Police seize 14 pit bulls in dog fighting raid
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Police have seized 14 pit bull terriers as part of a raid on a suspected dog fighting training area, it was announced today.
The move comes a week after the death of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was mauled to death by a pit bull type terrier while staying at her grandmother's home in St Helens.
Police seized seven pit bull terriers and a puppy from a house in the Croxteth County estate district of Liverpool on Friday and arrested a 37-year-old man.
He was later released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Officers swooped on an industrial site in the Norris Green area of the city yesterday morning where they found a further 14 dogs of various ages, Merseyside Police said.
The RSPCA have been working closely with police sharing intelligence on dog fighting.
She added: "The search is ongoing but there is clear evidence that would suggest that this unit was being used for the training and development of these dogs."
Superintendent Chris Armitt said: "Following the tragic events on New Year's Day morning in St Helens, members of the public have come forward and provided Merseyside Police with information about where dangerous dogs are being kept.
"We have acted on this information quickly which has led to the seizure of 22 dogs within 24 hours."
RSPCA chief inspector Mike Butcher added: "We are currently assessing the health of the diseased dogs and assessing if the wounds some of them carry are consistent with dog fighting.
"Dog fighting is a brutal and organised crime of which dogs are the victims.
"Sadly this dreadful and barbaric sport is still carried out in pockets across Britain."