When and how did dogfighting come to America?
Although there are historical accounts of dogfights going back to the 1750s, widespread activity emerged after the Civil War, with professional pits proliferating in the 1860s, mainly in the Northeast. Ironically, it was a common entertainment for police officers and firemen, and the Police Gazette served as a major source of information on dogfighting for many years. Although many laws were passed outlawing the activity, dogfighting continued to expand throughout the 20th century.
