Bringing Down the Dogmen
How a pair of undercover cops infiltrated the secret world of Houston dogfighting.
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36 comments
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, 9:52 am
DANTE says:
DOG FIGHTING STILL IS GOING ON AN VICK WILL BE ON TOP AGAIN AND PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO GET OVER ALL OF THIS
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, 9:49 am
DANTE says:
GO ON BACK TO THAT LOW PAYING JOB YOU SHOULD BE GETTING PAID MORE I CAN GIVE YOU THAT
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, 9:31 am
Jason says:
This is too good.
1.A "MITE" is a small bug. Not sure if it is an insect or an invertabrate maybe you could tell me. Maybe you were trying for the word might??
2. 140.000 means you make $140.00 per year. If you mean $140,000 then you definatly should be considered uberwealthy.
3.Dam is a structure that blocks or retains a substance usually liquid. The expletive you are looking for is DAMN.
4. "DAM GO" try again. Like I said proof read.
Get your sleepy mat out and take a nap then try again. I’m done with this,its just too easy :)
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, 8:47 am
dante says:
JASON I MITE NOT BE THE BEST WRITER BUT I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT MAN AND FOR THE 140.000 PLUS A YEAR I MAKE I AM DOING DAM GO FOR NOT BEING SMART LOL..
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, 7:36 am
Jason says:
Can you read Dante? Do you actually process words and understand context as written? Do you have any idea about sentence structure? Have you ever heard the term subject verb agreement? Do you know about punctuation? Have you ever had grammer lessons? What does this mean: "PEOPLE ARE WILD HAD THESE ARE DOG WE TO DAY PUT DOG IN FRONT OF HUMANS LIFE"???? Here’s a helpful hint PROOFREAD!!!!
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, 8:49 pm
DANTE says:
COME ON BIG JOHN TELL ME I BET YOU WATCH UFC AND WATCH WHAT YOU ASK FOR REAL DOGMAN ARE VERY GAME THEY DONT TAP OUT AND IT’S NOT THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT ITT’S THE SIZE OF THE FIGHT IN THE DOG WHEN U RUN INTO A DOGMAN
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, 8:39 pm
dante says:
HERE WE GO AGAIN JUST ON VICK MAN YOU ARE NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT THE OTHER BALL PLAYER THAT KILL A HUMAN MAN PEOPLE ARE WILD HAD THESE ARE DOG WE TO DAY PUT DOG IN FRONT OF HUMANS LIFE
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, 4:36 pm
big john says:
dogfighters aree the scourge of the earth, for any human being tto be involved in this hideous murderous so called sport is beyond me. dogs cannot fend for themselves and rely on us to give them life or sustain their life.what we need are stiffer penalties for these dogmen, come on dogmen be my cellie because if i ever have the luck of having one of you as a cellie i will treat you the way you deserve to be treated
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, 10:58 am
Jason says:
OK....so like I said everyone can have their own opinions. I think the issues of dog fighting and abuse, rape and murder of humans is so far separated on the field of "wrongness", if you will, that comparisons of depravity and punishment are not possible. In order for you to have reached the conclusion that I chose to villify Vick over a person convicted of harming humans is to assume that you have knowledge of how I feel about many other areas of the criminal justice system. The comment I left addressed my consternation with the fact that Michael Vick will again be placed on a pedesatal and viewed by children and some adults as a superstar and potential role model. To equate dog fighting/killing with rape/murder of humans in this case is to say that since Vick can play football again we should give Charles Manson his own reality show. While our feelings may be the same, the issues are totally different.
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, 8:31 am
DANTE says:
DAM RIGHT JUICE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDER STAND THAT MAN WILL MAKE MONEY FOR THEM AND THEY DONT GIVE A CARE ABOUT NO DOGS AND THANK FOR SAYING THAT GUY SPENT DAYS IN JAIL FOR KILLING A HUMAN NOW I THEY NOT PROTESTING HIM AND JASON IF IT DOSNT BOTHERS YOU WHY ARE YOU MADE AT HIM AND WHY YOU WOULDNT DRESS UP FOR THE MAN THAT KILLED A HUMAN MAN THINK ABOUT THAT YOU ARE SO BACKWARDS
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009, 12:06 am
Juice says:
Please people. He fought dogs and then killed some of them. Why don’t you take up a different cause - like being angry when people get killed by other people. Good people are murdered each day by bad people and all you want to do is lead a protest against a guy who killed a few dogs?
