Afghan Dogfight, A Photo Essay

(photo by P.J.)

Dog fighting has long been a tradition of the sporting class in Afghanistan. The practice was banned under the Taliban, but since the US invasion of 2001, the practice has returned with a vengeance here in Kabul.

I put together a photo essay of two dog fights that I attended in the capital last month, the images can be found below the jump.

The pictures are neither gruesome or particularly hard to look at. The dogs are mastiff-like beasts and the fights themselves have more in common with wrestling than the bloody death matches fought by pit bulls. These fights are not “to the death.” None of these dogs were injured (as far as I could tell) and a fight ends when a dog is pinned on his or her back.

This post is not meant to condone or protest these dog fights, just to show you what goes on here.

Now, without further ado, I give you an Afghan dog fight (all photos by P.J. Tobia)…

Before the fight can begin, all of the prospective bettors size up the dogs. The dogs are leashed and some are so big that it takes two men to restrain them. Owners stand by, talking up the relative merits of their animal. A lot of money changes hands at these things (I once met a man who lost a Toyota Landcruiser betting on a dog fight) so everybody takes a good look at at who’s fighting. The looking can go on for hours.

The dogs are matched for fighting by an odds maker.

At this point, the scene takes on a carnival atmosphere, with vendors selling snacks…

…and dice games for cash.

Finally it is time for the fights to start. The man pictured above is running the show, and he calls for the first pair of dogs.

“Whooo will fiiiight this dooog Aaaafghanistaaaaan?!?!’ he yells, like an Afghan Michael Buffer.

The call is answered and a fight begins.

Most of the fights last about two minutes and quickly end up on the ground…

…and are then broken up by the dog’s owners.

I was told by a friend before going to this dog fight that I should be careful, because human fights often break out at these things.

My friend was not wrong. This fight turned into a near riot, with dogs and men and cops all going after each other. It was a scary mess. The brilliant Rafal Gerszak and I had to flee the scene, almost running into a few very angry dogs in the process.

Unfortunately, Raf was not fast enough:

Here’s Raf’s leg after one of the fighting dogs took a bite. We had to drive to three hospitals before we found a rabies vaccine. He turned out ok though.