Trusting owners think their pets are going to a good home but the truth is horrifying Families are being warned about the dangers of privately rehoming their pets A dog that has been used as bait for fighter dogs (Image: Animal Alliance ) The dogs face each other in the arena, licking their lips through bared teeth. One leaps forward, straight into the jaws of the other. They aim for the neck, as they are trained to do. Blood speckles the ground. The weaker dog is badly hurt, and now fights only for survival. Eventually, it tries to stand, but its legs buckle, its head hits the pavement. The fight is done. It dies the next day. ‌ Article continues below This is the sad reality of organised dog fighting. The so-called sport is associated with banned breeds such as the American Pitbull and Japanese Tosa. Experts say these dogs are trained like champion boxers into finely-tuned killing machines, by people who place their bets and watch as their animals tear each other apart. Prized specimens are said to be worth up to £50,000, but will be left with serious injuries and patched back together with DIY vet kits by their owners, without pain relief or anaesthetic, until they’re ready to fight again. Small fortunes are wagered on the results of their illicit fights. ‌ But the preparation for these barbaric encounters involves much weaker breeds. Sometimes they are tied to trees, have their jaws taped shut or are simply thrown into a room with the fighting dogs. This is known as dog baiting and, according to the RSPCA, there has been a dramatic surge in the numbers of dogs being bought as bait. Two adult pit bull terriers fighting. Picture: RSPCA Despite being outlawed nearly 200 years ago, dog fighting is becoming more common. The number of dog fighting incidents reported to the RSPCA increased from 399 in 2020 to 537 in 2023, and has risen by 8% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023. ‌ The animal welfare charity received a total of 1,734 reports of organised dog fighting in England over the last four years (2020-2023). Teams in Wales also received 97 reports from 2020-2023. While the number of reports are worryingly high, the number of reports leading to prosecutions is low as it can be difficult to gather evidence against the secretive and surreptitious gangs who operate in very tight knit groups. Karen Taylor, 44, has been an animal rescue worker since she was 19 years old. But she said she has "never seen anything like this in my life." ‌ Karen, who is one of the people behind rescue centre Animal Alliance, told the ECHO: "I honestly don't think the general public are actually aware of how bad it is. I literally cry every morning. "Dog-baiting is rife at the moment. People are making a full-time business out of it. They're sourcing free dogs online and selling them for around £300 for the dog to be ripped to pieces by fighting dogs." Karen said many of the dogs being sourced for these disturbing fights are scooped up from trusting owners who believe their dogs are going to a good home. ‌ 'Sellers think their dogs are going to great home - they're not they're facing a really gruesome end to their lives' She said: "We've heard of instances where these people are turning up to buy a dog from a private seller with their wife and kids, posing as a good family. The sellers think their dogs are going to great homes, and they're not; they're facing a really gruesome end to their lives." But with dogs and puppies being dumped every day, animal rescues barely have enough resources to accommodate the demand for space. Karen said: "Every rescue is at full capacity; we're all struggling with space. After the XL Bully ban, dogs were left tied up in parks, starved to death, beaten to death, even set on fire, we also went out to many dead pups just months and even weeks old, some with duct tape or plastic bags around their heads." ‌ Karen said the number of dogs being given away free online is "shocking", with the majority of these dogs ending up in unsuitable homes with back yard breeders, being abused, neglected or ending up as bait dogs. "Now rescues are full, people are refusing to wait for a space," Karen said. "We are finding that these poor dogs are being killed, dumped, abused and abandoned, not just XL Bullies, but dogs of all breeds and sizes. "It's at the point now where people are just abandoning their dogs anywhere. A litter was saved from Freshfield beach, they all died. Another litter was thrown out of a car window and dumped on the side of the road. Only one of those puppies survived. ‌ "People are just dumping them - this is happening every day. Some rescues are having to double up on kennels because of it. "The dogs are only getting seven days before they are euthanised because of this crisis. So what's happening is, these people can't get immediate help from rescues so they get put on a waiting list. 'It's a draconian and barbaric blood sport' "The owners aren't willing to wait, so they put a post up of their dog on social media saying something like 'free to good home'. And these dogs are ending up in the wrong hands. Some owners are genuine owners who are just thinking their dogs are going to good homes and they're not." ‌ RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs, who is head of the Special Operations Unit, said: “Dog fighting is a draconian and barbaric blood sport which many people believe society has left behind in history. Sadly though, the reality is that we continue to investigate cases today, involving sophisticated networks of people whose passion is breeding, training, arranging and fighting dogs. “We see career criminals getting their kicks from watching dogs rip each other’s throats out and break each other’s legs. It’s shocking and there is absolutely no place for it in society today. We’ve investigated cases in which dogs are forced to fight to the death or are left with catastrophic injuries such as broken legs and deep puncture wounds to their heads and faces. “Tragically, the suffering for these dogs doesn’t end in the fighting pit. Injured and dying dogs can be electrocuted to death or even drowned in bathtubs before their bodies are burned to ash. Dogs who refuse to fight or lose in the pit are abandoned. ‌ “Winning dogs are prized but will be left with serious injuries and won’t be seen by a vet but instead patched back together with DIY vet kits by their owners, without pain relief or anaesthetic, until they’re ready to fight again. “Dog fighting is a dark, secretive sport but it could be happening near you; in a garage or warehouse in the heart of a city, or on a rural farm in a quiet village. We’d urge the public to contact the police or RSPCA if they have any concerns about dog fighting near them. Signs can vary but dogs used in fighting will usually have scars on their face, front legs and hind legs, and they can also have damaged ears and puncture wounds. “Other suspicious activity includes hiding dogs away in outbuildings or kennels and not exercised in public, as well as groups of people meeting with their dogs.” Article continues below In a bid to raise vital funds to help save more dogs from this gruesome end, members of Animal Alliance are fundraising in a range of ways. Two female members of the team are selflessly shaving their hair, while another two are getting the Animal Alliance's logo tattooed. Two others will be walking from Scotland to Manchester, and another will be running a marathon for the cause. Anyone wishing to donate to Animal Alliance's JustGiving page can do so here.