The Bermuda Sun reports an alarming rise in illegal pit bull trade, saying that these dogs are still being bred and used in dog fights and that their illicit breeding is “fueling a growing black market of aggressive animals and unsuitable owners.” This practice reflects what is quickly becoming an international problem. Illegally bred puppies are sold for up to $3,000, the SPCA has claimed. Government dog wardens are confiscating four to five puppies every month—many of them after police-led drug raids, because the dogs are being used by criminals as a status symbol or to guard drug stashes. Here are excerpts with a link to the full article below:
Neglected and unlicensed pit bull dogs often end up at the Society for the Protection of Animals in Paget. In the last few weeks the charity has received reports of pit bull puppies being drowned as well as being strengthened for fighting. And [the SPCA] has launched a cruelty investigation into a severely malnourished pit bull that was taken from a young man who had previously posted pictures of the animal on Facebook.
The charity says that around 85 per cent of the dogs it takes in are pit bulls or pit bull crosses. Kim Sherlaw, director of the SPCA, told the Sun that Bermuda’s small “gene pool” for illegal pit bull breeding made for aggressive dogs. Ms. Sherlaw said: “Recently we have dealt with reports of a pit bull puppy being forced to drag a concrete block in Somerset. This kind of practice is typically associated with strengthening the dogs for fighting. [. . .] “This is an international problem with the breed – and it means that some younger people take on these dogs do it for the wrong reasons.” [. . .] We have taken in animals that have obviously been used for fighting. [. . .] Pit bulls are a persecuted breed – and we do not promote the ban on them. They can make great family pets.”
For full article, see http://bermudasun.bm/
