25th May 2009

Tough Sentence For Dog Fighting

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A Lincolnshire man has been banned from keeping animals indefinitely after he admitted dog fighting charges following an RSPCA investigation. Appalled RSPCA inspectors found the emaciated carcass of a dead dog stuffed in a rubbish bin at his home when they investigated last spring.

Inspectors from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit also discovered five pit bull terrier type dogs in John Knibbs’ back yard when they searched his property on 9 April, 2008.

Knibbs, of Harrowby Hall Estate, Grantham was sentenced in May to 22 weeks in custody and given an indefinite ban on keeping and owning animals. He cannot appeal against the ban for at least 10 years. He had previously admitted having numerous items in his possession that were designed to be used in connection with dog fighting, contrary to Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The investigating RSPCA inspectors discovered dog fighting DVDs and paraphernalia, including breaking sticks, weighing scales, medication and an exercise frame used to train dogs at Knibbs’s home.

He appeared at Grantham Magistrates Court when he also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two Presa de Canarias dogs - commonly known as Canary Dogs - and to a tan coloured bull terrier bitch, known as Holly. Holly’s carcass was discovered dumped in a rubbish bin in the back yard of Knibbs’s home address.

Knibbs also pleaded guilty to having the five pit bull terrier type dogs in his possession, contrary to Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Chief Inspector Mike Butcher, of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, said, “This man was clearly a dog fighter. It is a barbaric activity and one that many people might think no longer exists in modern society.

“However, this case shows there are still those who pursue dog fighting and, while they continue to do so, the RSPCA will continue to pursue them.”

Knibbs claimed he knew dog fighters but was not involved in dog fighting himself. When interviewed by RSPCA inspectors he said he had rescued the pit bull type dogs from dog fighters.

The RSPCA’s case against Knibbs is part of Operation Cannon, which was launched in 2008 to target dog fighters.

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