It is well known that the most common dog used for fighting is the Pitbull. In dogfighting circles the Pitbull is specifically trained from birth to be aggressive towards other animals. Also, partly because of dogfighting, the pitbull is overbred, which is why many animal shelters are overflowing with them (been to the New Haven animal shelter lately?). After a dogfight, it's not uncommon for the dogs to eventually die of injuries sustained, or to be 'finished off' by their owner . Dogfighting largely contributes to the stigma about Pitbulls being vicious, naturally ferocious animals (which they are not by any means). This stigma in turn has contributed to states like California pushing for an across the board ban on the Pitbull breeds in general. These new laws would have animal shelters put the dogs to death instead of allowing for their adoption (which already happens on a frequent and largescale basis), and to eventually exterminate the Pitbull breeds in general. Comparing Dogfighting to Hunting doesn't make Dogfighting any less horrible or cruel. While some may consider it a sport, this does not change the fact that the immediate and end results of this "sport" have terrible, widespread, and potentially irreversible effects on these breeds. Frowned upon by the media and much of society, abandoned in animal shelters until eventually (or immediately) put to death, used and abused until dead by dogfighters, and on the verge of extermination at the hands of state governments, the pitbull is in dire need of help, and opposing dogfighting is an important step to saving this beautiful animal. - Shoshey

"Ban the deed, not the breed".