Monday, August 17th, 2009, 2:57 pm
Jason Gilmer says:
I don’t care if people fight dogs it makes no difference to me one way or the other. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion even if it is like mine ie: no opinion. What bothers me is the fact that Michael Vick will suit up for the Eagles and start cashing massive paychecks again. The major sports organizations should implement across the board rules prohibiting persons under felony investigastion or convicted of felonies from participating in or recieving payment from sporting events. If I were a member of an NFL team pitted against the Eagles this season I would refuse to dress for the game.
Monday, August 17th, 2009, 9:17 am
DANTE says:
I BET MOST PEOPLE LOVE UFC FIGHTS AND I MUST SAY IF U ENJOY THAT U WOULD WATCH A DOGFIGHT U TRAIN THE SAME TIME 6-8 WEEKS U HAVE CAMPS THAT GO AT EACH OTHER THEY WEIGHT THE SAME AND THEY FIGHT FOR MONEY AND THE BIG THING HERE PEOLPE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE WATCHING IT VERY BLOOD SPORT ARMS BROKEN LEGS BROKEN MEN HEADS ARE SPLIT OPEN AND BLOOD JUST COMEIN OUT YOU MITE NOT SAY IT BUT THAT AS CLOSE AS U GET TO DOG FIGHTING
Monday, August 17th, 2009, 9:07 am
dante says:
POEPLE I KNOW ALL THIS ITS BAD BUT TO EACH IS OWN AND LET ME TELL U THIS PITTS ARE NOT AT ALL TRAINED TO FIGHT THAT IS SUCH BULL IF ONE LIKES TO FIGHT U FIGHT HIM ARE SHE IF NOT YOU DONT USE THEM IT IS THE SAME AS GREYHOUNDS YOU RUN ARE U DONT
Sunday, August 16th, 2009, 12:05 pm
Shari Greer says:
Between this story and that of NFL player Michael Vick, the issues of dog fighting are coming out. These animals are not demons, but the people who train them to fight ARE. Like babies, they are born to be molded into the characters they become. But unlike babies, they are sacrificed, at will, by horrible people who do nothing but abuse them. This type of crime is all too frequent, and until people take a stand that there is a zero tolerance in animal abuse, the fights will continue.
Saturday, August 15th, 2009, 12:22 pm
says:
The best burger is at Schroeder’s Place in Thorndale, Texas on Highway 79. It is on the left hand side of 79 just before you get to Thorndale. 0f course it is on right hand side leaving Thorndale headed toward Taylor, Texas.
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009, 8:30 am
dante says:
susan i understand that but let me say this you should want to know why the case was not exposed more and thats the big thing it could have been much bigger AND NOTE THIS MOST DOGS ARE NOT ELECTROCUTED AND BURNED JUST GIVE THEM AWAY AND DO U KNOW THAT SAME THING IS GOIN ON AT THE GREY HOUND TRACT IF A DOG IS NOT A RUNNER THEY ECECTROCUTE IT WHY IS THAT NOT LOOKED AT AND LIKE I SAID A LOT OF LIES WAS SAID IN THIS STORY AND IT WAS NOT SKIP HE WAS LIED TO
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009, 8:13 am
Susan says:
These officers took great risks to catch people who were already involved in the crime of dog fighting. Entrapment is when you encourage someone to do something that they would not otherwise do. While I understand the intent of the article, I was disappointed that more of the grim reality of dogfighting was not exposed. This is not a sport. This is cruelty. And these people are a menace not only to dogs, but to society.
Monday, August 10th, 2009, 3:10 pm
DANTE says:
LETS ME ASK THE READER THIS IN THE STORY THE COPS SAY THEY "LURE" THE DOGMAN TO THERE WAREHOUSE THAT SOUNDS LIKE ENTRAPMENT TO ME WHAT DO U THINK
Monday, August 10th, 2009, 2:47 pm
DANTE says:
MAN IF THE TRUTH CAME OUT ABOUT THIS CASE IT WOULD BE BAD I HERE THOSE COP WERE NO EVEN AT SOME OF THOSE FIGHT THEY JUST TALKED A GOOD GAME THATS ALL AND THEY LIED TO SKIP AND HE’S JUST WRITING WHAT THEY TOLD HIM
Monday, August 10th, 2009, 2:46 pm
eileen says:
RE: Dante
You can email your story to me and I’ll make sure Skip gets it. Thanks.
edsmith@texasmonthly.com
Monday, August 10th, 2009, 2:43 pm
dante says:
CAN SEE WHY SKIP WONT POST MY STORY I CAN TELL YOU ALL THE REAL STORY BUT HE IS NOT GOING TO LET IT COME OUT ABOUT HOW THOSE COP LIED ABOUT THE CASE...
