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Dog fights prompt 5,000 calls to RSPCA in past decade | Dog fights prompt 5,000 calls to RSPCA in past decade |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Nearly 5,000 calls about organised dog fighting in England and Wales have been made to the RSPCA since 2006, according to figures released to the BBC. | Nearly 5,000 calls about organised dog fighting in England and Wales have been made to the RSPCA since 2006, according to figures released to the BBC. |
The charity said there had been a total of 137 convictions in the same period. | The charity said there had been a total of 137 convictions in the same period. |
The maximum sentence for offenders is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine, but campaigners want it to be raised to up to three years. | The maximum sentence for offenders is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine, but campaigners want it to be raised to up to three years. |
Brian Wheelhouse, who runs a dog rescue centre, said offenders only cared about financial gain and not about the dog. | Brian Wheelhouse, who runs a dog rescue centre, said offenders only cared about financial gain and not about the dog. |
Eduardo Goncalves, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Evidence from the UK and abroad points to the activity being a 'gateway' crime to serious and organised offences, such as drug and gun crime. | Eduardo Goncalves, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Evidence from the UK and abroad points to the activity being a 'gateway' crime to serious and organised offences, such as drug and gun crime. |
"In the United States dog fighting is recognised as a Grade A felony by the FBI." | "In the United States dog fighting is recognised as a Grade A felony by the FBI." |
France applies a sentence of up to two years, and Germany and the Czech Republic apply a sentence of up to three years. | France applies a sentence of up to two years, and Germany and the Czech Republic apply a sentence of up to three years. |
Mike Butcher, chief inspector of the RSCPA's special operations unit, said: "The idea of a six-month sentence is a joke. The idea that you only serve half of what you get is even more of a joke. | |
"It's no deterrent at all." | |
The RSPCA said the highest number of calls it had received had been in Greater London (924), followed by the West Midlands (469), West Yorkshire (305) and Greater Manchester (238). | The RSPCA said the highest number of calls it had received had been in Greater London (924), followed by the West Midlands (469), West Yorkshire (305) and Greater Manchester (238). |
Rural counties are also affected, including the areas of Kent, Essex and Lancashire. | Rural counties are also affected, including the areas of Kent, Essex and Lancashire. |
Get the data for your area here | Get the data for your area here |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there were "strict laws in place" to deal with people who were not properly looking after animals. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there were "strict laws in place" to deal with people who were not properly looking after animals. |
A spokesman said: "Anyone who is cruel to an animal or does not provide for its welfare needs may be banned from owning animals, given an unlimited fine or sent to prison." | A spokesman said: "Anyone who is cruel to an animal or does not provide for its welfare needs may be banned from owning animals, given an unlimited fine or sent to prison." |
Campaigners including the League Against Cruel Sports, the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust, along with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) have all called for tougher sentencing as a deterrent. | Campaigners including the League Against Cruel Sports, the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust, along with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) have all called for tougher sentencing as a deterrent. |
Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard, the NPCC's lead for dangerous dogs, said "this kind of animal abuse" caused "untold distress and harm to the animals involved". | Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard, the NPCC's lead for dangerous dogs, said "this kind of animal abuse" caused "untold distress and harm to the animals involved". |
Brian Wheelhouse, of Whitehall Dog Rescue, Wakefield | Brian Wheelhouse, of Whitehall Dog Rescue, Wakefield |
We had a call from the dog compound. There was concern because this dog had obviously been used for dog fighting, or as dog bait, with the injuries it had sustained. | We had a call from the dog compound. There was concern because this dog had obviously been used for dog fighting, or as dog bait, with the injuries it had sustained. |
A dog that attacks another dog will go for the jugular vein - for the neck - so Benji has got injuries all around his neck, [and] around his face. | A dog that attacks another dog will go for the jugular vein - for the neck - so Benji has got injuries all around his neck, [and] around his face. |
Dog fighting is done by individuals that are fighting them for financial gain. | Dog fighting is done by individuals that are fighting them for financial gain. |
They're not bothered what happens to the dog at the end of the day as long as it wins. | They're not bothered what happens to the dog at the end of the day as long as it wins. |
They're not bothered about the injuries because they're not going to be taking it to the vets and having it treated. | They're not bothered about the injuries because they're not going to be taking it to the vets and having it treated. |
They'll leave it to heal up by itself. If the dog dies then so be it. | They'll leave it to heal up by itself. If the dog dies then so be it. |
To inflict injuries and do horrible things on these poor creatures just beggar's belief. | To inflict injuries and do horrible things on these poor creatures just beggar's belief. |
Kittens as bait | Kittens as bait |
Last year, two kittens were found in Bradford with their fur coloured using marker pens. | Last year, two kittens were found in Bradford with their fur coloured using marker pens. |
It is thought they were to have been used as bait in a dog fight, where people would have bet on which one would have died first. | It is thought they were to have been used as bait in a dog fight, where people would have bet on which one would have died first. |
Katie Lloyd, Bradford Cat Watch Rescue | Katie Lloyd, Bradford Cat Watch Rescue |
They came in through a police officer who'd been to a property and seized them. | They came in through a police officer who'd been to a property and seized them. |
We'd never seen anything quite like it before - one was coloured blue with a marker pen, and one was green. | We'd never seen anything quite like it before - one was coloured blue with a marker pen, and one was green. |
Thankfully nothing terrible had happened before they came to us. | Thankfully nothing terrible had happened before they came to us. |
We believe that they may have been coloured in to be used for dog fighting. | We believe that they may have been coloured in to be used for dog fighting. |
It was horrendous and we were thinking those cats were probably minutes away from being ripped to shreds by dogs, and they were tiny. | It was horrendous and we were thinking those cats were probably minutes away from being ripped to shreds by dogs, and they were tiny. |
We're aware of other incidents where cats have been used as bait for dog fighting. | We're aware of other incidents where cats have been used as bait for dog fighting. |
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