Beyond The Black Door

In the deepest reaches of the ASPCA building sits the large black door, staring down the hall as though daring you to attempt to pass it. Should you accept the challenge and make it through, the beautiful image of the grassy runs and pleasant interiors will be shattered as you discover just what the complex was really used for. Beyond that door is a staircase, leading down into darkness. Descend it, flip the switch on the wall, and rows upon rows of kennels will be illuminated. Each kennel has its own water supply, and an easy-open hatch for a human to slip food through to a dog without being bitten. The walls of the kennels are stone, with chain-link fronts so that the dogs could only aggress at whomever was across the aisle from their kennel, and too far to be reached. Travel down the aisle and push through the swinging doors and you will find yourself in the Fighting Room. Here an elaborately constructed fighting ring has been erected, complete with bleachers on all sides, a cement base of about 3 feet, and then chain-link fence atop that to prevent escape. The concrete of the ring is still stained brown with old blood, and the cages on opposing sides of the ring, where dogs would be put before a fight began, still bear the marks of teeth furiously trying to bite through the metal. This isn't a place for the feint of heart.