Two men arrested and five dogs seized from a property in Saltley
The police and the RSPCA have carried out a joint operation to crack down on a suspected dog fighting ring in Birmingham. Two men, aged 30 and 32, were arrested and five dogs were seized from a property in Saltley on Tuesday. The dogs are believed to be of the bully type, which are often used for illegal blood sport.
The raid was part of an ongoing investigation into animal cruelty, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, money laundering and firearm offences. The police also found a machete and a quantity of suspected Class A drugs at the address. The drugs are being examined to identify what they are.
The police said both men were arrested under section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act, which bans animal fighting. The 32-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Evidence of dog fighting found on phones and books
The police said they uncovered the animal fighting and illegal gambling operation during an interstate drug smuggling probe last year. They confiscated four phones, through which they linked several of the accused to a dog fighting ring. They also found dog training equipment and books about dog breeding at the property.
The phones contained photos of injured dogs, videos of dog fights, fliers for fighting shows and a PDF document titled “Appendix 32 Cajun Rules for Dogfighting”. Some of the images showed the dogs wearing weighted vests, which are commonly used to strengthen dogs before a fight.
The police also discovered a ledger with states written down for pick-up and drop-off sites for dogs. They said the dog transporting went as far as New York, Florida, Texas, North Carolina and West Virginia. Indiana was listed several times in the ledger.
RSPCA recovers 90 dogs and puppies in Indiana
The RSPCA said it was working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the alleged dog fighting criminal business. The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit recovered 90 dogs and puppies during a raid on an Indianapolis-based business called “Roll and Hold Pet Express” last week.
The business was linked to the arrested man who was found with 11 pit bulls in a van during a traffic stop in Madison, Mississippi in 2022. Animal control officers noticed two of the dogs had wounds and scars consistent with fighting.
The RSPCA said it had identified individuals who took on various roles in the dog fighting operation, including those who maintained animals for the purpose of fighting, a referee, sponsors who provided a space for the fights, and handlers who motivated the dogs to fight.
Dog fighting still prevalent in Britain despite being outlawed
Dog fighting is one of the most horrific forms of animal abuse, which involves forcing two or more dogs to fight each other for entertainment or profit. It is illegal in Britain since 1835, but it is still prevalent in some parts of the country.
Figures released earlier this year show that the RSPCA was called out to 330 dog fights across the country in 2022 – a 46 percent rise compared to the 226 callouts in 2019.
The RSPCA said it was working with the police and other agencies to tackle this cruel activity and urged anyone with information about dog fighting to report it.
