The ghastly practice of dog fighting dates back to the early centuries of the First Millennium. It has been outlawed in many countries, and it is illegal in Costa Rica. Sadly, the clandestine culture surrounding dog fighting, particularly between breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier, has seeped into our country in the last few years.

It is believed that dog fighting in Costa Rica has gained attention due to the spread of clandestine culture coming from North America. Dog fighting was introduced in the United States by British colonists, although the practice was outlawed in the United Kingdom with the introduction of animal welfare laws in 1835.

As much as the enactment and enforcement of animal welfare laws have advanced in societies around the world, dog fighting is still a perplexing problem. A 2005 study by Hanna Gibson of the Michigan State University College of Law Animal Legal and Historical Center revealed that dog fighting in the United States is still an industry. Gambling operations in working-class neighborhoods may have once been the motivating factor behind dog fights, but in recent decades the focus has shifted to cultural status.

Clandestine Culture and Dog Fighting

Clear evidence that dog fighting transcended outlaw culture is exemplified in the case of Michael Vick, the American professional football player who served time for his involvement in a dog fighting ring. Mr. Vick, who is the current quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, pleaded guilty to felony charges and served prison time after an investigation revealed that the dog fighting ring extended to several U.S. states, and was very sophisticated. It was named the “Bad Newz Kennels”, and it was operated by Vick and other associates, none of whom were professional football players. The investigation revealed that the other members of the Bad Newz Kennel had multitude of drug and firearm offenses between them.

Evidence of dog fighting as both a culture and an industry is cited by Hanna Gibson in the existence of magazines (such as “American Warrior”) and online forums dedicated to the discussion of dog fighting matters. The spread of dog fighting videos on the Internet is a grim reminder of the problem.

Dog fighting has become emblematic in some criminal circles. Criminal enterprises in North America embrace the culture due to its misguided working-class and “street” roots. Gibson believes that this is a strange matter of intercultural mixing. Organized crime leaders live by the credo of paying respect to family and roots, and as a result some children in North America grow up exposed to dog fighting and criminal activity and later seek to continue the “tradition.”

Street-level organized crime organizations have been bolstered by the advent of the Internet in the sense that they can communicate and spread their culture. Even though street-level gangs are united by ethnicity and regionalisms, they end up learning from each other and sometimes even coming together in matters of criminal enterprise. Mexican gangs in the United States exported dog fighting culture south of the border and later to the rest of their country. Mexico is an important exporter of culture to Latin America, including Costa Rica.

Dog Fighting Prevention in Costa Rica

In late 2011, the Humane Society International (HIS) teamed up with the National Animal Health Service (SENASA in Spanish) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Affairs (MAG) to launch a campaign against dogfighting in Costa Rica.

The official release from the Humane Society explained:

SENASA announced the launch of two new TV ads and printed materials, featuring boxer Hanna Gabriel, produced to educate the public about the cruelty of dog fighting. HSI’s staff will work closely with SENASA to combat the widespread issue of this blood sport in Costa Rica when the campaign launches in 2012.

While dog fighting in Costa Rica is illegal, it is widespread and often surrounded by other criminal activity such as drugs, gang violence and alcohol abuse. The campaign will work to train law enforcement officials on handling busts and organize community outreach events. HSI will also work to involve youth at risk of becoming involved in dog fighting.

A non-profit organization that is also deeply committed to stopping dog fighting in Costa Rica is the American Staffordshire Costa Rica group. This handsome breed is often used in dog fighting due to its natural and powerful musculature and strong jaw, and as a result it is sadly associated with danger and fighting. This is far from the truth as the American Staffordshire breed can be raised in a loving environment -just like any other dog.

According to a spokesperson for AmStaffCr:

We provide education material for the seasoned, the soon to be, the “rookie” owners of the AmStaff plus general info to anyone who would like to be better informed.

We also provide adoptive and rescue services for AmStaffs & Pit Bulls. We are completely NON-profit and are not part of the government, but we do work closely with government agencies such as SENASA and the OIJ. Our resource information/knowledge comes from personal experience. You will find a lot of material on care, rescues, events, training suggestions, suggestions on proper education of the AmStaff and how to be a better “parent” on our Facebook page.