Category Archives: Dogfighting & Animal Fighting

Archived: A collection of early posts about the blood sports of dogfighting and animal fighting. We stopped tracking dogfighting issues in 2010.

1911 Pit Bull Terrier Depicted as ‘Outcast American’ to Victimize the Breed

Pit Bull Breeder Pushes ‘Pit to Home’ Chas. Werner, and his pit bull terrier, Brindle Breaker, The Dog Fancier, 1911 New Orleans, LA - In this 1911 Dog Fancier advertisement, pit bull breeder Chas. Werner reflects how Americans feel about the breed: "Our Ideal Dog the Outcast American" (note handwriting on dog photo). "Outcast" is intended as a pitying label and also represents two other issues. One, by 1911, pit bulls were feared by the public due to their dangerous fighting… [Read full blog post]
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1909 Dog Bite Fatality: John P. Colby's Fighting Pit Bull Kills Nephew

John P. Colby and son Louis (1922), Colby's Pincher (top) and Colby's Twister. View Archive Article Newburyport, MA - While researching fatal pit bull attacks of the early to mid 1900s, we came across the most damaging fatal attack the pit bull community has ever known. To start, in 1901 a pet pit bull killed its owner's mistress, in 1909 a pet pit bull killed its owner's brother, in 1945, a pet pit bull killed a 21-month old baby in Los Angeles (just 3-months before fighting pit bu… [Read full blog post]

Dogfighter Bill Stewart Kills Himself After Criminal Operation Discovered

From left: Bill Stewart, Pit Bull Reporter, seized marijuana and firearms. "Rushin Bill" Romance, AR - It is reported that the editor and publisher of dogfighting magazine, Pit Bull Reporter1, Bill Stewart (aka "Rushin Bill")2 shot himself to death. The incident began after a grass fire broke out on Stewart's property. When crews arrived to distinguish the fire, they discovered $124,000 of marijuana, more than 40 guns, pit bulls and a dogfighting ring. Just after the disc… [Read full blog post]

8-State Simultaneous Dogfighting Sting; 450 Dogs Seized

Middle Class Crime UPDATE 07/11/09: As noted in comments, dogfighting is organized crime -- gambling and racketeering -- primarily carried out by middle class citizens. Participants are often valued members of the community as well. The recent Associated Press article names a registered nurse, Cris Bottcher, and a physical education teacher, Rick Hihath, as part of those arrested this past week. Both are charged with felony dogfighting crimes that occurred at Bottche… [Read full blog post]