Research paper: Pit bulls
Pit Bulls
Outline
Thesis: People caught dogfighting should have more severe consequences. People should be educated on the history of the pit bull; they should be educated on the state laws for dogfighting and the consequences through the Michael Vicks case.
I. Dog fighting began in England in 1066 with baiting.
A. Mastiff considered fighting dog before pit bull was created.
B. American kennel Club and the United Kennel Club
II. State Laws on dogfighting and federal consequences
A. Colorado was a class five felony, with one to three years prison time and maximum fine of 25,000
B. Should be more severe consequences like Arizona’s with five year prison term and a maximum fine of 150,000
C. First time offenders should get the same consequences as the people doing it more than once so then they learn that it is not acceptable.
III. Michael Vicks Case
A. NFL player, highest paid member so did he decided to dog fight.
B. Killed dogs inhumanly along with the fights that were held on his property
C. His conviction for the dog fighting.
To some people their pits are like their kids, so when they read or hear about fighting them, they wish that the people caught dogfighting would have more severe consequences. People should be educated on the history of the pit bull, the state laws on dog fighting and the consequences the Michael Vicks’ case. (pitbull411)
The American pit bull Terrier, also known as the pit bull has origins that can be traced back to the antiquity and Molossian family. The pit bull is well known for its intelligence, Strength and loyalty but people tend to override this information when they unfairly villanize the pit bull as aggressive and dangerous. This breed can be nicer than most dogs when given the correct training and socialization. (Pitbull411)
England in 1066 the pit bull wasn’t yet created but they did have mastiffs, which they used for bargaining purposes and to herd their cattle. When they started recognizing how good the dog was at herding they started using it for entertainment purposes. Once people got bored with cattle, Briton Chief Caractacus decided to try Ratting- dogs had to race against the clock and each other to kill as many rats as possible. The term pit bull comes from ratting because of the dogs being in a pit during the ratting. They soon realized that the terriers were the best at ratting because they were small and agile so the Britton Chief decided to breed Mastiffs and terriers together to get a small muscular dog while in the process of breeding the perfect dog; they started baiting which is a form of dogfighting. (Pitbull411)
Dogfighting began in 1835 because of the baiting. Dogfighting is extremely cruel and sadistic. They put the dogs through rigorous training, where the dogs are deprived of human contact, fed a diet of raw meat and blood so that the dog gets a desire to want to spill blood. They are locked in the dark except for when it’s time for training. They are run on a stationary treadmill to build stamina. They use weaker animals as bait that the dog is allowed to kill as a reward. (Pitbull411)
The actual fight is a huge deal for the owners of the dogs and the spectators because it builds ego and makes them feel tough when their dog wins. During the fight the dogs are expected to hurl themselves at the opponents without hesitation. If a dog turns away or shows weakness then it generally ends up forfeiting the fight. If the weaker animal survives in the ring, then the handler kills it because they believe that once it hesitates even once then it could no longer be relied on to fight. (Pitbull411)
America was dog fighting through the 19th century and the pit bull still remained an all-purpose dog, meaning it helped herd the cattle and be a faithful guardian. (Pitbull411)
The American Kennel Club was formed in 1884 for promoting interests of purebred dogs. The breed was tested on what they were breed for which created a problem for pit bulls since they were breed for fighting, which was illegal when the American Kennel Club came to be. American Kennel Clubs unwillingness to include pit bulls as a bonafide breed ended up making an alternative group called the United Kennel Club which certifies breeds that are not eligible through the American Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club recognized the Staffordshire terrier in 1936 named after a region of England. Even though the American Kennel Club wouldn’t recognize the pit bull, there have been many famous pit bulls over the years. Today the pit bull is recognized as a police dog, therapy dog and even as farm dogs. Because of all the negative publicity that the pit bull has received, most cities condemn them as community problems, because of the dog fights they are mainly known for. These dogs get the brunt of the back lash that we humans should be receiving for doing such a horrible thing to them. It has come to this breed being banned in town, cities and even states which isn’t fair to them because they aren’t all bad, some are the best dogs you will meet or even own. Once you fall in love with this breed it will be hard to ever want to own anything else. Because of the ban on pit bulls it makes it hard to get insurance for them or even your house because insurance companies don’t want to take the fault for a dog bite. (Pitbull411)
Pit bulls and people can live in harmony if they are given a chance and with the right training. Pit bulls are extremely smart and active so if they get the proper training as a puppy they will be a loyal and valued family member. (pitbull411)
The consequences for dogfighting depend on the state, but some consequences just don’t seem fair. Dogfighters take animal lives, and to some people dog lives are valued the same as a humans.
