Dog Fighting Should Be Legal

I look forward to a great debate! Let's begin. Animal abuse is the intentional infliction by humans of suffering or harm upon any non-human animal, for purposes other than self-defense or survival. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific gain [1]. Per the definition of animal abuse, killing animals qualifies as abuse, regardless of one's reason for killing the animal. Humans do not need to eat animals in order to survive. You can have a healthy diet without eating meat [2]. Yet a 2014 survey by Harris Interactive and the Humane Research Council found that less than 2% of Americans identified as vegetarian [3]. That means 98% of the American population has no problem with abusing (killing) animals for their own personal satisfaction. Since eating meat is a perfectly fine option for most people, we as a society have accepted that we will tolerate animal abuse when it comes to satiating our individual preferences. Many people enjoy dog fighting. Why is it okay to kill animals for food when we don't need to, but not okay to kill dogs for sport? Consider the fact that people go hunting for animals they do not need or intend to eat, and people often use animals for fur and other arbitrary things we like [4]. We ignore the pain and suffering of animals when it comes to legalized hunting or factory farms, yet hypocritically impose a different standard when it comes to dogs. Despite our cultures affinity for dogs (I personally love them), not all cultures value or appreciate dogs the way we do. In some cultures, dogs are considered pests. Middle Eastern cultures don't like dogs, and in Asia they eat them [5]. Dogs are not inherently more valuable than any other animal. Animals are valued differently in each culture and by each individual. For example Hindus think cows are very sacred, while many non-Hindu Americans love to eat them. Animals that Americans have no problem enslaving, torturing and slaughtering for our own satisfaction include pigs. Pigs are far smarter and more cognizant, sentient and self-aware than dogs and even chimpanzees [6]. Yet despite how much brain power they have, we destroy them brutally [7]. Why hold dogs to a different standard? In this country animals are considered property. They can be bought and sold. They do not have rights. We can essentially do what we please with our animals. For example if I buy a lamb, I can kill it tonight and make lamb chops tomorrow. Thus if I buy a dog, why couldn't I kill the dog the same way? People will always be drawn to enterprises where they can make money. If people can make money off killing dogs, I fail to see how that's different from profiting off the killing of other animals - especially animals that are more sentient. Forcing these people to the black market only makes them criminals unnecessarily, whereas other people who kill animals out in the open (like farmers and butchers) are not penalized by law. Instead they pay taxes and society benefits from their work. Not everyone has to agree with the morality of each business endeavor. Many people are against cigarettes, prostitution, marijuana or other things that are considered taboo, however it is not the job of the government to regulate people's morality. Rather the government exists to facilitate/protect trade and protect people's rights. Again, people have legal dominion over animals [8]. Many feel that we morally have authority over animals as well; the Bible claims this is so [9]. We allow animal cruelty for sport with other animals like horses [10]. We also use horses to pull us in carriages, and we keep circus animals and zoo animals, some of which are subject to worse conditions than others. In short, we impose arbitrary value on dogs that is subjective among the individual. It is nonsensical and unjust to punish people who fight dogs, but not those who abuse other animals unnecessarily for frivolous enjoyment. It is a contradictory double standard. Dog fighting should be legalized. It will likely not be any more popular than it already is on the underground, since most Americans love dogs [11]. Thus this would have legal and moral benefits, but little to no downside. I look forward to my opponent's contentions. [1] . https://en.wikipedia.org... [2] . http://www.mayoclinic.org... [3] . https://en.wikipedia.org... [4] . http://adventure.howstuffworks.com... [5] . http://www.spockthedog.com... [6] . http://www.dailymail.co.uk... [7] . http://www.citypages.com... [8] . https://en.wikipedia.org... [9] . http://biblehub.com... [10] . http://www.peta.org... [11] . http://www.huffingtonpost.com...