It's kinda funny that you mention this. I was recently watching the movie "No Country For Old Men" with a group of people, and there is this one scene where this character walks up on a bunch of dead bodies as a result of a shootout. The camera runs over the dead bodies, and then it shows a dead dog that must have been caught in the crossfire.

Only when they showed the dead dog did I hear anyone in the audience go "Aww" now that was pretty strange.

That's sort of a longstanding tradition in the movies. The prime example is in "Independence Day" when the alien attacks are wiping out entire cities. There's that moment where people are just being incinerated, and the camera follows a dog (a German Shepherd, I think), which is running for its life, and it's supposed to be a great, cheer-worthy moment when the dog finally leaps into a building to supposed safety, even though literally hundreds of men, women and children are being roasted all around it.

Oh yeah, I remember both of them. I guess the old saying is right, dog is mans best friend.

1. Are there other concerns?

Yes. Numerous law enforcement raids have unearthed many disturbing facets of this illegal "sport." Young children are sometimes present at the events, which can promote insensitivity to animal suffering, enthusiasm for violence and a lack of respect for the law. Illegal gambling is the norm at dogfights. Dog owners and spectators wager thousands of dollars on their favorites. Firearms and other weapons have been found at dogfights because of the large amounts of cash present. And dogfighting has been connected to other kinds of violence--even homicide, according to newspaper reports. In addition, illegal drugs are often sold and used at dogfights.

1. What other effects does the presence of dogfighting have on people and animals in a community?

Dogs used for fighting have been bred for many generations to be dangerously aggressive toward other animals. The presence of these dogs in a community increases the risk of attacks not only on other animals but also on people. Children are especially at risk, because their small size may cause a fighting dog to perceive a child as another animal.

Tony: I know what you're saying, but the way you set up the premise of your poem is flawed. It's not an either/or situation. The cruelty of dogfighting disgusts plenty of people who also feel disgusted by man'a inhumanity.

Appreciate Everyone's comment but allow me to chime in. This is one of those cases "if the shoe fits"...not directed to every human being. I don't take offense to this becuase i know my heart goes out to the homeless AND the animals. But i think this poems speaks to the Head Hunters that would rather say "Crucify Him" to a financial supporter of dog fights rather than "Get him out of office" to a president who is treating men like dogs...hence the following analogy: Breed a man (dog) to fight an unknown enemy (another man/dog) sparked by the actions of a hidden enemy (Osama/other breeders) all for the sake of personal gain (whatever that gain may be) This is also not a Bush bash becuase he is not the sole authority who sent our men to war even as Vick is not the only person involved in that ring. But crowds stood more appeased by Vick's conviction than remaining intent that all be brought to justice. What were the sentences of the other men involved? Reduced fines and time. What is the sentence for our Chief and Cabinet that continues to pursue establishing democracy in someone else's country at the cost of our sons and daughters? Another term in office.

Yes it's a fact that dog figting breeds crime, drugs, and violence....and yes, I despise cruelty towards animals as well.

Nastynate said it best up above, and I've been witnessing it my entire life. All over the media it's save the dogs, go to the humane society, animals need love. How often do you hear save the children, or feed the homeless, other than Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Protest dog fighting your a hero, protest abortion your a religious nut.

If you peeped the news tonight, you will understand my complaint. There was a pet store on fire and people were upset because the firemen would not save the animals. The chief stated there was concern that the roof could possibly collaspe and so he was not sending anyone in. Some people out there were actually so concerned for the animals, they were willing to risk human life.

I get your point, but I don't know. I'll give you your media hypocrisy argument, and your societal hypocrisy, but going back to your larger point, I don't think any of that means Michael Vick is any less guilty, contemptuous or any less a criminal for what he did.

He doesn't get a pass because he grew up in that culture, but there's a little bit of a caveat to his story, which is that there's a larger societal problem which is breeding dogfighting (pardon the pun). That problem is the social divide as inner-city values, the fend-for-yourself, get-yours mentality clashes with the feel-good, be-good, think-of-your-fellow-man ideology of the more well-to-do population, especially as the cultures continue to coalesce together.

Whether one or the other is more right or whether either is wrong, I don't know. But as someone who certainly falls more into the latter category than the former, it'll be pretty hard for me to truly understand the former. But right is right, and sure there are other probably more pressing problems in society, but Mike Vick apparently was part of a much larger dog fighting operation, and putting him in jail, and putting a face on the issue will probably help prevent thousands of other dogs from suffering the same fate as the victims of Bad Newz Kennels.

"Protest dog fighting your a hero, protest abortion your a religious nut."

That's some knowledge right there....babies can't choose anymore than dogs getting killed in a dog fights. At least the dogs get a say in the matter and can fight for their life...babies, not so much.

I'm not anti-abortion, there is a time and place for everything. But there are much better ways to handle things in most cases. And people are protesting puppy mills but not unprotected redneck sex.

I think you need to change the knowledge to either:

"Protest dog fighting your a hero, protest human baby fighting your a religious nut."

or

"Protest dog abortions your a hero, protest human abortions your a religious nut"

Trying to connect the dots between abortion and dog fighting otherwise is just retarded.

How so? In both cases a living being is getting killed against it's will at the choice of it's owner (parent). Since there is really no such thing as dog abortion, I think it's a fair comparison and that your statement is leaning toward the "retarded" one.

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/reprod/petpop/terminate.html

Guess so.