Culture of fighting pets

Southern Punjab is dominant with a culture of fighting pets and the trend seems to be travelling through the rural areas and villages of the province. The tradition is not very common but off late it has become a sport to entertain big landlords who inadvertently earn money by betting on fighting pets.

The pets involved in the sport include camels, dogs, bears, roosters and pigs. Sometimes the fights carry out in different processions and gatherings where thousands have invest in gambling.

Gambling has recently been more prevalent with fighting cocks as compared to other pets. On the one hand, this trend seems to be generating income for the locals but on the other hand, it also propagates intolerance.

Animals’ likes roosters and dogs undergo training process before the competition date is announced for animals to fight with each other. In the midst of these rivalries, many a scuffle arises between various families and despite all the problematic linkages it still manages to find thousands of avid spectators to watch the fight .

While talking to The Express Tribune, one of the land lords who has even kept lions at his personal residence said, “It’s a great tradition. We have no other enjoyment and it’s a tradition that has run in our families has now become part of our culture. People earn in millions every year on these fights but we just arrange the competition,” said the native.

“Sometimes animals are served with blood as food to make them fiercer. Lots of money is spent on the nourishment and food of these animals by the landlords and they claim that this is a matter of their honour and pride,” he added.

“Most of the injured animals are killed afterwards. Cocks are the most easily accessible animals for these brawls in rural areas which can be afforded by the common man of the village. They are available in the open market and then it’s even easy to train them. The second priority is given to dogs and sometimes these events are so hyped up that they take place in some feudal lords house,” added the land lord.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2011.