With the importation of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier into the United States at around 1817, dog fighting quickly became a popular pastime in this country.
During the 1860s, the ‘sport’ was made illegal in most states in the U.S. However, the new state laws did little to stop the ‘sport.’ With the support of much of the populace and some local and police officials, the activity continued to flourish in the late 19th and early 20th Century: books devoted to the ‘sport’ were published, breeders specialized in developing fighting dogs (Colby, Komosinsky, etc.), world championship fights with large purses were held, and such groups as the United Kennel Club provided rules, approved referees, and an organizational framework for the ‘sport.’
The 1930s and ‘40s saw a decline of the ‘sport,’ with such groups as the United Kennel Club disassociating themselves from the activity. The last decade (‘60s and ‘70s) however has seen a major growth in the ‘sport’: two new publications have been established to further dog fighting (Sporting Dog Journal, 1967; Pit Dog Report, 1970), a breeding registry dedicated to fighting dogs has been revitalized, and the number of actively involved individuals in the ‘sport’ has expanded from 2,500 in 1962 to 5,000 in 1974.