Monday, August 10th, 2009, 1:55 pm
kimberly says:
Most average, educated people who can shape public policy do not know how violent dog fighting is. Most people do not get past the first paragraph of a true, vivid dog fighting article. It is just too gruesome. That is why this article is so very important!!! After all, folks across the country are screaming for a just-released-from-prison player to be back on the ball field! Most of the folks that are responding to this article with heart felt statements are street cops and animal rescuers.
Monday, August 10th, 2009, 12:28 pm
marc says:
I’m rubbing my eyes and shaking my head at the comments. How on earth could anybody read this article and think it glorifies dogfighting? It was a fairly well-written article about one specific case of two cops going undercover and bagging the bad guys in the end. It’s not supposed to be an expose on the cruelty of dogfighting, for the obvious reason that everyone knows how cruel it is, because other people have written other articles like that. Is it surprising that the people involved in dogfighting like it? If this kind of reality offends your sensibilities, then go back to reading Nancy Drew mysteries or whatever. Reality’s tough. People do bad things because they like doing them. It’s also beyond naive to think that an article in Texas Monthly is going to encourage people to take up dogfighting. Who do you think reads this magazine? A similar article in Hustler, I’d be worried about. Texas Monthly? Gimme a break.
Sunday, August 9th, 2009, 11:21 pm
Allison says:
I appreciate that you took the time to respond to my comment.
Perhaps to you, it seemed that you were just telling two sides of the story. These being the scum that promote the fight and a small portion about those who champion the war against it. You made these guys seem almost human, with a logical point of view. A sport? A relationship? Respect? Hardly! It is cruel, inhumane and illegal. AND they exposed their kids to it. RE: the child molester analogy, would you ever so blandly print something like "oh she really liked it, especially when I did this or that (specifically). He was only 4 years old, but I would treat him this way and then I’d ...... Would you expect that to be publicly accepted? You left out a very important view and a couple of points. How about that of the "bait animals". How do you think they enjoy their part in this story? How about what happens when a "loser fighter" is killed. Recon their last emotion is respect for their handlers? Ever wonder how many "free to a good home†animals go to these sickos? You know those ads in the paper, lost or missing from yard? Do you think those kids aren’t crying for their lost pets? Do you know dog fighters pay as little as a few bucks to have these former pets delivered to be used as bait? I could go on and on, but I really don’t want to think about it anymore. If you made one person see the "majesty" of this "sport," you have stolen years of efforts by those who have fought against this horror, not to mention the hell some animals will go through because somebody thought maybe it’s not so bad after all. Also, don’t think animal advocates were only glad this was broken up, but not concerned about the fighting. We are advocates because these babies can not speak for themselves. They have Rogers out there saying they LOVE the fight.
You want to do a really important story, do one on the overpopulation of domestic animals. The horrors of Puppy Mills. There are several in Texas. The “people†behind these operations~but don’t make them seem normal or loving for God’s sake! Take a look at PetLand and where they get their animals. Visit a shelter~(come see ours) and watch the heartache of putting these babies down due to overcrowding. Look in their eyes! Do a little research on a dog chained to a tree his whole life. Think that might make you a bit mean? Do that and I will not only subscribe, I will buy subscriptions as gifts!!
Allison
Sunday, August 9th, 2009, 5:18 pm
Yolanda says:
Thank you for the grim reminder that I live in Texas. Only in Texas would an article on dogfighting read like a western and paint a picture of animal abusers as simply misunderstood sportsmen. Regardless of what your “sportsman†said, our society and the law says it is animal cruelty. Maybe our protagonist, White Boy Rob, could arrange for you to attend one of these shows and you can witness first-hand seeing a dog rip another dog’s face off. And the bit about the dogs loving to fight? I respectfully disagree with your dogfighter turned animal behaviorist. We bred dogs to love pleasing us, their human masters. It’s unfortunate that to please humans like Rogers, these dogs have to kill or be killed, by another dog or Rogers. Perhaps if you had done your homework on the link between animal abuse and human violence and the increasing number of children who are attending these “sporting events†with their “family pets†you would not have painted such a compassionate figure of these criminals. What a disappointment.
Saturday, August 8th, 2009, 9:17 pm
SarahT says:
I cannot believe Texas Monthly would stoop so low as to publish this disgusting piece of trash "literature".
