Even though speaking out could lead to their death, pitbull lovers have exposed details of a “highly secretive” underworld of organised dog fighting, because the “cruel, inhumane” practice had to be stopped.
Following a major bust of a pitbull fight in Plettenberg Bay this weekend, the blood sport has fallen under the spotlight again.
Ten people were arrested and will appear in court on Thursday. They have been granted bail of R1 500 each.
About the underworld, one man said: “I would call the organisation a very intricate web and it’s hard to get in. If anyone talks about it, you will get killed, there is no question about it.
“There is a stigma that only poor people use dogs for fighting, but you would be flabbergasted to know which top businessmen are involved. The industry is huge and if you talk, you have to fear for your life.”
He said many of the fights were pre-arranged on the internet or cellphones, usually at smallholdings, fields, industrial spaces or abandoned houses.
“The spots are very secretive and it can be arranged at the last minute. People involved are doctors, lawyers, businessmen, it’s big money. To the rich guys its not about money, it’s about prestige and knowing they have the top dog,” the source said.
He said dog fighting supporters strongly believed the dogs are bred only for fighting.
“They breed what you call ‘gameness’ into the dog, and that means breeding a dog to only focus on another dog and tear it apart.”
A man who was a spectator at fights said: “No, no I can’t speak to you, if we talk they will kill us and if they get caught they’ll go to jail.”
Quinton Hayne from the Pitbull Federation of South Africa: “We are completely against these fights.
“What these guys do is so inhumane, giving them bail is unacceptable. The way they use dogs is cruel, it’s murder.”
Prize money for fights starts at R5 000, while people who own champion dogs only fight for between R10 000 and R50 000.
On one website, a user said that fights were divided in three categories: professional, hobbyist (who aspire to be professional) and street fights, where any type of dogs fight each other.
The person also explained how fights take place. It would start with the “handler” saying “face your dogs” and the dogs are turned around to face each other.
There is a “scratch line” and once a dog crosses it he is “scratched”, which means he intends to fight.
If a dog refuses to fight, jumps out of the ring, if a leg is broken or he is killed, the fight is over.
Dogs also die after fights because of infection, shock or after succumbing to their injuries.
A common training technique is putting the dog on a treadmill, sometimes called a “catmill”, where a cat or rabbit is put in front of the dog to entice him to run towards it.
Cape Town SPCA chief executive Allan Perrins said they had monitored over five years websites where fights were arranged.
There are about four active websites dedicated to pitbulls and pitbull fighting.
Perrins said the Plettenberg Bay bust was “a major coup” in the fight to eradicate organised dog fighting”, providing valuable evidence leading to further arrests.
He said those convicted “deserve no mercy and we will be bitterly disappointed if they elude the maximum possible (jail) sentence for their heinous deeds”. - Cape Times