streets.
Cape Town in particular has seen a
widespread increase in dogfighting on the
Cape Flats and in areas like Ocean View
where reportedly almost 40 percent of
prosecutable cases originate. This, despite
the sturdy warnings thatany person found
guilty on charges of
animal fighting can be
sentenced to a maximum
fine of R80 000 and/or
24 months imprisonment
with a criminal record.
In October last year,
a 13-year-old Ocean
View resident’s dog
went missing after he
followed her to school
in the morning. The dog
was picked up during the
day by a group of school
children and forced to
fight another dog. After
losing the fight, and
being critically injured,
the dog’s head was
smashed in with a rock.
Four months later, two teenagers, aged 17
and 19, from Portlands in Mitchells Plain,
were apprehendedafter they hacked offthe
ears ofayoung cross pitbullterrier without
anaesthetic‘to make himlookmore vicious’.
Whether theirintent was to later usethedog
for fighting ornot,isunknown.Last month,
adogfight was broken upinOceanView by
CapeofGoodHopeinspectors,withtheteam
managingto save oneofthedogsinvolved
inthefight. Unfortunately,theculpritsfled
thescene,taking withthemtheotherdog
involved inthefight.
Western CapeProvincialMinister of
CommunitySafety AlbertFritzislooking
into ways to stop dogfightingfor good.
Herecently met withmembersof
theCapeAnimalWelfare Forum (CAWF)
to address theissueanditwas agreed
that afollow-upmeeting willbeheldwith
stakeholdersincludinglaw enforcement,
CAWF, theDepartmentofCommunity
Safety andSocialDevelopmentto establish a
task team that can immediatelyrespond to
dogfighting cases.
“Ihave previouslycondemnedtheprevalence
ofdog-fightinginOceanView andtheCape
Flats communitiesandre-iteratedthat the
bloodsportisbothcriminalandcruel.Itwas
reported that there isanincreasingnumber
ofschool-agedchildren participatingindog
fights. Where thedoglosesthefight, they are
destroyedby thechild,” saidFritzDogfighting
isoften linked to other
forms ofillicitorcriminal
behavioursuchasillegal
gambling andtrade of
illicitsubstances.Itisof
great concern that young
peopleare beingdrawn
into dogfightingasthey
are seeminglybeing
diverted into alife of
criminality.Itisnecessary
that we address violence
inallitsforms. The
Western CapeSafety Plan
aimsto halve themurder
rate over thenext ten
years. Asignificantmetric
ofviolenceismurders
committed.Therefore,
itisessential that we
address allforms ofviolenceto ensure that
we achieve this goal.”SIGNS OF DOG FIGHTING
Dogs kept on heavy chains or confinedto
small areas such as alleys, garages, or cages.
Residences or properties with multiple
dogs that are unsterilised, unsocialised,or
unfriendly to other animals.
Dogs that have evidence of repeated
injuries (multiple scars or injuries on their
bodies, especially their faces, front legs,
chests, hind legs, thighs and ears).
Purpose-built fighting pits or makeshift
fighting areas with blood stains on the walls
and floor.
The presence of training equipment (such
as slat mills, treadmills, springpoles or break
sticks); veterinary drugs, or supplies and
steroids.
Frequent or regular changes in dogs at
a specific property (as dogs are killed, new
animals are purchased or stolen).
Groups of dogs being walked at unusual
hours, especially late at night.
Other cities across South Africa that have
established dog fighting task teams say that
while there are ‘still a significant amount of
dog fights taking place’, there is an increased
rate of tipoffs and, as a result, raids and
arrests. This success, however, is often
overshadowed by the countless man-hours
spent investigating these cases and the
high costs involved. It is extremely difficult
to catch fights in the act, which is why it’s
so important that members of the pubic
remain vigilant and report any information
pertaining to dog fighting to their local SPCA.
If you witness or hear of dog fighting, please
contact the NSPCA at (011) 907-3590 or
e-mail them at specialinvestigations@nspca.
co.za. Reportingis100percent anonymous.Dogs in cages on a truck It’s the death match condemned by
animal rights activists, but staged fights
between dogs and wild boars are still
attracting big crowds in IndonesiaTHE LEVELS OF DOG FIGHTING
THERE are various levels within the dog-
fighting underworld, ranging from random
street fights to highly organised syndicates.
The entry level is usually children or teens in
disadvantaged areas who get dogs and make
them fight outside taverns and shebeens in
exchange for small gifts and pocket money.
There is not much planning behind these
fights, rules or specific training the dogs
receive. Level Two is often people who
aspire to be professional dog fighters. Many
are affiliations to gangs and have criminal
convictions behind them for theft and petty
crimes. These fights involve more ‘rules’ and
formalised training regimes. Lastly, is level
three – your professional dog fighter who is
part of sophisticated dog fighting rings with
links to other serious crimes. These fights
usually take place inside private residential
stands, abandoned buildings, garages, fields
or warehouses within a confined area (or
pit) of five metres by five metres. Strict
training regimes and rules apply and large
sums of cash are wagered on the outcome
of fights that typically last from 30 minutes
to two hours. Winning at any cost is all
that matters to the fight organisers. Animal
welfare organisations within South Africa
have reiterated that dog fighting needs to be
stopped at grass roots. This can be achieved
by educating the youth and encouraging
people who witness or hear of dog fighting to
report the incident.