Russell Ashton, of Baltimore City, is an avid animal lover who rehabilitates pit bulls trained for dogfighting and is a board member of the Adopt a Homeless Animal rescue group in Baltimore City.
She will join the board for the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in January.
She has testified in Annapolis on several state animal rights bills.
She spoke with The Examiner on dogfighting following the arrest of two people in Severna Park in connection with a dogfighting, drugs and guns sting.
Q How common is dogfighting and why do people engage in it?
A Dogfighting is extremely prevalent in our area [as well as] big cities and rural areas. There really is no boundary. People do it for sport, for money or even for entertainment. Sadly, it?s the pit bull that?s used for this.
Q Why are pit bulls the most common breed used for dogfighting?
A The pit bull has many wonderful characteristics, and those same characteristics are what lend them to abuse.
They are bright, physically strong and, contrary to what people believe, wonderful with people. All pit bulls want to do is please their master, and if the master is one of these monsters, the pit bull picks up on what [he or she wants].
Q What happens to animals subjected to dogfighting?
A lot of times, the bait dog is intentionally blinded and its teeth removed, so it cannot defend itself when it?s put in the middle of two starving dogs.
For many of the fighting dogs, it?s once in a blue moon they are given the benefit of the doubt to be temperament tested. [The test is used to evaluate a dog?s personality and temperament in reaction to normal activities of a pet owner.]
Groups like the Humane Society and the Best Friends Society have won the right to temperament test Michael Vick?s dogs; because they are such forgiving and kind dogs, many of them can be rehabbed.
It?s such a sexy high-profile case, that these dogs, in a sense, are fortunate enoughthat these organizations can test them.
Normally, they are dying in shelters all over the place, because no one cares.
Q Do pit bulls get a bad rap?
A Pit bulls are unfairly maligned, and it?s so unfortunate because all people hear about are these terrible things and no one realizes that the owner has trained them to be like that.
A lot of drug dealers have trained them to lunge at anyone who approaches when they are dealing on corner.
Invariably, there is an irresponsible monster behind the dog.
In England, they are called the “nanny dog,” because they?re wonderful with children, but here people think they maul children for no reason.
Q Is the legislation to combat dogfighting strong enough?
A The laws are not at all strong enough.
The legislation is so weak.
It?s considered a felony to organize dogfighting, but people rarely get the maximum three-year sentence.
And people who participate in it should be charged for a felony, not just a misdemeanor.
