Midlands dog fights shame
The West Midlands was today named as being the dog fighting capital of Britain.
More than half of all tip-offs given to a national specialist unit probing the barbaric practice come from the region.
And RSPCA officials say they are alarmed at a huge rise in dog fighting in recent months, despite tough legislation bann-ing dangerous fighting breeds.
It says that of around 24 reports of dog fighting rings investigated nationally every month, more than 12 are in the West Midlands
Chief Inspector Ian Briggs, one of 12 officers spearheading the RSPCA specialist operations across England, Wales and in Europe, said: "We have major concerns over the level of dog fighting in the West Midlands in comparison with the rest of the country.
"The vast majority of the people living there will be as appalled by this fact as we are. It is a barbaric practice - something from a bygone age that has no place in the 21st century - and the sooner those involved realise that, the sooner they will stop going to prison."
Today the Express & Star lifts the lid on an organised 'sport' in which dogs often die and which attracts thousands of pounds in bets.
Fighting rings have been discovered in homes, warehouses and lorry containers in the West Midlands.
Animals are trained to fight from an early age and puppies are advertised for sale locally using codes to mask the type of breed.
Organised dog fighting rings and gang members who buy banned pit bull terriers to increase their street credibility are blamed for the alarming. The RSPCA says there is a ready supply of pit bull terrier-type dogs in this region.