Dogfighting is not a spur of a moment act, it is premeditated. It is illegal to even be a spectator because they are placing bets on a dog to make money. (animallaw.info). It is illegal to fight in all fifty states and it is a felony in all fifty states now. Forty six states have provisions that prohibit people caught from owning or keeping a dog for the rest of their lives. There was an Animal fighting prohibition that was enforced in 2005, it was passed in 2007, and became effective in 2008 that was meant to protect dogs found in a dogfighting environment that makes it to where they have to try to make it to where they have to try to make all dogs adoptable and try not euthanatize all dogs found on premises. (animallaw.info)
Some people that own pit bulls think that the people who get caught fighting should have more severe consequences instead of the consequences that Colorado has. Colorado’s law on dogfighting is a class five felony with one to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000. When you think about how many dogs get killed in these fights, then what they are receiving isn’t enough. The consequences for all states should be like Arizona’s, meaning it should be a class five felony with at least five years of prison instead of nine months to two years and a maximum fine of $150,000 along with not being able to own any animals for the rest of their lives. First time offenders should also have these consequences because they don’t learn anything when nothing is done the first time. Spectators get in trouble as well because they are placing bets. Colorado’s law for spectators says they get a class five felony, one to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $1, ooo. Their fine should be higher because they make money on the dogfights so they are capable of paying more money. (Ranking dogfighting laws)
There isn’t a certain class that dogfights. As evidence that a higher up citizen can get in trouble for dogfighting. Michael Vick’s, who was an NFL star quarter back caught with over fifty pit bulls on his land. He was prosecuted and convicted. This is the case to show what the consequences were for a famous man who did wrong. (Animal legal Defense)
Michael Vick was a 21 year old NFL quarter back. He decided to register as a dog breeder and started the Bad News Kennel. He was the highest NFL player so he didn’t need the money, so why did he dogfight? Dogfighting builds your ego and makes you feel dominate over something. Davon Boddie, Vicks cousin was arrested for drugs in 2001 and put Michael Vicks address down as the permant residence, so when Davon got arrested cops then got warrants to search the property. When the cops came back to search the property they found over fifty dogs tied to car axels a few feet from each other, a bloody ring and animal care kits to handle injuries. They also found two trenches that were a few feet deep with animal remains. Vick had three associates, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor. Taylor ended up confessing first to the dog fighting so he got a plea bargain. Taylor told the cops that Vick had killed six dogs inhumanly. Vicks and his associates had been training and holding high stakes gambling. When in training if a dog didn’t do well then it was hung or there was one incident where Vick had repeatedly threw a dog on the ground til died, The report says that the dog died of a broken neck or back, but the animal was dead too long to know for sure. During a fight a dog backed down so after the fight the associates helped Vick electrocute the dog. The associates pled guilty in 2007. They were with promoting dogfighting, Taylor was charged with three counts of unlawful torture and killing of the dogs, he was sentenced to two months in prison because he cooperated with the investigators. Peace was charged with one count unlawful torture, his maximum prison term was five years but he only did eighteen months. Phillips was sentenced to twenty-one months in prison. Two charges were brought against Vick. One count of violating VA code Ann. 3.1-796.124 Which makes it a class six felony to promote dog fighting for amusement and sport. He also got one count of violating VA code Ann. 3.1-796.122(H) makes it a class six felony to engage in the torture, ill treatment, beating, maiming, mutilation or killing of an animal. Vick lied to federal investigators so he got the upper end of the twelve to eighteen term, because he lied the US District Judge Henry E. Hudson tacked on five more months which made Vicks sentencing twenty-three months in prison. He also had three years supervised probation where he cannot buy, sell or own dogs. He had to pay a fine of $5,000 along with $928,073 in restitution for the fifty dogs that were seized at his property. Of the fifty dogs that were seized forty-eight of the dogs were suitable to go to foster homes for socialization. One was euthanized for being too aggressive and one was euthanized for sever wounds. (Animal Legal Defense)
The Consequences for Michael Vicks case didn’t seem as harsh as they should have been but the taught him that he shouldn’t be fighting dogs. Pit bulls today still get the worst of the human action but there are all over the world fighting for them to equal treatment. So the more fights we stop and the higher consequences that are shelled out then hopefully we can come closer to unbanning the pit bulls and living together happily. (Animal Legal Defense)
Works Cited
"Dog Fighting Detailed Discussion." Michigan State University College of Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm>.
"Dogfighting ." The Humane Society . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http:/www.humanesociety.org/issues/dogfighting/>.
"Pit Bull 411 - Pitbull Dog." Pit Bull 411 - Pitbull Dog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.pitbull411.com>.
"Ranking of dog fighting laws ." The HumaneSociety.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http:/www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/animal_fighting/dogfighting_statelaws.pdf>.
dogs, the men fought their trained pit bulls with pet, and would last several hours. Before fights. "Animal Legal Defense Fund : Animal Fighting Case Study: Michael Vick." Animal Legal Defense Fund : Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://aldf.org/article.php?id=928>.
