It’s a
consensus position that dogfighting is abusive and unacceptable, and an important part of
our work at The HSUS and HSLF involves strengthening the state and federal laws
to combat this practice. But it’s not enough just to wrestle down the cruelty
and put people in jail when it occurs—we also need to reach out to young people
and make sure they don’t get lured into the world of dogfighting in the first
place.
In 2006, The
HSUS launched an innovative
grassroots program to target dogfighting in urban neighborhoods of Chicago.
Our ambassadors talk to young men at risk for getting involved in this crime, and
interrupt dogfights in progress on the streets. We give them alternatives to
dogfighting, such as pit bull training classes that showcase pit bulls as
friends, not fighters. We improve the lives of the young men who learn to
celebrate the human-animal bond, and we improve the welfare of dogs through
vaccinations, doghouse giveaways, and other community events.
The program
has been so successful in Chicago, that we’re expanding it to Atlanta and Los Angeles. And I’ll be attending a very special Hollywood
event on May 9th for the official kickoff of The HSUS’s “End
Dogfighting in Los Angeles” campaign. This elegant evening, dubbed “Casino
Royale: Playing for Change,” is co-sponsored by PokerStars, and will feature casino
games, a celebrity poker tournament, gourmet food, a martini and wine bar, and
a silent auction. Tickets start at $350 each and include chips to all casino games.
A number of celebrities will join us at the casino event, including Corey
Feldman, Jorja Fox, Matt Grant, Bill Maher, Charlotte Ross, Hal Sparks, and
Michael Vartan. And a special celebrity poker tournament will feature
PokerStars pro Greg Raymer, who won an historic $5 million prize in the 2004
World Series of Poker; actor Vince Van Patten, the King of the Hollywood Home
Game and host of the World Poker Tour; and actress Shannon Elizabeth, the
winner of multiple tournaments.
There are a
few seats left at the table, and you
can bid online for a chance to play with these poker paladins. It’s a
unique opportunity to go head-to-head with five celebrity poker players and
four other winning bidders. The tournament winner will be eligible for a prize
package valued at $15,000—and can choose a PokerStars Caribbean Adventure or a
seat at the Las Vegas World Series of Poker.
Dogfighting not only
claims the lives of tens of thousands of dogs each year, but also brings
violence and drug trafficking to our communities, and ruins the lives of young
men who start down this dead-end path. Make a sure bet and help us provide a more positive
environment for people and dogs, in Los Angeles and in all communities impacted
by this crime. Join me at “Casino
Royale: Playing for Change” on May 9th, and go all in for
animals.
