WWW Anti Dogfighting Fund
 

An account by the reporter of a night at a dogfight from the BBC Panorama programme exposing the underground world of dogfighting.

"Bobby and another guy came into the pit carrying two 10-month-old pups. I thought at first that they were joking - these dogs are the canine version of toddlers.

I took a chance and took out my camcorder. This lasted about 30 seconds before Bobby saw it and stopped me: "It's not allowed... too risky," he said.

Those pups tore into each other like they'd been fighting for years, without any hesitation they pulled and ripped at each other, squealing with pain.

After 15 minutes they were replaced with fresh dogs, getting older and bigger as the night progressed. There were seven fights in all. It was if a conveyer belt was moving them between the woods and the pit. Some dogs - I think two of them - had to fight twice and even though they were near dead through exhaustion they kept the pace up solely to impress their human master.

At last the final fight and the big dogs, weighing in at over 50lbs.

They clashed like two bowling balls - an instant shower of teeth shot into the air followed by the noise; the ripping, popping, slashing and grinding. The blood was uncontrollable. All I could focus on was getting this on camera. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have to worry about getting footage. Surely I would have given the game away - that I wasn't enjoying this and I detested the company I was in.

After 46 minutes Bobby's dog could not move out of its corner and stood staring at the other dog who was being restrained and was still game to go - but it wasn't the dog that moved in for the kill.

Bobby picked up the injured dog and left the ring. He took it to a side building where I thought he would give it medical attention. Then all of a sudden the lights went out and everybody froze. Bobby went running outside to the fuse box.

After a few seconds the lights went on.

Bobby had not taken the dog out to care for it, but to kill it. He had attached crocodile clips to the dog's tail and ear and poured a bucket of water over it in an attempt to electrocute it. That's what had blown the fuses.

This dog, that had fought till it couldn't move any longer, was being rewarded with death by electrocution and, if this couldn't get worse, it hadn't died. Bobby had to carry it to the house to finish it of with a stronger electric current.

I thought I had seen all dog-fighting had to offer but I wasn't prepared for that.

The visiting Farmers' Boys said it was the best night they'd had in years."