Nearly 8,000 reports of dog fighting incidents have been reported in England & Wales in the past four years, new figures from the RSPCA reveal.
The figures have been released ahead of Dog Fighting Awareness Day on Monday (April 8) – an American day that the charity believes should be extended to the UK, where dog fighting is still ‘rife’.
RSPCA dog fighting expert and Special Operations Unit chief inspector Mike Butcher said: “Our figures show that in the past four years the RSPCA has received 7,915 reports of dog fighting incidents. While it’s promising to see that these figures are dropping year on year, it’s still staggering that something which has been illegal for almost 200 years and a bloody pastime which most people would consider consigned to history is still so rife.”
Dog fighting was outlawed in England in 1835 but still goes on today. For the past four decades, the RSPCA, which was founded in 1824, has been investigating reports, of fighting, rescuing dogs and prosecuting perpetrators.
BARBARICALLY KILLED
Many of the dogs used by dog fighters are never found and those that are rescued are often found to be banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act and cannot legally be rehomed – although there are some lucky ones.
Mike said: “Dogs who win fights are prized and are often treated like kings. But those who refuse to fight or lose are often abandoned or barbarically killed.
“The dog fighting world is a dark and frightening place. But it could be happening in an inner city warehouse next door to your office or on a rural farm in your quiet village.
“We’d urge the public to be our eyes and ears and report anything suspicious to us to investigate. If you’re concerned about the welfare of an animal or suspect dog fighting may be taking place please call our 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.
“Dog fighting is serious, organised animal cruelty and we would not want anyone to put themselves at risk with the sort of people who are involved in such a violent pastime.”
