Dogfighting Puts Everyone's Life on the Line

	The HSUS/Green
	Joyce Hunter and Mahogany Birdine hold an HSUS poster outside the house where their son and father, respectively, was killed two years ago.

by Erica L. Green

According to his family, Julius Birdine would have given his life for his two pit bulls. But they never thought he'd have to.

And to this day Birdine's mother, Joyce Hunter, still can't believe that he did.

The last weekend of June, Hunter and about 50 anti-violence and anti-dogfighting supporters rallied on Chicago's South Side against the epidemics they say are plaguing their neighborhoods.

Supporters of The HSUS's End Dogfighting in Chicago campaign kicked off the rally, held just doors down from where Birdine was killed.

This June 25 marked two years since the 26-year-old was killed protecting his dogs, "Lil' Mama" and "Pepper," from a man who tried to force him to fight them. Birdine had never fought his dogs before and said that he never would.

"He had passion for those dogs," Hunter said. "He lost his life over the dogs. I didn't want to believe that. But that's just what it is."

Killed for Defending His Dogs

On June 25, 2006, as his wife sat beside him on the porch and his 10-year-old daughter slept upstairs at their home in South Side, two men approached Birdine—badgering him to fight his two dogs.

The HSUS/Riley
Dogfighting destroys the lives of dogs and people and can devastate communities.

When Birdine refused, one of the men came into his yard where the dogs were playing and physically assaulted one of the pit bulls. As Birdine went to the aid of his dog, he and the man argued briefly.

Since he refused to fight them, Birdine knew the man was about to try to steal the dogs, his mother said. And he was going to protect them—if it was the last thing he'd do.

As he walked up to the porch with his dogs, Birdine was shot in the back. About two minutes later, the man came back and shot Birdine twice in the head.

Refusal to Fight

In a way, Hunter said, she was not surprised that the dogfighting proposition could be fatal. It wasn't the first time that Birdine had a run-in with the men who wanted to engage him in a dogfight.

They had approached him one day that she was visiting Birdine at home. She could sense the tension and tried to persuade her son to give his dogs away.

"I told him they were bringing danger to his household," Hunter recalled. "I remember the anger in his face. He said, 'These are just my dogs—why do I need to get rid of my dogs? Why me? They're mine.'"

Hunter said that within five days of his death, Burdine's wife—Brandy—had to give the dogs away because they became sick in his absence.

"It was like they lost their father," Hunter said.

	The HSUS/Green
	Community members released balloons in memory of Julius Birdine and others who lost their lives to violence.

More Than One Lost Life

Now, Hunter and Brandy say they are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. Hunter said she will continue to be a face for The HSUS's End Dogfighting in Chicago campaign and share her story to illustrate the toll that dogfighting can take on communities and families.

Her son and the man who killed him are the ultimate example, Hunter said. In a sense, both lost their lives.

The man who shot Birdine—now just 22 years old—was charged with first-degree murder and will be sentenced this month. If convicted, he could get a minimum of 35 years in prison.

"[Dogfighters] need to realize that it's just not worth it," Hunter said. "It can ruin people's lives. They both lost theirs. You shouldn't be losing your life over an animal."

She added, "But Julius saved three people's lives that day: his wife and his daughter, and his dogs."

What You Can Do

Get the facts on dogfighting, and find out ways you can help stop it.

Related Links

Dogfighting

Dogfighting Fact Sheet

Ranking of State Dogfighting Laws

Taking Action to End Dogfighting: How to Spot the Signs and What You Can Do

End Dogfighting in Chicago

Religious Leaders Pledge to Denounce Dogfighting in Chicago