In the shadows of medieval Europe, the sport of rat-baiting emerged as a grisly entertainment where bloodthirsty crowds would wager and roar as dogs, bred for tenacity and speed, set upon scores of rats in ferocious combat. It’s a world that seems almost unimaginable today, yet was a very real and popular pastime.
In the dimly lit rat pits of London, where the stench of flat beer mingled with the acrid odors of vermin and sweat, trained dogs like the celebrated “Billy” and “Tiny the Wonder” would perform their deadly dances. The rat pit was a place of ruthless efficiency, as detailed in accounts from the period, where “a grip, a toss, and it was all over for the rat.” These contests were not mere battles of survival but well-orchestrated events with rules that varied from match to match, encapsulating a weight handicap for the dogs or setting a specific number of rats to be killed within a preset time. The raucous environment is vividly depicted in historical accounts: “Gas lights illuminated the centre of the cellar, a ring enclosed by wood barriers similar to a small Roman circus arena, and wooden bleachers, arranged one over the other, rose stepwise above it nearly to the ceiling.”
The dogs, often terriers, were highly regarded if they were quick and efficient, with a rate of five seconds per rat considered satisfactory. Breeding these ratters was serious business, and good breeding led to increased business opportunities. The pedigree was clear in champions like “Billy,” whose heritage could be traced back more than 40 years. The focus on the meticulous selection and training of these dogs underscores the sophistication with which this brutal sport was approached, as “Billy” claimed his fame with record-breaking feats of killing 100 rats in startlingly brief intervals, setting a record of 100 rats in five and a half minutes on April 22, 1823.
While the dogs were the stars of the show, they were supported by an industry of rat catchers, such as the infamous Jack Black, who supplied live rats for these ghastly spectacles.
Yet, the brutality of rat-baiting eventually led to its downfall. With the animal welfare movement gaining momentum, the sport, which had thrived even after the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 due to poor enforcement, began to face increasing opposition. The last known public competition in the United Kingdom took place in Leicester in 1912, the owner was prosecuted and fined, and had to give a promise to the court that he would never again promote such entertainment.
Relevant articles:
– The Savage Spectacle of Rat-Baiting: A Journey Through its Tumultuous History in Medieval Europe