Cross Breeds - Dog fighting is considered cruel, and yet we allow horse racing, where horses are whipped, seems hypocritical?

Dog fighting is considered cruel, and yet we allow horse racing, where horses are whipped, seems hypocritical?

I often find it funny that we want to pass judgement on certain activities ie... dog fighting, and yet we turn a blind eye to similar activities ie... dog racing. I believe that animals should only be killed if they are being eaten or consumed in some way, otherwise killing the animal serves no purpose. I think that it is okay to use horses for pulling carts and for riding, but yet we race them while beating them with tiny whips. In this day and age we need to analyse how humane we really are. If you shoot a deer and then eat it, it is serving a purpose, but putting it's head on your wall is tacky, why not put a painting of a deer up instead, it would be a better representation of the animals majesty. Actually I would say killing an animal out of sympathy is okay also, such as an old pet, or an injured animal that is suffering. Why intelligent human beings would ever consent to the cruelties of animals racing or killing for sport, is beyond me. Animals are a gift from God, not to waste

Public Comments

comparing dog fighting to horse racing is completely ridiculous.
Greed of mankind - $$$
AMEN.
I agree, chuck wagon racing is a cruel sport as well, Hunting for the purpose of food source is one thing, but trophy sport wise is wrong.
Yes, any type of animal racing should be illegal, but the bookies and gambling are the real criminals and crimes, so to stop one you have to get to the source. Without gambling there wouldn't be horse races, or dog races, or dog fights. Get it? Now get out there and start up some petitions!
Well when it really comes down to it, who's more important, us, or the animals?
horses dont run till the death dumbass
It is?
I dont agree with using animals for any purpose. They are not on this earth to be slaves for humans.
The whip is not meant to hurt the horse. But my whips are quite painful. I use a cat-o-nine-tails as a whip for my horse. If they make it to the end of the track alive, it's a good day. I sometimes have horses vs. dolphins... and don't ask how I do it, but it just is amazing to see.
you can't compare the two. its illogical. Dog fighting is fighting with the purpose of death intended whereas horse racing is done as a sport. besides, i am pretty sure that horses like running.
we allow liquor but criminalize marijuana. we are duplicitious. let's legalize marijuana and ban horse racing. and as far as mercy killing of animals, don't be too quick. i think most animals would say they don't need our help to die.
Race horses are NOT whipped. My brother was a jockey when he was alive and no animal that he rode or trained was ever mistreated or whipped as you put it. A riding crop is used to tap them on their flanks to get them motivated but they are NOT whipped!
horse races, dog races, dog fights, cock fights, are all inhuman and cruel, however the general public only views dog fights and cock fights as cruel and inhumane.
I never looked at it that way and I strongly agree. I believe that it has a lot to do with class though. Dog fighting is a lower to middle class hobby while horse racing is more of an upper class hobby. For example, it's cheaper to purchase a dog than a horse. It's cheaper to take care of that dog. There aren't too many lower class people with horses.
I know what you are saying, but dog fighting is cruel and animals actually DIE. Go see a dog fight and re think you question. completely different thing buddy.
i agree that horse racing is cruel. you have young horses traingin and racing intensly at a very young age. Most horses end their racing career at 3 or 4. A horses skeleton isn't even mature until 3 years of age. There are tons of bone, ligament and tendon injuries and lots of euthanasia. Horse racing is just done out of greed.
When a horse is "whipped" with a crop it is no more than a signal to the horse to run faster - it is not painful to the horse and it doesn't draw blood - unlike dog fighting. Dog racing runs on the edge of cruelty, unfortunately, because alot of dogs are "euthanized" once they are no longer useful on the track. Thoroughbred horses are valuable and therefore much better taken care of... Just so you know, too, alot of horses used to pull carts are "whipped" also - with longer whips to help direct them... I agree that animals should not be wasted - but enjoyed, treated well, and utilized in humane ways. oh yeah - Why waste the deer's head after you've killed it - wouldn't it be more in line with your philosophy to utilize the deer as well as possible - for both food and decoration?
