Dogfighting phone app called 'cruel,' 'sickening' by LAPD union chief [Updated]

The head of the Los Angeles police union said Monday that a dogfighting game application for cellphones should be yanked from the market because it glorifies illegal activity and promotes "cruel and immoral" behavior.

Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said he was particularly concerned that the Dog Wars game created by Kage Games would be embraced by local gang members and encourage them to engage in dogfighting.

"It's sickening, absolutely sickening," Weber said. "They should take it down immediately. These animals are defenseless. It's absolutely the wrong message to send to our children."

The Dog Wars app for the Android smart phone operating system encourages players to "Raise your dog to beat the best" and allows players to train a virtual pit bull to fight other virtual dogs and build street cred that "puts money in your pocket and lets you earn more in fights."

The company's website notes that the game player has a "gun for police raids and can inject the dog with steroids."

The Humane Society of the United States also released a statement urging Android to drop Dog Wars from its applications and calling the game "a step backward."

The humane society and other animal rights groups have been trying to educate the public about the dangers of professional and street dogfighting in the wake of the federal conviction of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in connection with a dogfighting ring at his former Virginia residence. 

"Because Dog Wars actually instructs players on how to condition a dog using methods that are true to organized dogfighting, this game may be a training ground for young people to try the activity in the real world, encouraging cruelty to dogs and leading young people down a dead-end path," said Wayne Pacelle, the humane society's chief executive.

[Updated 1:30 p.m.: Michael Vick issued a statement Monday critical of Dog Wars. “I’ve come to learn the hard way that dog-fighting is a dead-end street,” Vick said in the statement. “Now, I am on the right side of this issue, and I think it’s important to send the smart message to kids, and not glorify this form of animal cruelty, even in an Android app.”]

An email to Kage Games was not immediately returned, but the creators have responded to criticism in an online statement, saying it is not illegal and other games on the video market include crime or killing as part of the gaming experience.

"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," company officials said in the statement.

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-- Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[shadowpark]

As a member of the game developer community I am shocked that this is even being developed it puts a black mark on the whole game development community, I looked at this game and it is a pile of junk totally developer by the looks of it by gangsters some one should look in to there funding!

[tedder]

I'm guessing Mr. Weber hasn't heard of GTA or other games. If someone uses a flight simulator, do they steal a Southwest airplane and go fly it?

Fail.

[Blue Circle]

It's a crime how Kage Games can produce something so violent! There should be laws against immoral games.

[Jose A]

I wonder how many downloads (aside from mine) this article has generated for Dog Wars? Anytime a controversial game like this gets any media coverage, such as Grand Theft Auto, the number of people who play the game only goes up. It goes to the old saying in Hollywood that any coverage is better than no coverage at all.

[Al]

This'll go down well with our fine upstanding illegal "immigrants"

[Allivoyl]

Where is PETA when you need them???

[amiskuli]

well thats true of almost all video games

[SmartAssProducts.com]

This is disgusting. Shame on the despicable creatures behind this game. Perhaps they'd like to have done to them what they're advocating be done to innocent, helpless dogs. Shame.

[James Andrews]

We are certainly ready to ban anything offensive these days. I thought freedom allowed people to pretend to behave badly even if they cannot do so in real life.

[police/fire Unions are corrupt]

Can't wait for Tax Wars where the elitest tax the common person; winner is determined on how much you can tax the people before they riot on you...

[Jon K.]

People who are into dog fighting are cruel, unfeeling monsters-to-be.

[Jim]

Oh come on, lighten up.

It is just another way killing is glorified in the US.

They tried to ban Grand Theft Auto III but good old 1st Amendment says it's just mine fine to humiliate, torture and kill people in a game (sic). Not to mention the most important part it makes lots of lovely money.

[huh?]

would you rather they fight real or virtual animals...? next you morons will want to ban bugs bunny and friends since they constantly attack each other as well as humans. if someone cannot distinguish reality from a game, then they have bigger problems than simply playing a game.

[JC]

So killing people on games is OK but not dogs.What a bunch of morons.

[Gretchen Fromerth]

It's nice too see that someone would find this offensive . I live in CT and found your news paper article on line and just wanted to say thank you for speaking up for the animals

[soul]

So its ok for apps like mafia wars and contract killer sniper games that teach you how to kill people and sell drugs..But dog fighting is taboo? please... pure garbage

[Schigolch]

This is for working-class people and we should just leave them to it.

[the unwashed]

And who is standing up for the poor pigs who are being sbused by those angry birds????

[Alex]

TO HUH
"if someone cannot distinguish reality from a game, then they have bigger problems than simply playing a game."

if you havent realized already that IS the problem. all the stupid idiots who play these games CANT differentiate between playing a game and reality. They take what they do in this False world and use it in the real world.

we emulate what we see in media. grand theft auto shouldnt be a game anymore than this dog fighting game. who is so bored with their lifes that they need to steal cars in video games? and even worse who needs to fight dogs on a computer screen?

[Duke Nukem]

Wow, fictional dogs in fictional fights, sure sounds illegal to me. You people must really be living the good life if this is all you can find to complain about .

[tedder]

the unwashed, you are right, WHAT ABOUT THE PIGS BEING KILLED BY ANGRY BIRDS?!

C'mon folks.

[r c]

If you think thats bad go to Amazon.com and search `dog fighting'. I will Never buy anything from that site.

[Alex]

fictional fights......
do you watch the news?
Do you know what happens? THIS IS REALITY.

kids play these games and think its cool and turn this into REALITY.
I think you are living in a fictional world if you think this isnt a problem.

[Janice]

It's impossible to remove a Android app from the marketplace. Anyone can write them... and they can contain anything.

That's why Apple *CHECKS* their apps before releasing them.

[Chucks]

Have these people never seen Grand Theft Auto? You can score cash by slicing up Grandmas with katanas and generally engaging in theft, car stealing and murder. If dog-fighting is not permissible, neither is that.