Dogfighting's violent nature and appeal to gamblers have made the blood sport a brutal, yet popular pastime since its introduction to America in the early 1800s. But although the practice has since gone underground, the underlying theme hasn't wavered—dogfighting remains a malicious exploitation of animals.

"Dogfighting is severely cruel. Pit bulls are intensely loyal dogs and dogfighters exploit their positive characteristics to create violent animals," says John Goodwin, deputy manager of Animal Fighting Issues for The HSUS.

Fighting dogs are bred, conditioned and trained to do one thing—win. But no matter what the outcome, every fight has the potential to be a dog's last. Dogs who make it out of the pit alive often receive little or no aftercare for broken bones, deep bite wounds and internal injuries inflicted during fights. "It's not unusual for a dog to die from blood loss or infection afterwards," says Goodwin.

Those who do survive bear the hallmarks of fighting dogs. "These dogs are often riddled with scars from previous battles," says Laura Maloney, executive director of the Louisiana SPCA. "Some bleed to the touch due to deep scarring that never completely heals. Some dogs' broken bones heal over, which causes deformities."

In addition to the extensive injures they sustain, many dogs, once outside the ring, are barely provided with the basics they need to survive—food, water and shelter—and live in extended isolation. "Fighting dogs live on chains their entire lives, only getting off for training or a match," says Maloney.

The dogs aren't the only ones who suffer. It's impossible to estimate how many other animals and humans have been harmed by violent people who are desensitized to brutality, in part as a result of watching or participating in dogfighting and other forms of animal cruelty. "Violence begets violence," Maloney explains. "Research proves that people who abuse animals are more likely to abuse people. In addition, fighting enthusiasts often bring young children to the fights, desensitizing them to violence and teaching them that violence is accepted by society."

The dogs themselves, while victims, can also be extremely dangerous. Bred and conditioned to be animal-aggressive, fighting dogs pose a real threat to people and animals in the communities where the animals live. Children and pets are especially at risk for attack due to their small size.

Animals in communities where dogfighting exists are also in danger for another reason—birds, rabbits, cats, small dogs and other animals are often captured or stolen and typically killed during training sessions where they are used as bait for fighting dogs.

In addition, dogfighting is connected to other forms of crime, including money laundering and drug trafficking. "Crime doesn't happen in a vacuum," says Goodwin. "When you have violent people betting large sums of money, you're going to have problems. Dogfighting is heavily linked to gambling, drugs, prostitution, gangs, and guns."

The blood sport continues to menace communities despite the fact that it's illegal in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. While 48 states have made dogfighting a felony crime, most states impose only misdemeanor-level penalties for attending dogfights, which does little to discourage animal fighters or encourage law enforcement to pursue cases.

And sadly, even when charges are successfully brought against suspected dogfighters, animals continue to pay the price. After being confiscated, fighting dogs are typically euthanized due to their highly aggressive nature and unsuitability for adoption. In some states, the dogs are required to be held at an animal shelter until the court date, forcing shelters to euthanize healthy animals to make room for fighting dogs that will be euthanized at a later date.

But it's not all bad news. In the past few years law enforcement has dramatically upped their commitment to putting individuals involved in animal fighting behind bars. The recent succession of high-profile prosecutions is in large part a result of consistent lobbying by animal protection advocates to create stronger laws.

Yet while professional fighters are increasingly feeling the heat, street fighting—an unorganized network of amateur dogfighters—has gained popularity in urban areas. "Street fighting is booming due in large part to pop culture influences," says Goodwin.

Eradicating dogfighting—in all its forms—is no small task. But continuing to push for stronger penalties for those involved is the most effective way of closing the door on dogfighting for good. "A misdemeanor charge is just not a deterrent to people who are dealing with these large sums of money. The penalties need to be strong enough to discourage people from engaging in dogfighting," says Goodwin.

The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act aims to do just that—make it tougher for dogfighters to skirt the law. The bill, currently in the hands of the U.S. House of Representatives following its passage in the Senate in April, would make it a felony to transport animals—including dogs—across state lines or across international borders for the purposes of animal fighting. You can urge your federal representative to support this bill.

Another way to help is through education. Writing a letter to the editor or forwarding this article to friends and family will raise awareness about dogfighting. "Raising public consciousness about an issue like dogfighting is very important. If people care about an issue lawmakers will follow," says Goodwin.

Through public education, strong penalties and the dedicated work of law enforcement to find, catch and prosecute dogfighters, we can help make this dangerous and bloodthirsty sport nothing more than a page in a history book—and give these dogs a fighting chance.

Rebecca Simmons is the outreach communications coordinator for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS.