Anti-Dog-Fighting Campaigner Reveals What Goes On Inside Underground D

[Aleksandr]

Anti-dog-fighting campaigner reveals what goes on inside underground dog-fighting rings

9 MONTHS AGO JULY 02, 2014 3:02PM

Rottweilers have been used in an illegal dog fighting ring in NSW's Port Stephens region.

MEMBERS receive a text message revealing the secret location half an hour before.

They meet in bushland or on a beach, out of sight of passers-by, under cover of darkness, to place their bets.

Then, they cheer as two dogs, specifically bred to fight, tear each other apart until one of them dies.

This is the brutal reality of Australia's underground dog fighting rings.

Evidence of these clandestine clubs usually evades police and animal welfare advocates, but a new, barbaric club has been exposed overnight.

The Newcastle Herald reports that a highly organised dog-fighting ring is operating in the Hunter Valley, with up to 50 members attending and gambling thousands of dollars on matches every few months.

Participants use generators to power lights and set up temporary fencing to create a fighting ring in remote bush locations around Oyster Cove, near Anna Bay.

"Most of the time they will break it up with a whip or a big stick, but I have seen dogs fight to the death," an insider told the Herald.

''Big money changes hands and the dogs belong to the people who bring them."

Perpetrators of the brutal blood sport of dog fighting are difficult to track down.

Perpetrators of the brutal blood sport of dog fighting are difficult to track down. Source: ThinkStock

But the Australian representative of the international Anti-DogFighting Campaign says this is not an isolated incident, and she knows of other hot spots for the illegal blood sport on the outskirts of Brisbane and Melbourne.

The Queensland woman, who asked for her name not to be published, said some clubs were more vicious than others, and that they ranged from regulated matches that are treated like a sport to barbaric street brawls where the animals fight to the death.

"There are the street fighters that will meet up at any random place, they will have the fight then walk off," she said.

She described one fight that occurred in a coastal town north of Brisbane on Anzac Day last year where club members were told the location of the fight via text message 30 minutes before the event. They met on a beach where the dogs fought to the death, with the carcass of the losing animal thrown into the ocean.

"They are very, very brutal," she said.

On the other end of the spectrum are the more organised groups, whose members call themselves "gentlemen fighters".

"The gentlemen fighters look after their dogs, as such. They're well-fed, kennelled, they always have water. When you can see there's a loser, the fight stops," the campaigner said.

"They see it as a sport, as such — but I see no difference."

Fighting dogs are bred specifically to be aggressive.

Fighting dogs are bred specifically to be aggressive. Source: ThinkStock

She said ring leaders used long, flat "break sticks" to pry open dogs' jaws, they trained the dogs on treadmills, and administered steroids to the animals to pump them up for fights. Owners also conduct their own surgery to patch up their injured fighters, to evade the suspicion of vets.

American Staffordshire terriers are popular breeds to use in dog fights, as are agile pitbulls.

"They're the most loving dogs. All they want to do is please," the campaigner said.

The RSPCA website says there are "many" dog fighting rings across the country.

"These (rings) are often associated with gambling activities and other illegal practices, such as drug dealing and firearms," the site states. "Dogs … are often specifically bred for fighting and are trained to be extremely aggressive towards other dogs."

RSPCA Victoria told news.com.au that it had received reports of dog fighting in Melbourne.

"Dog fighting is most often linked with organised crime and, as an underground activity, it is difficult to locate and investigate," inspectorate manager Allie Jalbert said.

"As such, complaints to RSPCA Victoria regarding dog fighting have been minimal and investigations have not resulted in sufficient evidence to substantiate cruelty charges in recent years."

Dog fighting is a problem world wide. Pictured here are two fighting dogs battling in Kyr

Dog fighting is a problem world wide. Pictured here are two fighting dogs battling in Kyrgyzstan. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The Queenland anti-dog-fighting campaigner asked for anonymity in this story so she could continue to gather evidence against participants.

She tracks their activities by befriending people on Facebook, and then shares what information she gathers with the RSPCA. She said she had passed on names of suspected dog fighters in the Hunter Valley previously.

She also tracks dog fighters in the US.

"My evidence has been responsible for a few busts," she said.

A police spokesman said the Port Stephens Local Area Command, which looks after Oyster Cove, had not received any reports of dog fighting in the area, either formally or anecdotally.

An RSCPA NSW spokesman for the area said he was not aware of any dog fighting, but said he would investigate the Oyster Cove report.

"We hear the odd rumour but we've never been able to get any evidence," he said.

He encouraged those who may have any details about it to inform the RSCPA through its website.

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[Christina]

I can't even read past the 1st few lines. We all know what dog fighting is & how dreadful it is.

Why not post it in the abuse section ?

[Rebanne]

should not be in the general forum , should at least be in the news, if not the abuse forum

[Tempus Fugit]

The OP reads much like stuff I have read before. Sorry but this smells like a troll post to me.