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.
Thesis: People caught dogfighting should have more severe consequences. People should be educated on the history of the pit bull; they should be educated on the state laws for dogfighting and the consequences through the Michael Vicks case.
I. Dog fighting began in England in 1066 with baiting.
A. Mastiff considered fighting dog before pit bull was created.
B. American kennel Club and the United Kennel Club
II. State Laws on dogfighting and federal consequences
A. Colorado was a class five felony, with one to three years prison time and maximum fine of 25,000
B. Should be more severe consequences like Arizona’s with five year prison term and a maximum fine of 150,000
C. First time offenders should get the same consequences as the people doing it more than once so then they learn that it is not acceptable.
III. Michael Vicks Case
A. NFL player, highest paid member so did he decided to dog fight.
B. Killed dogs inhumanly along with the fights that were held on his property
C. His conviction for the dog fighting.
To some people their pits are like their kids, so when they read or hear about fighting them, they wish that the people caught dogfighting would have more severe consequences. People should be educated on the history of the pit bull, the state laws on dog fighting and the consequences the Michael Vicks’ case. (pitbull411)
The American pit bull Terrier, also known as the pit bull has origins that can be traced back to the antiquity and Molossian family. The pit bull is well known for its intelligence, Strength and loyalty but people tend to override this information when they unfairly villanize the pit bull as aggressive and dangerous. This breed can be nicer than most dogs when given the correct training and socialization. (Pitbull411)
England in 1066 the pit bull wasn’t yet created but they did have mastiffs, which they used for bargaining purposes and to herd their cattle. When they started recognizing how good the dog was at herding they started using it for entertainment purposes. Once people got bored with cattle, Briton Chief Caractacus decided to try Ratting- dogs had to race against the clock and each other to kill as many rats as possible. The term pit bull comes from ratting because of the dogs being in a pit during the ratting. They soon realized that the terriers were the best at ratting because they were small and agile so the Britton Chief decided to breed Mastiffs and terriers together to get a small muscular dog while in the process of breeding the perfect dog; they started baiting which is a form of dogfighting. (Pitbull411)
Dogfighting began in 1835 because of the baiting. Dogfighting is extremely cruel and sadistic. They put the dogs through rigorous training, where the dogs are deprived of human contact, fed a diet of raw meat and blood so that the dog gets a desire to want to spill blood. They are locked in the dark except for when it’s time for training. They are run on a stationary treadmill to build stamina. They use weaker animals as bait that the dog is allowed to kill as a reward. (Pitbull411)
The actual fight is a huge deal for the owners of the dogs and the spectators because it builds ego and makes them feel tough when their dog wins. During the fight the dogs are expected to hurl themselves at the opponents without hesitation. If a dog turns away or shows weakness then it generally ends up forfeiting the fight. If the weaker animal survives in the ring, then the handler kills it because they believe that once it hesitates even once then it could no longer be relied on to fight. (Pitbull411)
America was dog fighting through the 19th century and the pit bull still remained an all-purpose dog, meaning it helped herd the cattle and be a faithful guardian. (Pitbull411)
The American Kennel Club was formed in 1884 for promoting interests of purebred dogs. The breed was tested on what they were breed for which created a problem for pit bulls since they were breed for fighting, which was illegal when the American Kennel Club came to be. American Kennel Clubs unwillingness to include pit bulls as a bonafide breed ended up making an alternative group called the United Kennel Club which certifies breeds that are not eligible through the American Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club recognized the Staffordshire terrier in 1936 named after a region of England. Even though the American Kennel Club wouldn’t recognize the pit bull, there have been many famous pit bulls over the years. Today the pit bull is recognized as a police dog, therapy dog and even as farm dogs. Because of all the negative publicity that the pit bull has received, most cities condemn them as community problems, because of the dog fights they are mainly known for. These dogs get the brunt of the back lash that we humans should be receiving for doing such a horrible thing to them. It has come to this breed being banned in town, cities and even states which isn’t fair to them because they aren’t all bad, some are the best dogs you will meet or even own. Once you fall in love with this breed it will be hard to ever want to own anything else. Because of the ban on pit bulls it makes it hard to get insurance for them or even your house because insurance companies don’t want to take the fault for a dog bite. (Pitbull411)
Pit bulls and people can live in harmony if they are given a chance and with the right training. Pit bulls are extremely smart and active so if they get the proper training as a puppy they will be a loyal and valued family member. (pitbull411)
The consequences for dogfighting depend on the state, but some consequences just don’t seem fair. Dogfighters take animal lives, and to some people dog lives are valued the same as a humans.
