Dog-fighting syndicates on the rise

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A dog-fighting ring in Tsakane, which includes a man from Boksburg, making national headlines, has opened a can of worms regarding this blood-thirsty sport taking place in and around our neighbourhoods.

The case against the 18 individuals charged in terms of the Animals Protection Act on matters pertaining to dog-fighting, in Tsakane, however, has been postponed until January 20, which has now been escalated to the Regional Court in Nigel.

The NSPCA applauded the decision to move the case to a Regional Court, as this means that, upon conviction, an individual may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding R300 000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years.

Attorneys representing the accused argued against the move to a Regional Court, however, the magistrate ruled in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act.

Five of the accused were released on bail by the SAPS on November 3, the night of the arrests. The remaining 13 were conditionally released by the magistrate with a warning on November 18.

However, recently another dog-fighting syndicate was uncovered in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, on December 5, where eight people were arrested after the NSPCA swooped in on them.

Six dogs were rescued during the operation.

The NSPCA said that even the most long-serving NSPCA personnel were shocked and horrified at the prolonged suffering of a dog they found, which was used to train other dogs to fight.

Her mouth was tied with duct tape and she was chained, so there was no escape or defence against the dogs which set upon her in frenzied attacks.

“Visuals are in the possession of the NSPCA. Watching the footage is extremely disturbing and is a sickening, ghastly revelation of the heartless, unrelenting and barbaric cruelty inflicted upon a helpless dog,” says NSPCA spokesperson Este Kotze.

“The dog – who had not even been given a name – received no treatment for her injuries, nor any comfort or even respite. She was left to lie exhausted and bleeding on the ground amongst trash, in the wind, rain and hail.

“She was later brought out again to be used as bait to ‘train’ another dog to fight.

“This dog was used as a victim in three ‘training’ fights on one particular day and possibly six times in a three-day period.

“When she was so injured and weak to be of no further use to the heartless dog-fighting syndicate, she succumbed to her injuries and died alone, cold and in severe pain.

“Her body was broken and bleeding, showing clear evidence of previous injures, scarring and abuse. May she rest in peace. The abuse is over.

“To us she is not trash. To the NSPCA she is a symbol of the horrendous so-called training process and the lifetime of suffering of dogs forced into fighting in whatever way,” Kotze says.

The NSPCA also pays tribute to this poor dog that never knew a warm place to sleep, was never petted or stroked, knew nothing of human companionship or bonding with humans or her own kind. She was mercilessly used as a tool, brutally and ruthlessly attacked – repeatedly – until her death.

“The NSPCA too can be ruthless. We commit to bringing those involved to justice and to vigorously pursuing all who partake in or support the illegal activity of dog fighting in any way,” she states.

According to Animal Justice, the theft of dogs like American Staffies, Staffies, pit bulls and bull terriers have escalated tremendously during the last couple of years, and these animals are being stolen across the country.

The dogs suffer the cruellest fate.

“Alarmingly, dog-fighting do not always take place in the poorer areas, but in affluent areas and richer farming communities. Animal Justice says that the “modus operandi of these criminals is to send youths into a selected area to scout out dogs.

“These kids have lists of the dogs that are in demand from various buyers. They make notes of where these types of dogs are and later the dogs are stolen from their homes.

“Female dogs are used as bait to lure unsterilised male dogs to the fence to find out the sex of the dog. In many cases the dog’s coats are coloured to make them difficult to identify.”

Animal Justice states that its objective is to investigate and expose dog fighting in South Africa, as well as the wilful neglect and abuse of any animals.

Any information given to Animal Justice will be handled with the strictest confidentiality. They call on the public to be the eyes and ears of those that cannot help themselves.

To report animal abuse or dog-fighting activities in your area, please call 084 607 1887 or call the NSPCA on 011 907 3590.