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DOG FIGHTING ARREST MADE
(cutting WesternMorning news (PlymouthAugust 14th 2001 by Paul Berger) Thankyou Huw
TWO pit bull dogs and one mastiff cross-breed were seized by police and RSPCA inspectors yesterday as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal dog-fighting.
The raid on a home in Redruth took place early yesterday morning. Numerous videos, photographs and a clamp break-stick - an instrument which is used to prise open the dogs' jaws - were also seized.
A man has been arrested and released on police bail. One of the pit bulls, which had sustained serious injuries, will be examined by a vet who will establish how they were caused.
Chief Inspector Mike Butcher, from the RSPCA's special operation's unit, said: "It is appalling that bloody and cruel practices like dog-fighting can continue into the 21st century. This is part of our on-going campaign against these barbaric sports. Our inspectors are constantly working to eliminate the cruel gangs that take part in dog fighting.
"The results of these raids confirm our belief that dog-fighting is still prevalent today. Some of the dogs removed have horrific scarring associated with sustained dog -fighting. The RSPCA will always act where there is evidence of this illegal activity."
The arrest follows four raids carried out last week in London, Birmingham, Addleston, in Surrey, and Scunthorpe, in which four men were arrested and 12 fighting-type dogs were seized.
There were a further three raids yesterday in London and Scotland. Inspector Alastair Keen, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, who was involved in yesterday's raid, said: "Dog-fighting is widespread across the country and people will go to any lengths to commit these kind of offences. In the late 1980s and early 90s dog -fights were quite prevalent, until the introduction of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.
"But various police forces in England and Wales are not enforcing the legislation because of the expense of the lengthy process, so we now have numerous pit bulls being bought and sold in the UK. Unfortunately, dog-fighting seems to be on the increase. But this is the first major dog-fighting operation in several years and it just goes to show that we are on the case and that they will be prosecuted." /cutting ends