RSPCA Warns of Rise of Dangerous Dogs in Gangs

Thu, 05 Mar 2009

The RSPCA has warned that fighting dogs have become the new weapon of choice for gang members in the UK. The declaration follows an incident in which police were forced to shoot dead two pitbulls which attacked them during an armed raid, on the instruction of their owner. The problem is already rife in Lambeth in London – the location of this recent incident. Lambeth police have already seized 28 dangerous dogs this year, whilst Action Lambeth Living is considering further methods to tackle the problem.

Microchipping the animals is one way of fighting the problem, as an owner can instantly be traced and prosecuted following an incident. The group has already taken to measures such as interim injuctions to prevent dangerous dogs from roaming on the estate, whilst a cage has been erected around a tree on Streatham Green after it emerged that dogs were being trained to fight there.

RSPCA spokeswoman Clare Coburg said, ‘It is something we are seeing increasingly in Lambeth, with teenagers and young people taking out their dogs to intimidate people. These owners are being incredibly cruel to their animals. To deliberately set the dog on police you are giving the dog a death sentence.’

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