Morning:
9°c
Pitbull ‘weapon dogs’ seized as police handlers swoop on gangs
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent09.07.09
Twenty pitbull-type “weapon dogs” were seized in police raids in south London today.
In one of the first operations of its kind officers swooped on the homes of known gang members and captured dogs which have been terrorising local communities.
All the animals seized in the raids in Kennington — including a litter of six puppies — are suspected of being banned pitbulls.
Specialist officers from the Met's newly-established Status Dogs unit were trying to identify the breed of the animals.
The aim of Operation Navara was to target “weapon dogs”, which are believed to be used for fighting or intimidation. In some cases police smashed down front doors as the animals barked loudly inside.
Wearing protective gear, padded sleeves and carrying fire extinguishers to deal with any aggression, specialist handlers dragged snarling dogs into cages using restraining poles.
The animals will be examined by the Met's Status Dog Unit before a court hearing to decide their fate.
Two adult dogs were seized along with six four-week-old puppies from a three-storey house in Renfrew Road, Kennington. Officers suspect the home was being used for breeding.
The raids came as figures revealed the scale of pitbull ownership in London. Sergeant Ian McPartland, who heads the Status Dog Unit, said his officers had seized 273 dogs since the squad was established three months ago, 240 of which were pitbulls.
He revealed that criminals in the capital were breeding Staffordshire terriers with Bull Mastiffs to recreate the original American Pitbull breed.
He said: “This is how pitbulls were first created 200 years ago and it is happening again in London today, though we are also coming across some brought in from Southern Ireland and Eastern Europe.
“We are looking for dogs involved in anti-social behaviour, crimes or used for protecting criminal assets.”
Four years ago the Met recovered 40 dangerous dogs from the streets. Last year it seized 719, of which 600 were pitbulls. Lambeth North Superintendent Clive Wakeley said: “Gangs carry knives and guns and keep pit bulls as a weapon and as a status symbol.”
“If you target them and take 20 out, it is undermining their position and undermining them in terms of having a weapon they can use.”
Kit Malthouse, the deputy mayor for policing, said: “Weapon dogs are not fluffy pets. Do not be fooled by the wagging tail. They are kept to intimidate and cause injury or death, no different from a knife or a gun.
“The rise in use of these unfortunate animals has caused fear and alarm in neighbourhoods across the capital. Many people, parents, elderly people and other dog owners will breathe a little easier this morning.”
Reader views (12)
by all means target the 'people' in charge of these animals. the two legged problem. like any dog it's how you bring them up. bring bag a dog licence, dogs should be chipped and insured. I am a mother with three children. A responsible adult and dog owner. my 7mth old pup was taken from us while walking in the park. he was on a lead walking to heel. we went home crying. why and how did this happen to us. we got him home after 3 weeks. he was not in the best of condition but glad to be home. still under vet care!! he was healthy until they took him. now he has to be muzzled all the time.
- Whatsmycrime, london
that is rong do u think pits are dangers?
- Tiffany, sparta
What is wrong with Politicians today? If public safety were really a issue then it is irresponsible OWNERS that should be made to pay not the "weapons".
WHY do ALL dog owners of short haired medium dogs have to pay a price especially RESPONSIBLE owners?
Killing dogs for votes is NOT the answer. Fear mongroling is NOT the answer!
Did ANYONE hear about Michael Vicks dogs? How WELL they are doing today with GOOD owners. FOUR are now therapy dogs.
Any FOOL can see the problem is with those walking on TWO legs and NOT four.
- Fayclis, Toronto
Agree with Fiona. Poor mother has just had her babies taken away and a pole wrapped round her neck, shes scared and stressed. In the Daily Mail, all you see is the mother snarling, there is no indication that the mother is pregnant. Just an angry dog. Poor show by the press. Im an experienced dog owner who has had two "staffies", they are the most wonderful dogs.
- Alex Fernandez, Windsor, UK
it is the banning of these dogs that gives them the criminal cult status they currently have, to some degree fuelled by the media using inappropriate captions to pictures like the one above (though not in this case. Last year it was all about Rottweilers -as portrayed by the media.
By the way - asuugestion that two innocent little puppies lok evil just shows the crass bigotry and low levels of knowledge we all have to put up with!
- Jon D, London
I own a beautiful tiny 7yr old Staffie X, rescued from Battersea a few months ago. On Saturday she was savagely mauled by one of these status dogs in a completely unprovoked attack. Thankfully she is recovering well but required extensive surgery to repair her eyelid which had a chunk taken out of it. I find it hard to blame the dog when I know it was only made that way by its owner.
Although it may initially ease the situation, confiscating the dogs will not ultimately resolve the issue. The owners need to be prosecuted and action needs to be taken to prevent them simply cross breeding more Staffords and Bull Matiffs and starting the cycle again.
- Laura, London
What a terrible article. Not a ounce of apathy for these poor dogs being used and breed by these gangs. I would bet that the professionals told the politicians this would happen. Has the ban made ANYONE safer? NO! When you OUTLAW a dog the OUTLAWS will NOT obey the laws. Now SO many wonderful families have lost their pets to this horrible ban and of course NOW only criminals have them.
The Netherlands removed their ban after 25 years and recently Italy (who was up to 92 banned and/or restricted dogs) have since removed their bans. THEY had documented NO difference in dog attacks or bites over ALL that time and just had to keep adding more dogs to the list.
PUNISH irresponsible owners AND the "dog problem" WILL END.
- Fayclis, Toronto
Harley of Scotland's inarticulate rant perhaps proves the point that these dogs are kept by uneducated yobs who are unable to string two words together, let alone put forward a reasoned argument.
- Nigel, St Albans
RE: Picture above "Snarling: officers restrain one of the dogs". This shows a female, recently whelped & feeding pups. I would be amazed if a dog did not snarl when removed from her puppies by strangers using the methods shown. Poor, poor creatures - IT IS NEVER THE DOGS' FAULT! Indeed they truly are unfortunate animals.
- Fiona, Sutherland
Give the puppies to loving homes and destroy the HUMANS that use them as weapons!
- Nick, Japan
I am a owner of a Stafford and i don't like the second last paragraph, how Bull breed's are only kept for a status symbol and for a macho apperance, if people look not all of us get Bullie breeds for that reason i for one don't i see the breed for who they are and that is what i love them for. Despite the stories about American Pits, Stafford's and English Bull's it take's alot of training to make a dog of these breed's aggressive towards human's, if people done there own research and not go by the media they will find that they were bred to be fighter's and game hunter's, and dog's that were aggressive toward's people were not bred from and some where evan shot.
But i will stop my rant not all Bullie owners are bad i for one am not and tell my dog off for being unfriendly no matter if it is another animal or human, but people should perhap's do there research on "dangerous" breed's instead of getting a bad impression from the media and gang's
- Harley, Scotland, Scotland
Cor,even the puppies look evil.
- Steve, London
