Your staring into the eyes of a dog twice your size and much stronger than you. Your hunger and the wounds on your face have barely healed after last night's battle, but you must move on. You are fighting for your life in a homemade ten by ten ring. All bets are against you and if you lose another fight, that man will take you where no dog has gone back. Every day, thousands of animals silently suffer from animal abuse. I am here to give voice to these animals and inform you of this serious problem. Animal fighting is a very common form of animal abuse. There are many different types but here are the most common. There is bullfighting, dog fighting, pig dog rodeo and cockfighting. In a bullfight, they are weakened before each fight by having their horns shaved and vaseline smeared on their eyes. They are poked and prodded to make them angry and then let loose in a ring where a matador repeatedly stabs them to death. In hog dog rodeos, one or two dogs attack pigs whose tusks have been broken. In cockfighting, roosters and hens are kept chained outdoors in poor conditions with little or no shelter or food. If they lose, the roosters and hens are killed by their trainers by electrocution, drowning, hanging, burning or shooting. Others may be left to die from wounds sustained in the lost battle. One of the best known animal fighting sports is dog fighting. Dog fighting began in the 1860s when men were looking for an affordable sport to watch. They began to fight bull dogs that were used as hunting dogs. These dogs were strong but not athletic enough. That's when they started fighting pit bulls because they were light and much more athletic than bulldogs. Breeders began breeding pit bulls... middle of paper... The brothers were accused of failing to provide veterinary care to a dying baby elephant and were fined $20,000. In late 2011, they were accused of improperly treating dangerous animals, failing to provide adequate veterinary care, causing trauma and stress to two injured elephants, and failing to test the elephants for tuberculosis; a common elephant disease and unsanitary feeding practices. The circus was hit with the largest lawsuit in circus history for $270,000. Animal abuse is a serious crime and should not be taken lightly. Animals around the world are exploited for entertainment and worked to death for the pleasure of others. Thousands of animals have become victims of animal abuse and if we don't put a stop to it, thousands more will suffer as well. They always say: dogs are man's best friend and I think it's time we repay the favor.