Chicago, IL -Dog Fighting- What's Happening?

The degrading and cruel practice of dog fighting has recently received a lot of media attention and concern from animal advocates all across Chicagoland. Unfortunately, animal shelters and humane sociaties do not have the power to arrest individuals engaging in animal abuse; dog fighting is a law enforcement issue. Animal welfare organizations are however, making a difference by working in conjunction with law enforcement for the protection of animals- and the betterment of our communities. The City of Chicago's Animal Care and Control is tasking the lead by providing humane education for the Chicago Police Department. This provides monthly training sessions on animal abuse and dog fighting for new recruits at the Police Academy.

Hundreds of dogs similar to the one in this picture are forced to fight on a daily basis in the city of Chicago and suburbs. Fighting dogs are torn apart alive. If the loser survives the fight, he/she may be set on fire, left to die, suffocated (or worse) by a frustrated owner. Other animals are used as bait (small dogs, cats, kittens and rabbits). In addition to being an animal welfare issue, this is also a child welfare issue, as children regularly attend these fights. Children who are desensitized to violence grow up to commit acts of violence. There is also a great deal of gambling and drug abuse that occurs at dog fights.

The City of Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control considers animal fighting one of the cruelest examples of inhumane treatment for it involves the purposeful decision to allow, and in fact encourage, animals to harm each other. Currently, dog fighting is expressly prohibited in all 50 states by state statutes and is a felony in most states. Dog Fighting is a felony in Illinois.

Dog fighting is a felony offense because minor penalties associated with a misdemeanor conviction are not a deterrent. This is not a spur-of-the-moment act; it is a premeditated, cruel, and abhorrent practice that must be seriously punished. Those convicted under the state law may be imprisoned for a prison term exceeding a year and may be fined up to $50,000.

It is important to note that even attending a dog fight as a spectator is a Class C misdemeanor violation of state law. Without spectators, the profits associated with dog fight gambling would be reduced.

Some signs that might indicate there is dog fighting occurring in your neighborhood include:

• people walking their dogs with large heavy chains, such as bike chains, and spike collars;
• dogs with fresh wounds of numerous scars;
• people transferring dogs in the trunks of their cars;
• dogs that are overly aggressive towards people or other animals, particularly dogs that are fierce without any provocation;
• people leaving dogs in empty apartments of abandoned buildings.

What you can do, Get Involved...

• It is up to you and your neighbors to spread the word that dog fighting is not acceptable in your neighborhood.
• *Call 311- If you have any information pertaining to animal fighting or abuse.*
• *Call 911- or page 312-571-6939- If you witness a dog fight in Progress.* You can also contact The Coalition Against Dog Fighting at 312-397-1001. Calls can be made anonymously.
• *Find out what's going on in you neighbor hood- Attend your local Chicago's Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) let the police officers know your concerned Ask your Alderman what he/she is doing to address the problem.
• Get involved with Dog Advisory Work Group (DAWG's) court advocacy program that allows citizens to show support for attorneys prosecuting animal abuse cases and the judges that her them.

• Another way to help is to write immediately to the mayor and the superintendent of police requesting more officers be assigned to the Animal Abuse Control Unit. Also, you can write to the budget director requesting more of our tax money be allocated to education adults and children on the serious ramifications of dog fighting.
• Show your concern about animal fighting by attending court hearings for people arrested both for animal fighting and attending animal fights. Your participation as a Court Advocate Volunteer in these court hearings sends a strong message to the defendant, the judge and other interested parties in the criminal justice system: the community cares about the soutcome of these cases and is willing to devote its time and energies to monitoring the workings of the judicial system. For more information about Court Advocacy, call 312-747-9973 or contact the Community Policing Office in your district.