Arde is speaking out against dog fighting with a new poster being released today for the award-winning Knock Out Dog Fighting program. Arde joins a growing list of professional athletes who have teamed up with the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization For Pits' Sake, Inc. and their anti-dog fighting campaign “Knock Out Dog Fighting”.
The award winning "Knock Out Dog Fighting" program is an unprecedented awareness and educational campaign, created by For Pits' Sake, Inc. founder Kris Crawford, to combat the cruel and inhumane activity of dog fighting. “We are very excited to have Ray as part of our team!" says Crawford. “He is a symbol of strength and is joining us at schools and juvenile detention centers to help us teach children and young adults that strength is not about how much you can lift or how much power you have over someone or something. It’s about what’s inside – your soul and spirit – and standing up for what’s right.”
An increasing number of children are growing up isolated in urban and suburban areas, challenged by violence, substance abuse, and peer pressure. By the time many of these children reach school age or adolescence, their ability to “attach” to others has become weakened or absent. So they seek acceptance with their peers, often times engaging in illegal activities as a way to prove they are “cool” or “tough”.
"Getting and fighting a pit bull has become a way for inner-city youth to show their toughness, they use it as a stature builder and in doing so, they give no thought to what the animals involved endure." says Crawford. "Unfortunately, the high profile arrest of NFL star Michael Vick for dog fighting only generated more interest among urban youth. They saw a role model involved and thought 'If Vick does it, it's cool.'"
That’s why the Knock Out Dog Fighting program is so important. “We are out in the community, on the ground level, in schools and juvenile detention centers with positive role models to show children and young adults that it is not a sign of strength, power or greatness to fight, torture or abuse animals,” said Crawford.
Arde agrees. “It’
Many people and organizations condemn dog fighting, but very few take any action to stop it. “Our members are elite athletes and role models that are stepping up and taking action,” Crawford said. “We are actively involved in stopping dog fighting and saving lives, both animal and human, by teaching empathy for animals and helping at-risk youth make better choices, develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles. This reduces the potential of involvement in dog fighting and other gang related activities.”
For more information about the award-winning Knock Out Dog Fighting program and how you can help, go to http://www.KnockOutDogFighting.org
