Tell Google That Dog Fighting is Not a Game

Animal Welfare, Petitions — By Bonnie Taylor on November 18, 2011 1:16 pm

Target: Larry Page, Co-founder and C.E.O

Goal: To urge Google to remove the KG Dogfighting game from its application marketplace.

KG Dogfighting is the reinvention of the brutal virtual game, Dog Wars, released by Kage Games, L.L.C. The first dog fighting game released by the company was forcibly removed from the marketplace amid public outcry over its graphic glamorization of dog fighting but this new version is still available for purchase by users over the age of 13. Gamers feed, train, and fight their virtual dogs in all too realistic demonstrations of blood and gore that result in the ultimate death and dismemberment of other virtual dogs. The dog fighters are also armed with weapons in the event of a police raid and have the ability to inject their dogs with steroids. Essentially, this game teaches the user how to be a criminal dog fighter.

The makers of the gaming application justify it by adding the following to the game description; “Just because something is illegal in real life in certain countries, does not mean it is illegal to make a song, movie, or video game about it”. Google seems to uphold this sentiment by their direct refusal to remove the game from their marketplace. The game description is also riddled with sarcastic puns toward their “detractors” including; “Perhaps one day we will make gerbil wars or beta fish wars for people who can’t understand fantasy role play games” The very idea that this company considers this a “fantasy” game serves to prove that they are attempting to profit from the sickness that causes some members of society to pursue torturing animals as a means for emotional and monetary gratification.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Humane Society of the United States, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have all urged Google to permanently remove this game from the Android marketplace. Please let Google know that dog fighting is a serious violation of animal welfare that endangers more than animals as it is almost always associated with organized crime, drugs, and violent crimes against humans and that this horrific activity should not be glamorized or deemed acceptable even in a virtual setting.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Larry Page,

I respectfully ask that you reconsider your company’s position on the marketing and distribution of the KG Dogfighting application as this game is intended to glamorize the torture of animals’ for profit.

While I respect your intentions to allow your users to decide what applications they deem appropriate for their own use, I am concerned by this games ability to desensitize the public to the horrific reality of dog fighting for both the animals and the people who live in areas where this illegal activity takes place.

Please take a stand against animal cruelty by permanently removing this application from the marketplace.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]