SEVEN illegal pit bull type fighting dogs have been destroyed after a raid on a house in Gloucester.


Officers seized the dogs after searching a house in St Aldwyn Street on Wednesday morning.




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A 45-year-old Gloucester man was arrested under the Dangerous Dogs Act.


He received a formal caution, and the dogs, which included a number of puppies, were put to sleep after being identified as an illegal breed.


Sergeant Mark Duncton, of Gloucestershire Constabulary dog section, said: “We had good intelligence that we would find prohibited dogs at the address and that’s what happened.


“Owning, possessing and breeding of prohibited dogs is illegal and constitutes a risk to public safety. I hope this operation shows that we will take action to implement enforcement measures if required, and keep our communities safe.”


Pit bull terriers are among four breeds banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act.


The others are the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Braziliero.


These types of dogs are often bred illegally to take part in underground dog fighting contests.


This involves specifically conditioning the dogs who are placed in a pit and made to fight until one is too seriously injured to continue.


There has also been an increase in reports of less organised, spontaneous street fights in urban areas.


Deborah Lake, fundraising and education manager at the Gloucestershire Animal Welfare Association said the problem was more widespread than people thought.


She said: “It is actually surprising how little people realise it’s going on.


“We get quite a few pit bulls coming into the animal centre which obviously we are unable to re-home.”


Deborah said that while it is sad the dogs have to be destroyed it is the only way to deal with the issue.


She said: “It is far better that they are put to sleep humanely than killed in a ring.


“The police are taking an increasing interest in this and it is good to see that they are tackling it.”


Councillor Usman Bhaimia (Lib Dem, Barton and Tredworth) said it was worrying to think that the breeding of illegal dogs could be going on in a residential area.


He said: “The biggest worry is that this is happening in a built up area where there are a lot of families and small kids who could be at risk.”


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