What Happens to Dogs Who Are Seized From Dog Fight Operations? Can They Be Rehabilitated?
Fighting dogs have been bred and trained to inflict injuries on other animals, and are difficult to house and care for. They are often relatively friendly to people, since such people have been the only source of food and attention—but they can be unpredictable around other animals. Concerns about liability, public safety and other risks mean that many animals seized from such operations are not adoptable, meaning they cannot be considered candidates for successful placement, and often have to be euthanized. Confiscated fighting dogs are also at high risk of being stolen from shelters, foster care or other placements and returned to the fight trade. Exceptions are sometimes made for puppies or other animals who show no signs of training or use in fighting, and who do not exhibit tendencies of aggression toward other animals or people. However, such animals must be carefully evaluated by trained animal behavior professionals and their placement must be monitored over the long term.
