Rat-catchers perform a
necessary if brutal service for human civilization, however their vocation also
made possible spectacles of slaughter entertaining to Victorians of all
societal circles. Despite the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835, such sport continues
without penalty because of mankind’s hatred of rats, although a dog’s participation
in these sports is distasteful to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
At its core rat-baiting tests a dog’s ability
to quickly kill rats. Pubs and gambling dens often host nights of rat-baiting,
but other establishments are dedicated solely to the sport with only meager refreshments
for their clientele. The love of rat-baiting breaks through social barriers. Men
and women from all classes pay the shilling entry fee to show off their dog’s
pedigree and to enjoy the display of skillful violence. Rat-baiting dogs tend
to be terriers, bulls, or a crossbreed of one or the other.
The sport is confined to the rat pit, a circular enclosure on the floor
or a hole below it about 6-10 feet in diameter surrounded by wooden walls four
feet high. The pit must be round to prevent rats from defensively cowering in
corners, and to keep both dog and rats constantly in motion. Dog owners, dog fanciers,
and dog sellers purchase a number of rats, usually 5 or 10, from the
establishment’s rat handlers. Once the rats are all in, the sporting dog is
loosed in the rat pit eager to kill. Dog owners can go into the pit to
encourage and direct their dog, but they cannot purposefully touch the rats.
High-stake matches with well-known ratters
owned by established trainers are the highlight of the evening with much
wagering with the house bookie. These dogs face many more rats, usually in
multiples of 50, and compete to kill the most rats in the shortest amount of
time. A timekeeper and referee enforce
the rules. The referee also judges which rats are “dead”. They gather any rat
mortally wounded but still breathing after the allotted time in a circle drawn
on a on table or floor. Any rat able to crawl out of the circle after the
referee swatted its tail three times did not count towards the dog’s total of
dead rats. One rat killed for every five seconds the dog spent in the pit is
respectable, one rat every 3 seconds is extraordinary. Winning dogs are awarded
silver collars, a purse of winnings, and a host of fanciers interested in
purchasing of their offspring.
Occasionally, rat pits feature spectacles of a
more novel sort, such as dog or cock fights, dog- baiting, and other monstrous
sport. Strangest of all, a depraved or desperate man frequents rat-baiting
matches in London and wagers with spectators that he can catch and kill more
rats with his teeth than the last dog in the pit. He wins a great deal of
money.
Adventure Ideas
After a night of rat-baiting, the hosting
establishment collects the rat carcasses and places them outside to be picked
by up rubbish collectors in the morning. The last few nights, something or
someone has been hungrily helping themselves to the dead rats.
Rat pits consistently host displays of
violence, aggression, and death confined to the same location week after week.
Any sources of dark magic nearby could feed on such potent destruction,
although these dark energies would undoubtedly reflect back on the dogs,
twisting their forms and instincts in subtle malicious ways.
A pretty gruesome setting detail, if I say so
myself. Rats may be rats, but that’s very cruel. Sadly, this isn’t the only
blood sport to which the Victorians subjected rats. Next week we’ll look at
rat-coursing.
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