I feel no more sympathy for fighting dogs than I feel for moose, lions and bighorn sheep. To the same extent many anthropomorphize dogs to attribute feelings of fear and despair, why not attribute feelings of fun, excitement and exhilaration? Actually, aren’t such emotions more likely in dogs bred to fight and kill? In the wild animal world, fighting is as central to life as eating and mating. You’ll notice that a lot of animals are built for it: teeth, horns, etc. (Makes me think we’re probably doing zoo animals no emotional favors when we “protect” them from their own natural behaviors of fighting–part of the essence of animal life, part of what likely makes them feel “most alive”.) Still, can we agree it’s inappropriate for people to fight dogs? Sure, okay. But that’s because it’s beneath humans, not because it’s beneath dogs.
