barked: Sun Dec 23, '12 11:12am PST |  | |  | | It's way beyond the gangs, though. Understand that. Some outfits, particularly in the south, breed these dogs in highly professional operations, with much pedigree, many generations of fighting dogs. One man, Floyd Boudreaux, and his son were busted, to the surprise of some as they were well known in weight pull circles, where their dogs did very well. But they had their own fighting strain as well. Contrary to the inner city, these dogs, who are very often bred for function (very often red noses with a discernible type...not big, somewhat low stationed, terrifically strong), can sells for thousands of dollars as prospects. Known champions can sell for far more. Much betting is done on these fights. It is a truer "industry."
I don't think it's prudent to view them as genetically flawed. Some can be, but this has a strong cultural link, and until we address that, we are in a losing proposition.
In terms of Daddy's comments, I do understand what you are saying, regarding what you were exposed to as a kid and how you knew that was wrong, but you were not exposed to dog fighting as a "fun event" when you were four years old, either. That can have a huge influence. Much like little children born to racist parents....the amount of hate spewing from a little pipsqueak of a thing who is supposed to be enjoying his playdough is unfathomable until you make that association.
I have been involved in animal welfare a long time, and have seen far worse, which is why I acknowledge that cultural link more. I don't need to hate a fighter....I need to loathe the culture and know it must stop. It desensitizes everyone. A lot, as I said before, as you will see as regards bullfighting in Spain, which is extremely brutal and cruel. But an adored "sport," those who participate become national heros, and many who attend and enjoy are cultured, educated, etc. Many here are fine with calf roping as seen in rodeo, where little calves run out of a chute scared for their lives, chased by a huge horse, have a lasso thrown over their necks, are strangled to a stop, often flying in the air, then slammed to the ground by the cowboy, who then wraps his legs in rope and leaves him helpless, tied on the ground. I can tell you that these cowboys often love their horses as brothers, have pet dogs they travel with. They are not incapable of loving animals...not by a long shot. But they are desensitized to the plight of the calves.
In animal welfare, there are moments that help you define really bad people from those culturally influenced. Perhaps the best example would be the show jumping horse insurance scandal, where wealthy people and Olympians were discovered to be utilizing horse hitmen they could hire to kill or maim horses very much alive. This included breaking legs with a crowbar, and then needing to let the horse live in horrific pain so that a vet could come and approve euthansia for a supposed accidentally broken leg to get the insurance claim. These were people with every advantage, people who horses had given their careers and fortunes, treated their good horses to the finest of care and concern, and yet were willing to hire people to kill their lesser prospects in very painful and cruel ways. Many were also electrocuted to their deaths. That to me is inherently more disturbing. People who knew all about loving and valuing horses, knew of their kindness and how they would give you their hearts, yet when one looked to be a losing proposition financially, to hire a hitmen to bring him to a painful death simply so you could cash in. Something their show jumping peers would never think to do, not in a million years.Edited by author Sun Dec 23, '12 11:17am PST
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