The use of anabolic steroids has not only spread in various human sports but also in the world of animal training. It has been reported that horses used in horse racing were given performance enhancing drugs to help them grow more, and this practice has been limited by a law passed this New Year. Now, news of steroid administration in dogs used in illegal dog fighting has been released. Seventeen pit bulls were seized in a house converted to a fighting arena for dogs. Some of the dogs were found to have been given androgenic steroids to increase their strength and trigger aggression. During the raid, police also found syringes and a liquid substance which is believed to be steroids, $300 in cash and marijuana. While the 9 people arrested were found to have possession of the prescription drugs, this might be the least of their problems now with charges of animal cruelty and illegal gambling.

From Detroit Free Press:

The arrests occurred around 2 a.m. after cops on patrol from the Detroit Police Central District saw a man near a vacant home in the 500 block of Mt. Vernon carrying a pit bull in a crate, Sgt. Eren Stephens-Bell said.

“They saw the man walk toward the rear of the home,” she said. “They followed and they saw him rubbing off what looked to be blood in the snow.”

The officers looked inside the home and saw a makeshift dogfighting ring, with plywood boards serving as walls. They called for backup.

After more officers arrived, they raided the home and arrested seven men and two women, ranging in age from 20 to 47, while seizing 17 pit bulls.

Detroit Police Chief James Barren explained that dogfighting is a very cruel game that promotes violence and should not be tolerated. The pit bulls seized were brought to Detroit Animal Control and experts are still unsure of what the future of these dogs would be.

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From the Arizona Daily Star:

South Tucson voters approved an initiative Tuesday night to regulate the care and handling of dogs.

South Tucson voters backed the Tucson Dog Protection Initiative 402 to 373.

The initiative applies to all dogs, but targets those at Tucson Greyhound Park.

It makes it illegal to feed dogs raw and diseased meat and to inject dogs with anabolic steroids or other artificial performance-enhancing substances. The initiative also requires that dogs be kept in a minimum-size cage for no more than 18 hours.

Greyhound racers often are fed diseased or raw meat, injected with steroids to keep female dogs from going into heat and kept in cages for more than 18 hours.

Greyhound racing is a popular form of entertainment in many countries, and in several countries this sport is a form of gambling. The United States, Australia, the Untied Kingdom, and Ireland are some of the countries in which greyhound racing is a popular form of legalized gambling.

Greyhounds are considered to be the fastest breed of dog, and thus they are bred primarily for coursing and racing games. The agility and speed of this breed of dog is attributed to its long, powerful legs, and aerodynamic build.

Anabolic steroids are also used in another form of dog contest known as dogfighting. This blood sport is outlawed in most countries, but it still is prevalent as an underground form of gambling.

The pit bull terrier is the commonly preferred breed in dog fighting scene since this breed is known for its high prey drive – aggression towards animals like rabbits, cats, and fowls. Further, pit bulls are generally dog-aggressive.

Breeders often use anabolic steroids to bulk up their dogs and to increase their aggression during the contest, which usually takes an hour to two hours in length.

Dogfights end when one of the dogs will not or cannot continue because of injuries sustained. According to the Humane Society of the United States, dogs used in these events often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion, or infection hours or even days after the fight.

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