The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals kicks off its National Dog Fighting Awareness Day campaign on April 8.
The organization has teamed up with actor Sir Patrick Stewart to bring awareness to dog fighting and encourage animal lovers to “get tough” on dog fighting.
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During the month of April, the ASPCA urges pet lovers to post selfies with their pets or speak out against dog fighting on social media and include #GetTough on their posts.
The ASPCA estimates that there are tens of thousands of dogfighters in the United States.
“Contrary to what many people think, dog fighting isn’t rare, or a relic of the past,” said ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker. “As recently as last December, the ASPCA has been called in to assist law enforcement in dog fighting investigations, and we’ve seen firsthand the suffering and torture these dogs are subjected to.”
Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.
More information about the practice of dog fighting and the harm animals incur in fights can be found here.
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