A Human Connection to Dogfighting

Recently I sat in on a training session at work focusing on The Connection Between Domestic Violence, Animal Cruelty and Child Maltreatment. The training was led by Lynn Rosenthal from the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Some of the things I learned made the Michael Vick situation all the more interesting and critical in educating us about underlying issues implicated in such violent behavior.

Believe it or not, Emily Deschanel (yes, the actress) wrote a very informative editorial highlighting the potential links between dogfighting, gang activity, the way “violence breeds violence,” and “dogfighting endangers communities wherever it occurs.” Her article echoed the statistics Ms. Rosenthal offered. For instance, “a 1997 survey of 50 of the largest shelters for battered women in the U.S., found that 85% of women and 63% of children entering shelters discussed incidents of pet abuse in the family.” It is sometimes done to “terrorize children into silence,” “prevent women from leaving,” and to “punish them for leaving.” Deschanel noted how dogfighting “nurtures a violent mind-set that makes it easier for people to brutalize other people.” The information Rosenthal provided also showed that “animal cruelty can have the effect of damaging a child’s capacity for empathy,” “create acceptance of physical harm in close relationships,” and “foster a sense of empowerment from causing pain and suffering.” It may also “create an idea that the child, like the pet, is expendable” and “affect their sense of safety and confidence in the people that are supposed to be taking care of them.”

So what does this mean? What can we learn? Sure he is an embarrassment, but this is not so much about Vick as it is about shining the spotlight on a significant, though rarely mentioned issue. I am not suggesting that Vick’s activities had any known or suspected connection to domestic violence. However, awareness of the far-reaching implications of these types of behaviors can only make us better aware of the human connection to dogfighting. Perhaps all of us will be more vigilant in our neighborhoods and experiences should we come across the signs of possible abuse. There could be a lot more under the surface of a malnourished or injured dog.