Animal Gladiators: Kyrgyz Wolfhounds Maul Each Other For Top Dog Honors

The cruel and deadly world of Kyrgyzstan dog fighting has been exposed once again, as grim photos of blood-soaked dogs mauling each other have found its way all over the Internet and rousing the attention of animal welfare advocates around the world.

Underground dog fighting has long been considered as a syndicated and organized crime and probably the most heinous form of animal cruelty. Two dogs are put in a cage where they literally tear each other to pieces. All the while, their owners are betting ridiculously huge amounts of money for their satisfaction, pride and breed recognition.

The Kyrgyzstan scene is no different. In the photos provided by The Sun, a makeshift cage has been set up in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and two Kyrgyz wolfhounds are forced by their owners to fight each other.

For anyone who loves dogs – or animals in general – this is straight up cruelty. But owners believe that this is the only way that they can determine the best dog “to improve the Asian Shepherd breed.”

There is also another reason why breeders have resulted to dog fighting. The Alabai, or the Central Asian Shepherd Dog, is known for their fearlessness towards large predators. There are “buyers” who are looking for the best breed to protect their livestock from wolves and foxes; picking and buying the winner will eventually secure their stock.

Despite the gruesome act of violence, men and children found it to be entertaining and worthy of sharing. Some filmmed the fights, while others cheered on. Daily Mail said that the dogs don’t kill each other, but they are separated “once the dominant animal has made itself known.”

The so-called “blood sport” has always been on the iron sights of PETA. The animal rights advocate abhors this act as most of us consider dogs as a loving companion and for some, part of the family and not as a gladiator.

“Dogs who are used for fighting are chained, taunted, and starved in order to trigger extreme survival instincts and encourage aggression,” PETA said via The Sun. In addition, dogs who do not fight are often used as “bait” animals.

As for dogs who survive the fight, they are sometimes neglected. Wounds and other injuries prevent them from being able-bodied pets and companions.

Breeders will usually “mate close relatives” of the worn-out champ with high hopes that it could pass the “aggressive trait” and the instinct “to kill other animals.”