People do not turn a blind eye to racing sports. This is why there are Greyhound and Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse rescues in place, to take in abused and unwanted animals off of the tracks. But there is something you say about horses that puzzles me: You say they are okay to ride, but not to race? Isn't racing a horse the same as riding? A jockey is in a saddle, and there is a bridle, bit, and reins... If it is the speed that concerns you, look at other horse sports: barrel racing, for instance, or pole bending. They whip the horses for a good timed run as well, what about them? If you stop at racetracks, you are being hypocritical. It's either all horse sports or nothing, in my opinion. I agree with you on many points, but there are some things that you mention that just don't make sense.
Business people, money, that's only important to them. But that's wrong any way.
It's obvious you know nothing about horses. While a strong argument can be made against racing 2 yr old horses because they aren't fully grown at that age, your argument against whipping them is plain stupid. Properly used, a whip is an extension of the hand used to encourage the horse to move faster. The horse is not beaten with the whip, and if you ever saw how much damage one horse can do to another when they play, you'd know that a smack with a whip is nothing by comparison.
I agree with everything you've said.
It is indeed a very controversial issue when animals are exploited for sport and used as food or utilities. But most of the human race believes that they are far superior than animals, which is why the world is suffering. It would be very hard to convince some people to change their lifestyles from eating meat to a vegetarian lifestyle. It also would be very hard to convince gamblers to refrain from races and animal sport events. The only way to stop animal cruelty is to start with ourselves in preserving animal life. One person can make a big difference.
Dog fighting is far worse than racing. The dogs are fighting to the death or near death. They bleed and suffer horribly.
This day and age? Like we are better then ages before us because we have more information? Third world countries are full of horrors, children left to die, whole villages murdered, people with serious hate over half a cornfeild or a small rice patch or a well and you are saying we should feel bad that we kill deer in this country and mount the head on the wall? maybe the mounted head represents an entire winters protein source for some families, carryover from europeans traditions the bigger the animal the wealthyier the family the more meat and food. indians made headresses, europeans put them on walls. Horses have trouble surviving in large number, due to animal husbrandry they have evolved with us and in our cultures as pack animals and if they live perfect lives save for the day at the whipping gate then again, better then millions of PEOPLE live world wide. Not such an advanced human race after all. Horse that get whipped in a race are worth millions, a spanking is considered no big deal for kids and millions of kids do not get everything perfect for them to recive a spanking...the horse eats perfect, has a groom, blankets, bathes, exercise, training. Killing a beloved pet is o.k. to relieve suffering but many cases of people we see they live ten, twenty, thirty years with "suffering" how are we more kind to kill that animal as soon as we suspect suffering so it is not hampered by quality of life issues? People are a gift from God not to waste, our duty to people is weak, always will be until day of judgement, animals are great, love um, but secondary.
Are you sure they are whipped? I thought they whip the air to make a noise. I know people have said their skin is thicker so they don't feel it. I do know people will justify what they do if it gets them what they want. I have heard dog races were bad because they chase and kill rabbits. I HATE COCK (rooster) AND DOG FIGHTS. That is just too sick for words! Rodeo is not much better. They strap their b*lls to make them buck. Poor bulls! I also hate branding cattle and dehorning them even though they say it doesn't hurt. There are so many things people do to animals that people still accept. I hate the thought of steaming lobster, crab and mussels alive. They say they can't feel it, but what if we are wrong. ;0(
This is all true and I agree and disagree. First off, yes dog fighting is very bad and inhumane but i do agree whipping horses is not good either. Second, deer are killed for eating yes but that doesn't mean you can't hang it on the wall. Tacky maybe but if you just shot the biggest deer with the biggest rack you've ever seen, you'de probably want to show it off right? And maybe racing horses is wrong but it's better than sending them all to the glue factory isn't it?
Well we shoot deers so we can have something to eat, but putting they're head on a wall is disturbing and makes me angry. And doggy fighting is just sad. They make animals hurt each other.
I think you have lost sight of dog fighting. The act itself is vicious and horrible, watching two poor innocent animals tearing at each others throats trying to kill each other and bleeding to death in such pain is not for the faint hearted just for sport? I believe that is a bit different from racing a horse. Losing focus here