Humane Society To Kids: Stop Dogfighting In Atlanta

It is not uncommon to spot DeAndre Weaver strolling through Northwest Atlanta streets with his loyal pit bulls Champ and Gia at his side. However, unlike many other young men in his neighborhood, he does not scour the community in search of fellow dog owners willing to “fight” their pets for status or winnings from small wagers. He patrols the area — with a stack of fliers in hand—promoting the contrary. “It’s a very serious issue; I have a lot of associates who do fight dogs and some of them are young,” he says. “It’s very important to let them know that they can do other things besides fight their dog.”

Weaver, 24, is now an ambassador of sorts for The Humane Society of the United States’ (The HSUS) End Dogfighting campaign, an initiative now underway in Atlanta and two other U.S. cities, that aims to divert at-risk youth away from urban or “street” dogfighting.