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This year, a dog fight championship is being prepared in Bukhara region, sparking shock and outrage. The organizers, without hesitation, claim that the event is aimed at “caring for animals” and “demonstrating their athletic abilities.” This statement sounds like mockery: dogs that will tear each other apart are supposedly participating in the event for their own benefit. How can anyone in their right mind call this care? And that’s not all—the organizers promise exhibitions and musical programs to create the illusion of a harmless show, but the real goal is obvious—cruelty for the sake of entertainment.
Dog fighting is one of the most barbaric and bloody forms of “entertainment.” Animals are artificially pitted against each other, subjected to physical and psychological torment, breaking their will and instincts. These events not only cause irreparable harm to the animals but also promote the growth of violence and aggression in society. In such “championships,” dogs, bleeding profusely, fight for their lives, their bodies break under blows, and their souls suffer under the weight of fear and pain. This is not a sport, not a show—this is sadism elevated to the status of a spectacle.
In most civilized countries, cruelty to animals is strictly prosecuted by law. In Russia, a law “On Responsible Treatment of Animals” was signed in 2018, which explicitly prohibits the organization of animal fights. This law is aimed at protecting animals from abuse and cruelty, and it also bans the dissemination of content related to such cruelty.
In the United States, dog fighting is considered a serious crime, and the organizers face severe punishments, including prison terms. In the UK, cruelty to animals is punishable by up to 51 weeks in prison and hefty fines. These countries understand that such events destroy the moral foundations of society and the healthy relationship between humans and animals.
Despite the fact that several years ago, back in 2019, Tashkent’s Department of Internal Affairs promised to develop measures to tighten penalties for illegal animal fights, no real steps have been taken in this direction. Officials, who should be protecting public interests and ensuring law enforcement, for some reason turn a blind eye to these barbaric events. Who ultimately bears responsibility for the fact that such monstrous “championships” continue to take place?
The organizers try to justify their actions by hiding behind false statements about “caring” for animals, but how can we speak of care when living creatures are turned into toys for cruel spectacles? This is absurd, and society should not tolerate it.
By supporting such atrocities, we not only legitimize cruelty but also contribute to the degradation of culture and moral values. Dog fighting is not about sports or breeding; it’s about promoting violence, which inevitably spreads to other areas of life. We must fight for our society to develop in the spirit of humanity and care for the weak, not in the spirit of cruelty and violence.
In 2023, volunteers in Bukhara found three dogs with disfigured faces after dog fights. This case should have been a call to action, but unfortunately, the authorities chose to stay on the sidelines. Moreover, the laws of Uzbekistan are still not strict enough: Article 111 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides only a small fine for cruelty to animals (from 2 to 5 MMW). These measures are insufficient and only fuel a sense of impunity among those who participate in such events.
Society must say a firm and resolute “no” to dog fighting—so loudly that officials understand this and stop supporting and allowing such events, and instead begin to fight them fiercely.
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article
