MICHAEL VIC AND THE FIGHTING BOW WOWS

Dog fighting is big in the rural South and has been for at least a hundred years. Dog fighting in the small towns in and around LA has been going on for at least thirty years, imported from the South by the Dust Bowl "Oakies" of the thirties. (cute pit puppy at left)Over the past decade it has become a gang staple, and anyone who walks the Venice Beach walkway will see these snarling saliva dripping creatures being paraded around by these tough looking Blacks obviously looking for a dog fight. Two years ago the LAPD opened a station right on the beach at Venice and the practice stopped instantly. In fact anyone parading a pit bull is ticketed. A site devoted to dog fighting is here and very informative.

Fighting dog in retirement at left. PETA outrage? So what? This underground gambling enterprise will continue in the shadows for a long time. BTW the Mexicans have imported cock fighting to the rural towns around LA too, but of course the Mexican culture is superior to ours so there is no stink raised.

Damage to the dogs? I've never seen a dog fight. I have seen ten or so cock fights while in Mexico and I think they are boring as well as very primitive. The crowds of cock owners at ringside proudly displaying their gold and their fighting cocks for the crowd is like a movie---meaning it seems like a dream sequence and not a reality. The betting is huge and goes on for about twenty minutes before the fight actually starts. The "bookies" who take the bets on the fly make the odds as they go, another throw back to the days before para-mutual race track betting.