Claim: Las Vegas casino owners and the Nevada Gaming Commission are lobbying to legalize dog fighting.
FALSE
Example: [Collected via email, October 2014]
There is an article on a website known as "Empire News" which states that casino owners in
Is this true ????
Origins: On
The steady decline in revenue affecting many casinos across the country has forced many gaming houses to seek other sources of income. As a result, the gambling industry has been quietly seeking a controversial betting offshoot — legalized and industry regulated dog fighting
Social media users erupted in anger and disgust at the claim as it wended its way through Facebook and similar sites:
"Think of the images of Michael Vick and everything else that comes to mind when you mention dog fighting," said Roger Kenny, administrator with the Nevada Gaming Commission. In a press release he stated, "If we regulate dog fighting, promote it as a sport, eventually people will come to accept it, and it will be as common as blackjack or prostitution. We'd like to change the negative perception that certain groups have put out there about the activity," he said.
If the "as common as blackjack or prostitution" line didn't tip off readers to the article's true nature, the following should have:
Dog trainer and television host Cesar Millan said, "This is the most inhumane act that I can think of. Dogs are our companions and are among the most intelligent creatures on Earth. Something like this with cats, now that I could understand," continued Millan. "Put a couple of cats in a boxing ring, maybe with little gloves and helmets — nobody's going to give a crap, it's just cats. But with dogs, it's different — they're man's best friend. When I heard this news I wanted to rabidly tear the Commission's collective throat out.
Of course, you'd be
A disclaimer page on Empire News admits the publication "is a satirical and entertainment website."
Last updated: 20 October 2014