The Benoni SPCA recently confiscated a three-year-old Labrador/collie-cross in Etwatwa, after it was reported that young boys in the community were trying to set up a dog fight with the animal.
Dog fighting has been an ongoing challenge for many animal rescue organisations.
Inspector at the Benoni SPCA Serra Gouriet highlighted that these actions affect the animals medically and psychologically.
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“Any animal involved in dogfighting may sustain injuries such as bite wounds that will often go untreated resulting in secondary infections and other complications. These dogs will also become aggressive as this is something that is instilled in them during the enticement of the fight.”
She added that it is hard to determine how prevalent this type of crime occurs in the community as it often goes unreported, explaining that dog fighting is both a predictor and an indicator crime, meaning that its presence in a community signals the future escalation of violent crime and indicates that additional linked criminal activities and control crimes are occurring in the community.
“The organised criminal activity of dog fighting can only successfully take place within a group type arrangement. The group consists of members experienced in the crime they are committing, consequently passing on such criminal activity and rationalising the crime to new individuals in the community. The criminal charges for dogfighting vary from case to case as it is not a stand-alone crime and can lead to other criminal activities.”
The young boys involved fled the scene and the Labrador-cross is now up for adoption.
Residents are urged to report any sort of crimes towards animals to the Benoni SPCA they can be contacted on 011 894 2814/5.
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