One of Methodism's early successes in 18th and 19th century Black Country was the gradual elimination of cruel sports such as bear and bull baiting, cock fighting and dog fighting. It is distressing to find that as the influence of Methodism weakens so these illegal sports are making a come back.During the last few years there have been a noticeable increase of the number of prosecutions for dog fighting, often from people living locally here in Smethwick. This week we read of distressing scenes on a Smethwick canal tow path where dogs killed in action are now casually discarded.
Of course gambling is the main reason for dog fighting.
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Ranulph Fiennes wrote a book called 'The Sett'. Much of its action takes place in the West Midlands. It is a valuable insight into the links between this kind of cruelty and other kinds of organised crime.
Gambling, although a social blight, does not necessarily lead to this kind of cruelty and evil. Dogfighting and the like are active choices to inflict and enjoy pain. In other forms of gambling the evil is more passive; it is consequence of the behaviour that is not looked for but comes anyway.
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