My mother told us when we were young that we were born to fight.
When I was raised, I was raised to be a fighter.
We had no other way out of the situation.
It was either that or be put down. 
She told us what life was like before the fighting.
She was wise and she had many battle scars.
When we were old enough, we were put in a room, where there was a raccoon in a cage, on a track.
We would try and get at the raccoon, but could not, because it was in a cage.
Months go by and I am old enough to fight.
I am put in a ring and there is a bait dog.
A bait dog is used to warm-up the fight dogs.
I fought the dog, and when the dog lies dying I realize who it is.
It is my youngest sister.
The image burns into my mind, and I do not want to fight anymore.
They brought out the dog I am supposed to fight.
As the dog readied itself for the fight, I just stand there, and take in the beating.
I heard footsteps and I looked, and there were people with guns and sticks.
One of them came up to me, as I lay there bleeding from multiple wounds, then the human started petting me.
I was weary of the touch, because I had never been touched that way before.
I thought all humans were the same, cruel and abusive.
But then I remember my mom saying, ‘Not all humans are bad.’
With gentle hands, they lifted me up, and put me in a crate, and they rushed me to the animal 
hospital.
The veterinarian said I was very lucky.
So I stayed in the hospital for a month.
When I was put up for adoption, everyone that looked at me, turned their noses up at me.
They saw my background, and they do not want a dog with a bad past.
I finally got adopted by a family who loves pit bulls.
When I moved in with them, they had a cat, who was weary, but learned to love me, and he became my best friend.
I lived with the family for many years.
Over time, I made friends, and I tell them my story.
Some don’t believe me, but the scars that I have tell the story.
The memory of my sister as the bait dog burned an image into my head that I will never forget.
I used to be a dog fighter, but I am now a dog that will do anything to protect his family.
They gave me a name.
My name is David, because I stood up against my goliath, and I defeated my goliath.

~Makaya