Dogfighting is not a spur of a moment act, it is premeditated. It is illegal to even be a spectator because they are placing bets on a dog to make money. (animallaw.info). It is illegal to fight in all fifty states and it is a felony in all fifty states now. Forty six states have provisions that prohibit people caught from owning or keeping a dog for the rest of their lives. There was an Animal fighting prohibition that was enforced in 2005, it was passed in 2007, and became effective in 2008 that was meant to protect dogs found in a dogfighting environment that makes it to where they have to try to make it to where they have to try to make all dogs adoptable and try not euthanatize all dogs found on premises. (animallaw.info)
Some people that own pit bulls think that the people who get caught fighting should have more severe consequences instead of the consequences that Colorado has. Colorado’s law on dogfighting is a class five felony with one to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000. When you think about how many dogs get killed in these fights, then what they are receiving isn’t enough. The consequences for all states should be like Arizona’s, meaning it should be a class five felony with at least five years of prison instead of nine months to two years and a maximum fine of $150,000 along with not being able to own any animals for the rest of their lives. First time offenders should also have these consequences because they don’t learn anything when nothing is done the first time. Spectators get in trouble as well because they are placing bets. Colorado’s law for spectators says they get a class five felony, one to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $1, ooo. Their fine should be higher because they make money on the dogfights so they are capable of paying more money. (Ranking dogfighting laws)
There isn’t a certain class that dogfights. As evidence that a higher up citizen can get in trouble for dogfighting. Michael Vick’s, who was an NFL star quarter back caught with over fifty pit bulls on his land. He was prosecuted and convicted. This is the case to show what the consequences were for a famous man who did wrong. (Animal legal Defense)
Michael Vick was a 21 year old NFL quarter back. He decided to register as a dog breeder and started the Bad News Kennel. He was the highest NFL player so he didn’t need the money, so why did he dogfight? Dogfighting builds your ego and makes you feel dominate over something. Davon Boddie, Vicks cousin was arrested for drugs in 2001 and put Michael Vicks address down as the permant residence, so when Davon got arrested cops then got warrants to search the property. When the cops came back to search the property they found over fifty dogs tied to car axels a few feet from each other, a bloody ring and animal care kits to handle injuries. They also found two trenches that were a few feet deep with animal remains. Vick had three associates, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor. Taylor ended up confessing first to the dog fighting so he got a plea bargain. Taylor told the cops that Vick had killed six dogs inhumanly. Vicks and his associates had been training and holding high stakes gambling. When in training if a dog didn’t do well then it was hung or there was one incident where Vick had repeatedly threw a dog on the ground til died, The report says that the dog died of a broken neck or back, but the animal was dead too long to know for sure. During a fight a dog backed down so after the fight the associates helped Vick electrocute the dog. The associates pled guilty in 2007. They were with promoting dogfighting, Taylor was charged with three counts of unlawful torture and killing of the dogs, he was sentenced to two months in prison because he cooperated with the investigators. Peace was charged with one count unlawful torture, his maximum prison term was five years but he only did eighteen months. Phillips was sentenced to twenty-one months in prison. Two charges were brought against Vick. One count of violating VA code Ann. 3.1-796.124 Which makes it a class six felony to promote dog fighting for amusement and sport. He also got one count of violating VA code Ann. 3.1-796.122(H) makes it a class six felony to engage in the torture, ill treatment, beating, maiming, mutilation or killing of an animal. Vick lied to federal investigators so he got the upper end of the twelve to eighteen term, because he lied the US District Judge Henry E. Hudson tacked on five more months which made Vicks sentencing twenty-three months in prison. He also had three years supervised probation where he cannot buy, sell or own dogs. He had to pay a fine of $5,000 along with $928,073 in restitution for the fifty dogs that were seized at his property. Of the fifty dogs that were seized forty-eight of the dogs were suitable to go to foster homes for socialization. One was euthanized for being too aggressive and one was euthanized for sever wounds. (Animal Legal Defense)
The Consequences for Michael Vicks case didn’t seem as harsh as they should have been but the taught him that he shouldn’t be fighting dogs. Pit bulls today still get the worst of the human action but there are all over the world fighting for them to equal treatment. So the more fights we stop and the higher consequences that are shelled out then hopefully we can come closer to unbanning the pit bulls and living together happily. (Animal Legal Defense)
Works Cited
"Dog Fighting Detailed Discussion." Michigan State University College of Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm>.
"Dogfighting ." The Humane Society . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http:/www.humanesociety.org/issues/dogfighting/>.
"Pit Bull 411 - Pitbull Dog." Pit Bull 411 - Pitbull Dog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.pitbull411.com>.
"Ranking of dog fighting laws ." The HumaneSociety.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. <http:/www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/animal_fighting/dogfighting_statelaws.pdf>.
dogs, the men fought their trained pit bulls with pet, and would last several hours. Before fights. "Animal Legal Defense Fund : Animal Fighting Case Study: Michael Vick." Animal Legal Defense Fund : Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://aldf.org/article.php?id=928>.
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.