Dog-fighting - 8 dogs seized Kaingaroa, BP (NZ) Incident Date: Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005 Disposition: Alleged Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 5422 Classification: Fighting Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in BP (NZ) Login to Watch this Case

A central North Island dog-fighting ring has been smashed after a raid on the alleged kingpin's house. Eight dogs were seized after a search of a Kaingaroa Village property.

The raid came as animal welfare advocates cracked down on the Bay of Plenty, which is said to have become the new "hot-bed" of dog fighting in New Zealand.

The alleged kingpin is believed to have bred about 100 fighting dogs and has been involved in fighting rings in Northland.

The raid, led by SPCA inspector Jim Boyd, involved about 20 staff from the police and the Rotorua District Council animal control unit.

Mr Boyd said there had been an increase in dog fighting in the Bay of Plenty and estimated there were "a couple of hundred hardcore" people involved with about 1000 more on the periphery.

Charges are expected to be laid against the owner of the dogs - a 47-year-old Kaingaroa man.

Mr Boyd said he believed the dogs had either been trained for, involved with or bred for fighting - although he didn't believe fights had taken place on the property.

He said it was hard to tell which dogs had been fighting as they "bite and grab", causing puncture wounds which heal quickly and don't leave scars.

However, several training devices were found including weights for around dogs necks, and treadmills to exercise the dogs on.

Equipment linked to dog fighting was also found.

"You couldn't let these dogs out together. They would probably kill each other, given the chance," Mr Boyd said.

The American pitbulls, aged between 10 months and 14 years, were checked over by vets yesterday before being taken to "secret, secure locations" out of the Rotorua district. Some of the dogs were worth several thousand dollars and there were fears they would be stolen if left in the district.

While the dogs were in good condition physically, they may need to be put down, Mr Boyd said.

"Fortunately this person makes sure they are well trained socially but the problem is they are lethal weapons where other dogs are concerned."

Mr Boyd said it angered him that dog fighting was continuing in the 21st century.

The fighting he was talking about was not the type where "two macho yobbos sit around saying my dog is better than your dog" and then make them fight.

"These dogs will fight to the death. There is no growling or snarling, they fight silently and they fight to kill."

Animal control boss Kevin Coutts said dog fighting was probably the lowest and dirtiest form of entertainment man had devised.

"People who get their kicks out of this are pretty sick puppies themselves."

Those convicted of keeping, breeding or using a dog for fighting can be fined up to $25,000 or jailed for six months.

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References

	stuff.co.nz - Aug 18, 2005
	One News - Aug 18, 2005
	New Zealand Herald - Aug 17, 2005

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