MUNCIE, Ind. (NLI) - Some people think pitbulls are vicious animals trained to fight.
Muncie's Unconditional Love dog owners' group wants to change that image with the "How Strong is Your Dog" weight pulling contest.
Group member Jill Dolon said Muncie has a dog fighting problem. The weight pulling contest is a competition labeled as a healthy alternative for pitbulls and other burly canines.
Dolon doesn't presume Unconditional Love can put a stop to dog fighting. Instead, her concentration is on teaching children to compete with their pets in a humane way.
"If we get the kids, maybe we've eliminated a generation of dog fighters," Dolon said.
During the competition, dogs test their strength by pulling sleds filled with dog food. The pooch that pulls the most, wins.
At a recent event, Tim Clark brought his dog, Bones. The duo didn't win, but Clark said they would be back.
"Oh yeah. We'll be here. He's not a sore loser," Clark said.
