26th April 2007

Four Month Sentence For Dog Fighting

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A man who held dog-fights in his house has been sentenced to four months in prison following a major RSPCA operation.

Adio Clarke, of Holly Road, Handsworth, Birmingham had pleaded guilty to possessing a dog-fighting venue, to causing dogs to fight, to possessing 11 ‘illegal’ dogs as defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and to causing unnecessary suffering to three of the dogs. He was also banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.

Clarke was arrested as part of Operation Lace, a major operation into dog-fighting in the Birmingham area held on April 4 2006 by the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), West Midlands Police and RSPCA inspectors.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Mike Butcher of the SOU welcomed the sentencing.

“It’s a sad fact that some people still think that forcing two dogs to fight each other, potentially to the death, is entertaining. It’s not – it’s barbaric, it’s cruel and it’s reprehensible. Hopefully this sentence will serve as a warning to anyone else who thinks they can get away with something that to any right-minded person is despicable.

“We’d like to thank West Midlands Police for their help and co-operation in this case, and we will continue to work closely with all authorities to stop this abhorrent practice.”

He added, “Dog fighting is a disease that seems to be on the rise again across the country at the moment. I can’t believe I’m having to battle this the same way my counterparts were battling it 150 years or so ago, but the RSPCA will do everything we can to ensure the people doing this are brought to justice.”

Operation Lace followed the discovery of a dog-fight in the Alum Road area of Birmingham in February 2006. During the operation 51 dogs (including 45 pitbulls) were seized and a number of items including treadmills, a video, veterinary kits, breaking sticks and other dog fighting paraphernalia were taken away.

Fourteen people were charged with various offences related to dog fighting/possession of banned dogs. Cases relating to the Alum Rock dog-fight are being held in September 2007.

Anyone with information relating to dog-fighting activities can call the RSPCA cruelty line in confidence on 0870 5555 999.