Animal welfare group warns of rise in secret dog-fighting
Sickening crime is often linked with underworld drug dealing
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Clandestine and illegal dog-fighting rings are more rife in the north-east than elsewhere in the country, according to animal welfare experts.
They are investigating instances in towns and cities across the north-east including Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Macduff, as well as Dundee – and there has been a report of a dog-fighting ring within Aberdeen city.
They say reports of the activity are soaring and that drug dealing is believed to be a crucial link.
The people involved apparently see it is a mark of “prestige” to own top fighting dogs or be invited to watch canines pitted against each other.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) is empowered to charge and report people for animal cruelty to the fiscal, bypassing the police. It has been told of six instances of dog fighting in the region over the past six months – one taking place just last week.
It is believed a member of the public noticed suspicious injuries to a dog and informed an Aberdeen-based welfare charity last week. They reported the matter to the SSPCA who, in turn, notified the police.
An SSPCA officer, who cannot reveal his name for his safety, is a member of a plain-clothes unit which works covertly across Scotland.
He said intelligence suggests the activity is most prevalent across the north-east and is linked to the region’s chronic drug problem.
Drug dealers and their associates view ownership of the dogs or invitations to fights as being a mark of prestige, he added. “We have seen an increase in reports of dog fighting. And our intelligence suggests that, as far as Scotland is concerned, the north-east plays a very important part.”
A line of inquiry relates to a picture uncovered on the internet 18 months ago of two north-east men known to be involved in dog fighting, who blanked out their faces to prevent them from being recognised.
Suzanne Mennie, chairwoman of Aberdeen-based animal charity Pet & Animal Welfare Support Service Aberdeen (Pawss), said she has heard numerous reports of dog fighting within Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire.
“Because it is underground, people don’t realise it’s happening here. In the last four years I have had information about places like Banff, Peterhead and Fraserburgh. There’s a big network of people involved.
“They will use warehouses or basements – anywhere that’s not close to a public area. They are very specifically chosen sites. It’s not a quiet event so it’s got to be isolated.”
She asked people to look to their conscience and notify the SSPCA if they suspect they know someone involved. Telltale signs are injuries to the face and ears of dogs, which are usually pit bulls or Staffordshire bull terriers. Other canine muscular areas such as shoulders and legs can also receive serious injuries, as the dogs involved have strong jaws which lock down when fighting.
“Sometimes the dogs will receive injuries that can be treated by their owners, but sometimes they’re so bad that they can only be used for breeding or be killed. I have heard of a dog being shot after a fight in the Montrose area. It is unlikely they will be taken to a vet because vets will be able to tell how the dogs received their injuries,” she added.
In 2006, a Macduff man was fined £300 and banned from keeping dogs for lopping two puppies’ ears off in preparation for fighting. David Reid, who lived at 13 Newton Drive, pleaded guilty to the incidents.
Anyone with information can call SSPCA’s dog-fighting hotline in confidence on 0870 240 4832. Substantial financial rewards are available for information.
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