Dog-fighting
Dungannon, NI (UK)Incident Date: Thursday, Apr 20, 2006
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Gerald Cavlan
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
The USPCA has seized a pit bull terrier believed to be involved in an international dog-fighting ring, from the home of a well known GAA football (soccer) player.
The animal was taken from Tyrone GAA player, Ger Cavlan following a planned operation by the PSNI and the USPCA.
It is understood that the dog had been tracked on flights from Helsinki through Frankfurt and then to Dublin, before being taken to the GAA players home in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
The pet's passport confirmed that the animal's name was Cannonball and it's owner lived in Finland.
A number of other items were also seized during the operation including documents relating to dog fighting.
A statement issued by Ger Cavlan's solicitor said that his client did not own the dog or condone dog-fighting, but did confirm that the animal had been seized from his property.
It is understood that the USPCA had the dog examined by a vet who had confirmed that it's injuries were similar to wounds sustained in dog-fights.
Stephen Philpot from the animal charity said that they decided to remove the dog because of the facial injuries it suffered.
He said: "Our vets have confirmed for us that this is an animal which they would class as a fighting dog under the terms of the Dangerous Dog Act. "They've also confirmed the animal has injuries to its face, throat and ears and teeth, which would suggest those injuries are consistent with a dog used in organised dog-fighting."
The charity has also expressed it's concerns about three other pit-bull terriers, which were at the house at the time of the search.
When the USPCA returned to collect the dogs, they had been removed.
Mr Cavlan's solicitor also stated that his client did not own any of the dogs, which were at his Dungannon home.
Case UpdatesA star of Ireland's Gaelic football league has been exposed as a director of an illegal dog-fighting club.
Similar revelations recently ruined the reputation of top US footballer Michael Vick.
The 17-month undercover investigation by BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight yesterday broadcast evidence of 15 illegal dog-fighting operations.
It secretly filmed Gerard Cavlan, a 31-year-old member of the County Tyrone football team, discussing his ownership of more than a dozen dogs and bragging about how one "hard-mouthed dog" gripped another in its jaws.
"Sure he had him in the chest, and he shook him and he shook him for 25 minutes," Cavlan said in a secretly filmed conversation.
The program used an undercover specialist from England to dupe organisers of two dog-fighting clubs in Northern Ireland and two breeders of American pit bulls in Finland, who had supplied dogs to Cavlan and other Northern Ireland-based dog fighters.
All were filmed discussing the tricks of their trade and how they evaded detection.
The breeders, Robert Gonzales and Paul Dunkel, were confronted by the BBC crew with evidence of their dealings before police arrested them.
The program said documents showed that Cavlan bought a pit bull, named Cannon Ball, from Gonzales and went to Finland to see dog fights.
Cavlan was filmed saying that he had co-founded a dog-fighting club called Bulldog Sanctuary Kennels.
The program said Cavlan's business partner was a Protestant extremist and drug dealer.
Gonzales was filmed saying he lent Cannon Ball to Cavlan so that he could father a stable of dogs fit for combat.
Spotlight, the BBC's main investigative program in Belfast, also secretly filmed a dog-fighting competition in Finland involving Gonzales and Tom Bell, an organiser of another Northern Ireland dog-fighting club called the Farmers Boys.
Gonzales was filmed getting down on his hands and knees in front of two 23kg dogs and urging his dog to kill the other.
After the 45-minute fight ended with both dogs badly injured, the program said, Gonzales took his dog to another building and tried to electrocute it by clipping its tail and ear to a power source and throwing a bucket of water on it.
It survived but was killed in another unspecified way.
The Gaelic Athletic Association, which organises Gaelic football in both parts of Ireland, allowed Cavlan to play for Tyrone even after he pleaded guilty in April to possessing a dangerous dog.
Vick, one of the biggest stars of the US National Football League, was suspended indefinitely as quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons after he pleaded guilty to dog fighting.
He faces up to five years in prison at a hearing on December 10. | Source: News.Com.Au - Sept 1, 2007
Update posted on Aug 31, 2007 - 3:07PM |
A second dog believed to be involved in illegal dog fighting has been seized in Dungannon by the USPCA, as part of an ongoing search for several other dogs that disappeared following an initial seizure on Wednesday.
Raids were carried out at a number of premises in the Tyrone town yesterday by officials from the animal welfare charity in a joint operation with Dungannon Council and police.
At one address an adult pit bull terrier was seized.
Any possible link between this dog and Cannonball, the injured pit bull seized in the previous raid, is being investigated.
Cannonball was tracked on flights from Finland through Frankfurt into Dublin Airport before being finally seized, together with its passport, at the home of Tyrone Gaelic footballer Gerard Cavlan in Dungannon on April 19.
USPCA chief executive Stephen Philpott said at the time: "It is imperative that we rescue these dogs before they are subjected to the grotesque and sickening abuse involved in dog fighting." | Source: Belfast Telegraph - April 22, 2006
Update posted on May 1, 2006 - 6:35PM |
A second dog believed to be involved in illegal dog fighting has been seized in Dungannon by the USPCA, as part of an ongoing search for several other dogs that disappeared following an initial seizure. Raids were carried out at a number of premises in the Tyrone town yesterday by officials from the animal welfare charity in a joint operation with Dungannon Council and police. At one address an adult pit bull terrier was seized.
Any possible link between this dog and Cannonball, the injured pit bull seized in the previous raid, is being investigated. Cannonball was tracked on flights from Finland through Frankfurt into Dublin Airport before being finally seized, together with its passport, at the home of Tyrone Gaelic footballer Gerard Cavlan in Dungannon on April 19, 2006. USPCA chief executive Stephen Philpott said at the time: "It is imperative that we rescue these dogs before they are subjected to the grotesque and sickening abuse involved in dog fighting." | Source: Belfast Telegraph - April 22, 2006
Update posted on Apr 22, 2006 - 2:19PM |
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