This Pit Bull Was Horrifically Abused But Case Ends with a Happy Ending

There is a wide range of people working to help out abused animals. For instance, Bored Panda mentions the founder of Animal Rescue Mission, Shira Scott Astrof, who has just brought an abused Pit Bull named Logan home. Stories about abused animals are always unpleasant. Still, some are worse than others.

In short, Logan was a Pit Bull used in dog fighting in Mexico. However, he wasn’t one of the dogs used for dog fighting. Instead, he was one of the dogs used as living practice dummies for the dogs used for dog fighting.

Indeed, he had his teeth shaved down so that he wouldn’t be able to fight back effectively while other dogs tore into him. Logan survived years and years of this experience before being dumped on the streets. He was rescued, but he was found to have a cancerous tumor.

Luckily, everything seems to have taken a turn for the better for Logan. He now has a new home courtesy of Astrof. Furthermore, he seems to be in a much healthier condition, which is wonderful considering he is an older dog that has received very poor treatment for the overwhelming majority of his life.

The particularly nice part is that Logan is surprisingly good-natured despite what has been done to him, so much so that he has gotten attached to another poorly-treated dog he met at the dog shelter. Hopefully, everything will continue to work out well for him and his new owner.

How Prevalent Is Dog Fighting?

Dog fighting is an example of how societies can change for the better over time. Historically speaking, bloodsports were very popular. Several dog breeds can trace their roots to one bloodsport or another. For proof, look no further than how bulldogs are called bulldogs because of their use for bullbaiting and bearbaiting. Nowadays, bloodsports are seen in a very negative light throughout most of the world. Dog fighting is no exception to this rule.

Popularity doesn’t march in perfect lockstep with the law. Even so, there is a strong connection between the two, meaning it isn’t uncommon for the popularity and unpopularity of controversial practices to be reflected by the law. In Mexico, dog fighting has been unpopular for a very long time.

Most Mexican states had laws banning the practice in 2017. The issue was that there was no ban on the federal level. Fortunately, Mexican activists and other interested parties worked hard to bring pressure to bear, thus resulting in a ban on the federal level in 2017.

Yucatan Living mentions that the ban has some serious teeth to it. The guilty can face fines and prison sentences. Moreover, the ban covers everyone involved in dog fighting, which includes those who organize it, those who host it, those who train the dogs used in it, and those who watch it.

This was a Major Victory

There can be no doubt about the fact that this was a major victory for animal welfare advocates. If anyone has any doubts remaining after hearing Logan’s story, they should know that cruelty permeates every single aspect of the practice. The ASPCA states that the dogs used in dog fighting tend to be raised in isolation, which doesn’t exactly do wonders for their psychological state.

Furthermore, it is very common for the people involved to feed them anabolic steroids and other drugs that make them bigger and angrier, with minimal regard for the consequences to their well-being. On top of these things, the dog fighting is extremely brutal. Whether the dogs win or lose, it is normal for them to suffer cuts, tears, broken bones, crushing injuries, and other serious wounds. Some dogs survive their wounds.

Others succumb to them instead. A dog’s chances of surviving a loss are particularly low. Even if it survives the dog fight itself, it is very common for the people involved to either abandon it, kill it out of sight, or kill it out in the open as a part of the event.

Sadly, just because a practice is banned, that doesn’t mean that the enforcement of the ban is particularly effective. People care about animals, but people tend to care about people more. As such, it is common to hear stories about law enforcement agencies choosing to prioritize other cases over animal abuse cases. With that said, it is very much possible for interested individuals to make a difference by opposing these practices and by helping those hurt by these practices.

What Can People Do to Oppose Dog Fighting?

For starters, the Humane Society says it is a good idea for interested individuals to familiarize themselves with potential signs of dog fighting. One example would be a large number of Pit Bulls being kept at the same location. Sometimes, that just means someone is a huge Pit Bull fan.

Other times, it is very common to see Pit Bulls being used in dog fighting because of their formidable reputation. Interested individuals should be particularly concerned when they see signs that dogs have been used for dog fighting. Scars on the face, the front legs, and the hindquarters are very concerning.

Similarly, torn ears and torn lips are also troubling to see. Besides these things, interested individuals should also watch out for dogs being chained in place, seeming either unsocialized or poorly socialized, and being surrounded by dog fighting training equipment. Examples of the last include but aren’t limited to break sticks, spring poles, and even treadmills.

Dog Fighting is Kept Secret

The dogs used in dog fighting aren’t always out in the open. People involved in dog fighting tend to have a very good idea their activities are illegal, meaning they are keen to keep evidence out of open view. As such, interested individuals should also look into other ways to help.

For instance, there is educating people about the issue because they might not realize that dog fighting remains a serious problem. Likewise, there is asking the relevant legislators to strengthen anti-dog fighting laws in jurisdictions where they are lacking in some way. Interested individuals should also look into the Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations to see what they are doing, particularly since they also help out with a wide range of other animal welfare issues.

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