Camden-news-doggies

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 6 December 2007

One of the dogs seized by police with its owner

Dangerous dogs are 'new knife on the streets', say police

New warning as animals are seized during operation to tackle
illegal fighting

POLICE have seized four “pit bull-type” dogs from their owners following a sharp rise in similar pets being used for illegal fighting and intimidation.
Officers patrolled streets and estates accompanied by Met dog handlers and an RSPCA expert after residents reported a rise in organised dog fights in Kentish Town and Camden Town.
Police were told how dog owners had been using trees or playground equipment for “aggressive dog training”.
Hampstead-based PC Mark Garner, who led the operation, said police had received “an increase in intelligence reports that mention youths with their dogs across Camden”.
Gatherings of young people with dogs around schools including Acland Burghley and Haverstock were also alarming residents, who had raised concerns over dogs on council estates including Torriano in Kentish Town, Regent’s Park, and Wendling in Gospel Oak.
“There are complaints of organised dog fights in Hartland Road and Crogsland Road (Kentish Town),” said PC Garner.
The Met’s figures show that the number of dogs seized across London has increased more than six-fold over the past two years, with prosecutions for the use of dogs as weapons also rising.
“They are calling it the new knife on the streets,” said Sergeant Ian McParland, the Met’s expert on dangerous dogs who was called in to assist with Camden’s operation.
“For some of these yobs it is a new bit of bling for them.”
Briefing the officers as they were about to hit the streets on Thursday, he explained that since the government-led crackdown on imported pit bulls, a cottage industry breeding “pit bull types” had sprung up, producing animals that were in breach of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Sgt McParland said crosses of Staffordshire terriers and larger dogs including mastiffs, ridgebacks and boxers were among those classified as “pit bull types”.
He added: “Backstreet breeders won’t have access to good quality stock. The (crosses) are bred for dog-to-dog aggression. But where they are poorly bred they become human aggressive.”
The Dangerous Dogs Act allows owners to reclaim their pets if they acknowledge they are pit bull types and agree to have the dogs micro-chipped and neutered.
Three of the dogs seized this week could be reclaimed.
However, one man was arrested during the three-day operation on suspicion of threatening police officers with a pit bull type in Fairfax Road, West Hampstead. His dog was described as “future unknown” by police.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments:

Poor dogs once again they suffer at the hands of man. These boys are hiding behind their dogs. They so want to fight but have no idea how to fight fair.
Dog lover