Trunking

[Elyse Orecchio]

Message from Lenny:
Someone told me about a horrible new practice called 'trunking'. She said that two dogs are put into the trunk of a car the music is turned up load and the dogs fight until one comes up dead. Have you heard of such a thing before?

[PJ]

Hi, I recently read about this new form of dog fighting. They do it because it is more discreet. I read a quote that stated that driving around smoking a blunt while this was going on was a huge rush.
Isn't loud music against the law in most states? It seems this would give them cause to stop them. Once the music was turned down they should be able to hear as I really doubt the dogs would stop for that.
It is disgusting what lengths people will go to so they can get their "kicks". Laws have to be made stronger as these "people" get more creative.

[Lenny]

I encounter a lot of vehicles blaring their music. From now on I am going to focus my attention on any noise coming from the trunk. The mistake these crazy people make is that someone can take down their licence # and call the police while following them.

[PJ]

You are so correct and I hope people do get involved. Apparently these "people" get a thrill from hearing them knocking around in the trunk as they can still hear that. Turns my stomach.

[Dr. Randall Lockwood]

I have learned to never say "now I've heard everything" and in the world of bloodsports there are many sick and twisted variations. This would meet the legal definition of "dogfighting" in most, if not all, states and could be prosecuted as a felony offense in every state. We are currently developing resources for local police in responding to animal cruelty in general and dogfighting in particular and we will make officers aware of the fact that such a practice should be considered a serious and violent crime.

[Cordelia Jones]

Dear Dr. Lockwood:

I thought I had heard enough horror stories about animal cruelty, but this "trunking" is most horrid. As you state this is technically dogfighting, why would these cruel people put the dogs in the trunk to fight to the death? And, they just turn up the stereo so they cannot hear it? It seems to me that most of what I have read regarding dogfighting, is that those who go to watch and bet on the dogs, actually enjoy watching the dogfights. (I know it is a sick notion to enjoy such an inhumane thing.) But if people who have fighting dogs or go to dogfights enjoy it, it seems by putting the dogs in a trunk and turning up the stereo so they do not hear them fighting is a different breed of inhumane person. For lack of a better statement, they do not even have the stomach to watch. Cordelia

[Elyse Orecchio]

Yes, I see what you mean. This is killing dogs for the sake of killing them, entirely removing the "sport" aspect of it. It makes it even more pointless (if that were even possible) and therefore 10 times as disgusting. I'm so glad Lenny brought this to our attention. Now we all know to look out for it.

[Lenny]

I only hear about it through someone else. Perhaps it's not true. I hope so. It does sound especially cruel and heartless.

I wanted to know if anyone else had heard about it.

[Dr. Randall Lockwood]

This level of sadism is what often sets apart the "street fighters" from the "professionals" in dogfighting. The thrill is in the empowerment of causing pain, suffering and death - rather than producing an athletic animal who defeat his rivals. Thus the people involved in this are at an even greater risk of perpetrating all kinds of crimes for the same reason. I would hope that any people caught in this practice would be considered to be among the most dangerous of offenders!