A bad betting game

Recently, a pit bull was sedated and stolen from a property in Springs and the owners of the dog suspect that their beloved pet was taken for the underground blood sport of pit bull fighting.

“There are two types of dog fighting that are taking place in the country; local rural communities which can be gang related and may include or involve drugs and weapons and the so-called ‘organised’ dog fighting which is an underground activity and is national with international links,” says senior inspector at the National Council of SPCAs Andries Venter.

Dog fighting can be done for a number of reasons with the most common in organised fighting being for betting reasons.

In the rural areas, it is done for the owner to earn status and respect among the others in the community or for the bartering of weapons and drugs.

There are no clear statistics to show that dog fighting is getting worse in the country, because it is not often reported and is done as an underground and secretive activity. But Venter says that due to the growing awareness of it and people’s greater willingness to come forward and report it gives the impression that the activity is growing.

In order to take action and confiscate the dogs, the NSPCA needs clear evidence that the dogs were intentionally bred, trained and used for fighting.

The Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962, Section 2A also states that any person who is a spectator, property owner, money holder or money changing hands at a dog fight, is guilty of an offence.

“The Animals Protection Act is criminal law, so proof beyond reasonable doubt is required in the court proceeding,” says Venter.

There are also differences in what kind of dogs are used in the two different types of fighting rings.

“Pit bull terriers are normally used in the organised events which, as far as we are aware, have events related to different blood lines of the pit bull history,” says Venter.

“In the more informal type of dog fighting, that tends to take place in rural areas or communities, as far as we are aware, it is any dog that looks like or resembles a pit bull.”

According to an article on the website www.screenafrica.com which speaks about a segment that Special Assignment did on dog fighting in March, dog fighting can be a ‘multi-million rand industry’.

The article goes on to speak about how this industry makes some of it’s money.

“Fights culminate in high-end tournaments attended by spectators from across the country. Here, grand champions are determined where the ultimate aim is to mutilate, maim or kill the opponent’s dog.

“The offspring of these so-called grand champions are sold for a fortune and even trafficked across South Africa’s borders to international destinations for global organised dog fights,” says the article.

Because dogs do get into fights naturally, it is difficult to tell by looking at a dog if it has been used in dog fighting or not.

Scars and cuts do not mean it has been used intentionally for the blood sport but can just be indications that the dog has been in a fight with another dog.

This is another reason why it is difficult to crack down on the crime without proper evidence being provided.

People who have pit bulls and other naturally aggressive dogs as pets should educate themselves about the fact that their breed of dogs are used for fighting and are therefore targeted.

“We advocate preventive measures and first and foremost, the sterilisation of the dogs. Microchip identification is permanent, tamper-proof and a genuine deterrent as identity can be proven, ” says Venter.

Other ways to keep your pets safe are to keep your dogs out of the front yard at night.

If you keep them in the house or back yard and let them out in the morning, check the yard for any foreign meats or objects that may be filled with sedatives, which allows for the silent removal of the dog.

Venter advises pet owners to contact their local SPCA or the NSPCA directly on 011 907 3590/1/2/3 if they suspect that their dog has been stolen for fighting purposes or if they suspect dog fighting rings in their area.

Venter says it is alleged that, in other parts of the country, the police are covering any reports of dog fighting.

“As soon as something is reported, the incident is either ignored, delayed or the offenders are tipped off. This is why the public, when reporting something, must do so in writing and obtain a police reference number in return.

“The police has set up a National Task Team to investigate the stealing of dogs, however, the local police have to investigate any cases of theft. We are in the process of setting up a meeting with the Springs police to discuss these concerns, both from a local and national point of view,” says Venter.