Is an App about Dog Fighting ‘Just a Game’?

By Lisa Spector, Juilliard Graduate, Canine Music Expert and co-founder of Through a Dog’s Ear.

An Android Dog Fighting App encouraging users to “feed, water, train and fight” virtual dogs was recently pulled off the Andorid market on April 28th, after protest from the Humane Society, thousands of animal lovers, and even from NFL player Michael Vick. By April 27th, over 100,000 people had downloaded the free app, according to the Twitter page of it’s developer, Kage Games. And yet, still on April 28, the website for Kage Games says “Coming Soon… Dog Wars. Raise your dog to beat the best.”

Don’t be fooled, if Dog Wars isn’t coming back on the market, a similar app with a different name is. Dog Bucks is a 99 cent purchasable item that gives your virtual dog 8000 “Dog Bucks” and an adrenaline shot to make sick, injured and dead dogs perform harder, faster, and meaner.

After just reading The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant, the story behind Michael Vick’s dogs and their tale of rescue and redemption, I am sickened that these apps were developed. And even worse, it was free for children to use without parental consent.

In the book, Gorant tells why people like Vick get easily seduced into the world of dog fighting. “They saw themselves in the dogs. In the exterior toughness and bravado, to a degree, but even more in the animal’s willingness to take on any challenge, to endure pain and injury, to never give up despite long odds and great difficulty. Viewed in such light, the dogs are noble and heroic, and that is how these men view their own struggle against the disadvantages they’ve had to contend with. Even more, there is a certain godlike feeling that comes with knowing that these creatures of superior toughness and strength and will are a product of their own making. The dog men have bred and selected and trained these animals, perfect symbols of their own triumph.”

Next: What you can do to discourage dog fighting apps

1 of 2

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Joe R.

2:22PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Thanks.

February 14
send a green star

5:49PM PST on Dec 2, 2011

woah

December 2
send a green star

Pat M.

12:59PM PDT on Jul 17, 2011

it is unbelievable

July 17
send a green star

Kate A.

5:11PM PDT on Jun 27, 2011

A game about dog fighting? That's stupid

June 27
send a green star

Jamie W.

2:09PM PDT on Jun 12, 2011

As much as i'd like to believe that this is a healthier alternative to actually going out and being a part of dog fighting, i don't..i believe it only encourages people who aren't already doing this to become more interested in it, the world doesn't need any more violence, and we certainly don't need to teach kids and what few peaceful people there are in this world to take up cruel behaviors and habits.

June 12
send a green star

Don S.

5:11PM PDT on May 15, 2011

if anyone thinks these jerks are getting away with the misappropriate behavior of putting Gods creatures in harms way think again.... Hell awaits those who cause the harm of any of these wonderful creatures.

May 15
send a green star

Yvonne S.

10:56AM PDT on May 14, 2011

I have no doubt that people can be influenced by what they see in so called "games" and films too. My daughter, at the age of 13, was attacked by 5 teenage girls (who did not know her) and amongst other things they burnt her with a cigarette lighter and tried to make her drink vinegar, and also tried to make her drink water mixed with chilli powder. When questioned by the police they admitted that they had seen it in a film. :(