dog fighting- please be aware

Friday, 3 December, 2004, 14:45 GMT

Dog fight fears after pet's death

Dog owners in Pembrokeshire have been warned to keep them safe after experts believe a family's pet may have died in an illegal fight.
The Staffordshire bull terrier was found badly mutilated with its throat torn open three days after going missing near Pembroke.

A senior vet said the injuries looked as if they from a dog fight.

The owners, who do not want to be identified, urged owners to keep an eye on their dogs if they let them out.

The family said it had been "horrific" when their pet was found.

"You think, perhaps he was hit by a car, but it couldn't have been," one said.

"He had puncture wounds and rip and tear marks, like a dog or animal attack.


" I will never forget my little dog and I will never forget the way he died "
Dog owner



"A shoulder and leg had been broken. Apparently I am given to understand this is one of the signs of illegal dog fights, they will incapacitate a dog in that way so he can't really defend themselves.

"I urge people when they do let their dogs out, just keep an eye on them.

"It is always very hard to lose a pet, especially one that has become a good companion and the worst of it all is knowing the way he died and what he must have gone through.

"And even more sickening, whoever did it must have enjoyed it.

"I will never forget my little dog and I will never forget the way he died."


" Trying to get somebody to point the finger and name names is almost an impossibility "
Laraine Winterford, Pembrokeshire Animal Welfare



John Campbell, a vet who knows the family, said that when he ran a practice in Pembrokeshire, dogs would occasionally be brought in with similar injuries.

"One always had the suspicion they had been involved in organised and illegal dog fighting," he said.

He said it was unlikely the injuries to the Staffordshire bull terrier could have happened in the wild.

"It was plain from the photographs that this particular dog had been involved in a dog fight as opposed to a road traffic accident," he said.

Mr Campbell said the problem in cracking down on dog fighting was that the problem is "unquantifiable".

"There are very few witnesses who are prepared to make statements to these events," he said.

Laraine Winterford, who represents Pembrokeshire Animal Welfare, agreed the issue was "very much underground".

"Trying to get somebody to point the finger and name names is almost an impossibility," she said.

we all know it goes on but posted just to make those living in this area especially aware

Thanks Lel.

Your are absolutley right......their is no room for complacency...we need to be vigilant at all times.

They do make my blood boil though

very sad

god thats awful! i just dont get some people how do they become so evil