Lecture 6: Dogfighting Flashcards
most desirable quality that professional dog fighters seek in their dogs
Gameness; “game” is a dog’s willingness/desire to fight and continue fighting despite injury/fatigue
__ make their income breeding, selling and fighting. Maintain a large number in a larger ‘yard’. Well connected and function on a national/international level. Usually have small agile pit bulls.
professionals
__ have 1+ dogs and participates in several organized fights per year. Make a small amount of money, involved for the entertainment value.
hobbyists
___ engage in impromptu matches, no rules, not fought in a pit. Typically involved in gang activities and have no regard for dogs.
street fighters
3 categories of dogfighters
professional
hobbyist
street fighters
most important to the professional dog fighter compared to hobbyists and street fighters
money
- Are true fighting dogs aggressive toward people?
no
The conditioning process prior to a match/contracted fight. Rigorous diet/exercise program, lasts 4-6 weeks to increase strenght, endurance, and CV fitness and get dog to its conditioned weight.
the “keep”
paraphernalia associated with the keep
notes regarding conditioning; notations on a calendar or notebook.
Underground journals, books, registrations, bloodline charts, certificates
treadmills (slat mills, carpet mills, modified electric treadmills, jenny/cat-mills)
spring poles/jump poles (dog jumps and holds on to with mouth, strengthens jaw and hindlegs), flirt poles (attaches to lure)
weight vests, paw protectors
dietary supplements (B12, iron, liver extract, creatine, VK, AA, Pedialyte)
drugs (dexameth, anabolic steroids, epi, furosemide, ab, NSAIDs)
Other veterinary supplies; IVF, needles, syringes, staplers, glue
Extremely heavy chains. Dog yard or runs. Plastic barrel shelters
Separate areas for “keeps” or prize dogs, search property thoroughly
Rape stand for mating and/or AI equipment
the unconditioned weight; the dogs weight in the yard on its chain
chain weight
the dogs lowest possible weight w/o loss of muscle mass. These dogs appear thin (BSC 3-4/9) yet well muscled)
Conditioned weight or “pit weight” or “match weight”
The pit will have 2 diagonal lines on the floor at opposing ends of the pit referred to as
scratch lines
When a dog fails to __ that means it quit; this dog is now considered not game and is “cur out”. These dogs face a brutal death because they are an embarrassment :’(
scratch
when collecting evidence what should be done with chains used to tether the dogs
a. Seized, measured, weighed
b. Weight of chain should be compared to weight of dog and classified as % dogs BW
c. May be additional weights added to the chains
typical distribution of bite wounds on dogs engaged in a spontaneous fight
the neck, ears, and legs to less extent, hardly any on belly, back, tail
typical distribution of bite wounds/scars on dogs engaged in organized dog fighting
head, neck, chest, forelimbs, then hindlimbs, fewest on belly and tail
What should be mapped and photographed during forensic medical exam of fighting dogs
a. Wounds and scars
b. Estimate age of wounds
c. Evidence of medical intervention and if it appears to have been done by a vet or lay individual
besides scars what other injuries would you expect to find in fighting dogs
a. Scoring of humerus, radius, ulna
b. Punctures or fractures of bones
c. Paw pad abrasions from conditioning on rough surfaces
d. Oral cavity; thickened lips/scarred, trauma to buccal mucosa, portion of lip absent, draining tracts, slab fx on buccal premolars, fx canines/incisors, avulsed gingiva
e. Alopecia and inflammation of ventral neck (tethering)
f. Cropped ears and bait dogs are no longer common
Why would some dogs seized from a dog fighting investigation have no or few wounds/scars?
a. Young dogs ~1yo they will be “rolled or bumped” and often do not have extensive damage vs adult dog who has fought 1+ times.
b. Maintained for breeding purposes
c. Juveniles too young to roll