Dogmen are not sportsmen, they are despicable creatures who not only BREAK THE LAW, but show no respect for the value of a life. You cannot tell me that those who easily sit back and watch as the dogs they from birth are ripped to shreds - intestines, flesh, teeth, cartilage covering the ring - will in turn have respect for human life.
People underestimate how much work goes into training a dog to kill and how it affects the rest of us. Do you think it doesn’t affect you in your part of the neighborhood? You know your neighbor’s dog that came up missing out of their backyard one day - where do you think it went? It was taken and used as bait for training: it was mercilessly treated like a chew toy and used again and again it finally died a bloody death. Do you really believe those people won’t come for you and yours? You are not safe, I am not safe, NONE OF US ARE SAFE until dog fighting is completely shut down.
You do not illegally kill for money then spend the rest of your night knitting or helping an old lady cross the street. No, you peddle your crack and beat your prostitutes. You answer "free to a good home" ads for more bait animals, you beat your wife and children.
Texas Monthly may as well start running ads for dog fighting if you plan to publish trash like this article - and by the looks of it your author already knows where fights can be found. You don’t side with dogmen unless you are one.
Friday, August 7th, 2009, 11:22 pm
Lovesanimals says:
May all these murderers rot in jail - disgusting, lowlife - how pathetic that they choose to make money out of such barbaric practices - go fight your own fights and leave innocent animals out of it.
Friday, August 7th, 2009, 10:04 pm
Jackie says:
Tex. Mo. You should be ashamed. This is just unreal that a "respectable" publication like yours would do this. Everyone involved in this kind of "sport", even if it is for a story is a monster. These dogs are not killers by choice but have been beaten to be so. The "humans" and I use that very loosely, should be put down. Animal "sports", dog fighting,dog races,horse racing and etc. all are abuse. Tex. Mo. You shame on you.
Friday, August 7th, 2009, 6:37 pm
Vilma Laurel says:
That you would glorify such a disgusting display of human evil means you support it. I am done with a magazine that would adopt such a revolting ideology. I will encourage everyone I know to suspend support of your magazine.
Shame on you!
Friday, August 7th, 2009, 4:28 pm
Kristina says:
This article is extremely irresponsible, at best! It did NOT, in any way, show both sides of the story - only the sick sociopath’s distorted idea of a so-called sport. Animals do NOT kill for pleasure - that is a human trait. These dogs had no choice in the matter and for these "dogmen" to say they "loved" their dogs is like saying a child molester loves his child. I am extremely disappointed in Texas Monthly for publishing a story that basically glorifies dog-fighting & killing!
Friday, August 7th, 2009, 2:14 pm
Julie says:
I am very disappointed that this article was published from the prospective of the people involved in dog fighting. This is not a sport, it is violence and it perpetuates violence. The dogs are never treated as companion animals nor loved or cared for in a compassionate sense. They are trained just for the fight and God forbid they lose or back down. Across the nation you will see horrendous cruelty cases which many times are the result of dog fighting (burned dogs in Dallas, April 2009, dog in dumpster Austin, June 2009, for recent examples).
Then there is the drugs, gambling, and other offenses associated with dog fighting. Make this right and print an article about the cruelties behind dog fighting and how people can make a difference like the officers involved in this case. They risked their lives to go after the many behind this!
Friday, August 7th, 2009, 11:52 am
Kimberly says:
Does the author believe that undercover officers could do their job but be "unbelievable"? Of course they had to fit in! Why not mention the drugs, guns, gang members, murder warrants, etc. that were involved in this group? To print the comparison of boxing and dog fighting? A huge apology is owed to the many law and court officers who worked endless hours, many in very dangerous situations.
Thursday, August 6th, 2009, 10:36 am
Allison says:
Skip,
I read your article yesterday on the Teen (Football Player) in Dallas who was so lovingly cared for by his mom. I decided this was a magazine I’d like to receive and intended to order a subscription today. After seeing this, I will not. I’d hate to think I contributed one cent the anyone who would let this article go to press, let alone write it. I am from WF and I know you were raised better than to promote this side of the story.
Thursday, August 6th, 2009, 10:11 am
jos says:
what a ridiculous article, glorifying this senseless "sport" !!!! Tex. Mo. should be better than this.
Thursday, August 6th, 2009, 10:06 am
liss says:
Shame on you Texas Monthly for publishing such a story! Publicity of this type of cruel bloodsport only peaks interest into this horrendous activity!!
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