Dangerous dogs seized by police

Police have seized 14 pit bull terriers suspected of being trained for dog fighting.

The seizure comes days after a five-year-old girl was mauled to death by a pit bull type terrier while staying at her grandmother's home in St Helens, Merseyside.

The animals were discovered in cages at an address on an industrial estate in Norris Green, Liverpool, following a raid at a house in Croxteth on Friday, where police arrested a 37-year-old man under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Four types of animal are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, pit bull terriers, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brazileiro.

The RSPCA have been working closely with police sharing intelligence on dog fighting.

Police said, "The search is ongoing but there is clear evidence that would suggest that this unit was being used for the training and development of these dogs ."

Superintendent Chris Armitt said: "Following the tragic events on New Year's Day morning in St Helens, members of the public have come forward and provided Merseyside Police with information about where dangerous dogs are being kept. We have acted on this information quickly which has led to the seizure of 22 dogs within 24 hours."

Mike Butcher, RSPCA chief inspector said, "We are currently assessing the health of the diseased dogs and assessing if the wounds some of them carry are consistent with dog fighting.

"Dog fighting is a brutal and organised crime of which dogs are the victims. Sadly this dreadful and barbaric sport is still carried out in pockets across UK."