In the summer of 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly heard testimony from experts about the need to strengthen animal fighting laws in an effort to not only protect the animals themselves but also humans, in both body and spirit. Raleigh psychologist Dr. Donna Brown said the training of dogs for combat is posing a serious health problem for children and adults. Dog bites, she said, are the number one cause of injury for American children. When bitten by a dog trained for combat, a human can be mauled or killed. (hear that karen? the NUMBER ONE cause of injury) Dr Brown also stressed the unique gripping style of pit bulls, high pain tolerance and the fact that they often do not communicate intent before launching an attack.
Animal cruelty investigator Nancy White testified about children being desensitized to violence and becoming violent adults.
Frank Ward of the Wake County SPCA testified "The blood lust which is implicit in animal fights belittles the human participants and maims the combatants."
Dr Brown's 1986 testimony about the dangers of pit bulls falls smack dab in the middle of the decade of the doberman!
The Robesonian, July 10, 1986
A N.C. dog fighting arena disguised as a church netted a 150 in a police sting, including the host – a former unsuccessful sheriff candidate, 15 children under the age of 16, guns, clubs, brass knuckles, narcotics, cash, alcohol and ONE TRAMPLED CHILD. That's right, the dead game spectators trampled a child trying to flee the po-po, once again demonstrating that they lack the qualities they admire in their fighting dog. Gunfire was exchanged on both sides. But alas, chivalry is not completely dead. The wives and kiddies were admitted free.
Spokane Chronicle, October 31, 1983
And in some cases dog fighting can be fatal.
Warren Sheaf, Minnesota, April 28, 1892
