Nothing breaks my heart more than the topic of dog fighting. It is a malicious, cruel and selfish activity. I refuse to call it a sport for the term sport implies “sportsmanship”. There is no sport or sportsmanship in dog fighting. Period.

The surprising thing that I don’t think people necessarily realize is that people from all walks of life are involved in dog fighting. Minnesota animal advocates worked very hard this legislative session to put stricter laws in place that would hold spectators of dog fights accountable for supporting such a reprehensible event. At this point in the session I cannot say for certain where it is in the legislative process, but you can check HF 3132

In rescue we are only too aware of the consequences of dog fighting. Our intake coordinators see firsthand the used and damaged dogs through the chain link gates of their animal control runs. The most astonishing thing about these dogs is their vibrancy and willingness to trust humans. “Pick me, Pick me” they seem to say with their wiggly bodies and hopeful smiles. And pitties do smile! Don’t let anyone tell ya differently. And they forgive.

I heard about such a dog today, his name is Trooper and he is from Romeoville, IL. Trooper, is a pitbull who was used as bait, fighting or both and was abandoned when he was no longer useful. The amazing thing to me is that whoever kept Trooper somehow found it within themselves to bring him in to a veterinary establishment. The person actually dragged Trooper through the parking lot (captured by video cameras) because Trooper’s infection was so severe he could not walk himself. The man told the clinic’s staff that he had been hit by a car.

The person that brought Trooper in ducked out the door while staff checked availability for Trooper. The man just left him there tied up and suffering. And even after all he had obviously been through, Trooper remained gentle and forgiving of humans. Thus he was named Trooper, because he is.

It is these stories that reaffirm for us that these dogs need us now more than ever. I wish I knew how to stop the cruelty of dog fighting but it is such an enormous problem I feel small and insignificant in its vastness. But I have my fellow ARLP volunteers and we are doing what we can, dog by dog, educating the public and tackling what we can legislatively.

I will still allow myself to mourn the ones we cannot save though, because they deserve to have someone thinking of them and wishing for an end to their suffering.

I will warn you that the following pictures of Trooper’s wounds are graphic - so you may not want to view them. The links are there for you if you choose to see. He is currently in rescue in Illinois and receiving consistent medical care. He is making slow progress but continues to be sweet and optimistic.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/ikelberry/troop2.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/ikelberry/troop6.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/ikelberry/troop4.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/ikelberry/troop5.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/ikelberry/troop3.jpg

Filed under: In the News