Dog fighting is NOT a game

Dog fighting apps by KG Games

should be banned

I apologize for the graphic picture, but I could have gone far more graphic. This is real. This is what the telephone app KG Games supports by offering a telephone app on how to fight dogs.

I’m a journalist and, of course, I believe in free speech. However, certain lines are drawn all the time. For example, I don’t know of a video game or telephone app that teaches players how to abuse children. However, there’s now what I believe to be a comparable app through which participants can learn to “train” dogs to fight one another. The goal is for the winner to rip the other dog to shreds. The tagline on “the game,” called KG Dogfighting, is “Raise your dog to be the best.”

Kage Games, LLC first released a similar dog fighting app in April. I was among the first who blogged about it and word spread quickly through social media. Soon national animal welfare organizations spoke out and local police superintendents and public officials expressed their horror. Radio talk show hosts discussed the topic, asking experts, such as child psychiatrists, to comment. Even NFL star Michael Vick – the most celebrated convicted dog fighter – uncharacteristically weighed in.

Under pressure, the Android market (operated by Google) removed the app.

Now. Kage Games is back with a version of their dog fighting app, which they say is “new and improved.” It’s true, this time around, that it’s labeled as a “high maturity” app only for players over 13. Still, there’s nothing stopping anyone under 13 from downloading the app. And “high maturity”? Well, that’s a joke. I’m not sure anyone playing this game” is mature.

I’m most concerned about children, or young adults who download this app. I happen to be on the board of directors and also serve as a national ambassador for the American Humane Association, the very organization which helped discover the well-accepted Link between violence toward animals and subsequent acts of violence toward people. Those who are desensitized (particularly at a young age) to harming animals are more likely to commit violent crimes as adults.

Defending its position, the Web page for the new app states: “Perhaps one day we will make gerbil wars or betta fish wars for people who can’t understand fantasy role play games.” But can people (children, in particular) understand that this game is fantasy?

Also, how close is a phone app linked to the real act of fighting dogs? No one knows, but it’s sure a heck of a lot easier to play “a game” that describes how to hurt a dog, and then to try it for real, compared to attempting violence toward people. Helpless animals can’t fight back as easily as people, and there’s less hesitation to attempt such “practice” violence on animals, according to research. Also, although dog fighting is a felony in 50 states, in some places it remains, astonishingly, socially acceptable.

The app’s web page says: “What makes the Google Android platform special is it gives the freedom and responsibility to the individual users to decide what to put on their phones, as opposed to the phone carriers and app stores making value judgments on our behalf.” Kage Games goes on to admonish critics: “Please remember that censorship is a very slippery slope.”

That’s true. However, the Android market does have usage guidelines. In fact, Android phone users can flag an app as inappropriate (by scrolling to the bottom of the page) for content that’s hateful, abusive, or depicts graphic violence. Under Android’s own guidelines, they may remove the app.

Learning from their first go-around, Kage Games is prepared with instant damage control, pointing out that a portion of the proceeds from the app (taken from the $4.99 fee to install it) will benefit animal rescue organizations, as well as victims of the Japanese tsunami. I made a few calls to random animal organizations, and staff laughed when I asked if they’d take money from this group. I would question any organization that does.

Finally, Kage Games notes, “We’re dogs lovers ourselves.” Then, why is the company so intent on selling a dog fighting “game?” I can’t answer.

Aside from offering your views about the app on an Android phone, even non-Android users can visit the Android site to report inappropriate apps, Twitter now has a NO KG Dog Fighting page.

Dog fighting is more than horrific violence we force dogs to inflict upon themselves, sometimes to the death. Dog fighting also victimizes maligned Pit Bulls, furthering their reputation – when, in fact, they may be wonderful family pets. No questions dogs are helpless victims. But they’re not the only ones, police say where there are dog fights, other crimes are always being committed. At dog fights, children are exposed to the worst of what people can do, and are taught to do it themselves. Often entire neighborhoods are held hostage by those who fight the dogs. Celebrating this in a game simply is not right. Dog fighting is no game.

Much thanks to Steve Dale, Tribune Media for this article and for defending dogs.

MadMikesAmerica has posted many times on the evils of dog fighting and fully supports R.J. Opus in her crusade.

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