May 3, 2004
FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE HOG-DOGGERS:
Lawmaker Aims to Ban Hog-Dog Fights (Michael Depp and Russell McCulley, 4/26/04, Reuters)
A Louisiana state legislator is trying to outlaw a violent spectator sport: fights pitting vicious dogs against wild hogs.Rep. Warren Triche, a Democrat from Thibodaux, has introduced a bill that would ban the bloodiest forms of "hog-doggin," as the pig-versus-canine duels are known in the rural corners of his state.
"My motivation is that it is an absolute cruelty, and damned well sadistic," Triche told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
Mr. Triche seems a bore. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 3, 2004 10:19 AM
Isn't Lousiana the last state where cock-fighting is legal, too.
Long ago I came across the thesis that the uniformity of American culture was because it was settled from east to west coasts in a fairly continuous effort. The two exceptions to that uniformity are the two areas not settled in that migration-- New Orleans and San Francisco. Things like this just confirms it.
While this sounds like a particularly bloody "sport," I don't think it could be any worse that what goes on in the wild between predators and prey. (A pack of wild dogs taking on a warthog could get really ugly. I've also heard that shrikes can be particularly brutal in attacking their prey.)
On the other hand, aren't we humans supposed to be called to have dominion over and subdue nature, rather than exploiting it for "entertainment" purposes?
Posted by: Roy Jacobsen at May 3, 2004 12:50 PMIt's legal here in 'Bama, too. Or at least it's legal in certain counties.
Posted by: H.D. Miller at May 3, 2004 11:02 PMLast Saturday I was pulling weeds down at the bottom of the spread, next to where my neighbor raises his fighting cocks.
They have to be tethered to keep them off each other, but every once and a while one gets loose. That's his death warrant, because he'll then challenge every other cock of the walk (about 70 in this case), and while he has an advantage over a tethered bird, he'll keep attacking no matter how tired he gets.
That happened Saturday. I watched one start to work his way through the crowd. He got killed in his second battle.
They'll keep trying to get in one more kick even as they give their last breaths. That's why they're called game cocks.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at May 3, 2004 11:41 PMHarry,
Is cock fighting legal in Hawaii? Or do I misremember where you're currently from?