RSPCA rescues 50 injured dogs bred for fighting in raids

More than 50 dogs allegedly bred for underground fighting have been seized by the RSPCA.

RSPCA Queensland inspectors and police rescued the animals from several properties in Logan, Redlands and Richmond, according to a statement released by the charity in Australia on Thursday.

A total of 56 canines including French bulldogs, bull-Arab cross-breeds and mastiffs were confiscated and taken to be cared for by the RSPCA.

A number of other dogs were also taken from the properties due to welfare concerns.

The series of raids were conducted following an extensive task force investigation into alleged dog fighting rings.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty called it “the first major breakthrough in 10 years.”

"In the past week, a property near Richmond in western Queensland, two in Logan, and one in the Redlands were raided and numerous dogs, believed to be used for fighting, were seized,” he told ABC news in Australia.

He added: “A lot of them had quite extensive scarring, particularly on their faces and front legs ... and there was some dog fighting paraphernalia confiscated as well, treadmills, breaking sticks and the like.”

Mr Beatty described dog fighting as an “insidious” sport to Brisbane Times.

He said: “Dog fighting is an insidious sport and incredibly cruel. Sadly there's quite a lot of money involved and we'd like to stamp it out completely.”

Mimi Bekhechi, Director of International Programmes PETA described the dog fighting sport as "disgusting".

She told the Standard: "Whether they take place in Australia or Britain, cruelty is inherent in dog fights: dogs are beaten, chained, starved, and taunted so that when they get into the ring, they'll rip other animals to shreds while spectators cheer and gamble for a few bucks or quid. When they're no longer of use to dog fighters, they're typically killed in atrocious ways, including by being drowned, beaten, or hanged.

"While this disgusting blood sport is rightly banned, horse racing – which has a higher body count – is still perfectly legal. If we wouldn't pay to see a dog torn apart, we should also refuse to support an industry in which horses crash face-first into the track and are abandoned or slaughtered in their thousands every year. No animal, whether horse or hound, exists for our amusement."