PETA demands maximum
punishment for dog fighting

IN November PETA sent an urgent letter to Blackburn Magistrates' Court urging justices to sentence two men who had pleaded guilty to dogfighting charges to the maximum penalties allowed by law. Aftab Razzaq of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to causing an animal fight to take place in September 2008 and causing unnecessary suffering to a pit bull terrier, and Ussman Hussain of St James Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to taking part in a dog fight.

The two men were scheduled to be sentenced on 27 November. PETA also asked that Razzaq and Hussain - in addition to serving the maximum period of imprisonment recommended in the Magistrates' Court sentencing guidelines - be required to undergo thorough psychological evaluations followed by mandatory counselling at their own expense. The group also asked that the two men be barred from owning animals and that any animals still in their care be seized.

"Anyone capable of this kind of violence poses a serious risk to humans and non-humans alike", said PETA's Suzanne Barnard. "Communities should be deeply concerned when animal abusers are found in their midst. Research in psychology and criminology reveals a consistent pattern of cruelty to animals among perpetrators of violence towards humans."

PETA sent the court a report that details the connection between cruelty to animals and violence towards humans. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation uses reports of these crimes in analysing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals.

History shows that serial rapists and murderers often have backgrounds that include incidents involving cruelty to animals. Child-killers Mary Bell, Robert Thompson and Jon Venable - as well as serial murderers Ian Huntley, Thomas Hamilton (Dunblane massacre), Fred West, Denis Nilsen, Ian Brady and Jeffrey Dahmer - all started out by deliberately harming animals.

At the sentencing of the two later in November, they were jailed and banned from keeping animals for 10 years for taking part in a dog fight. Aftab Razzaq, 25, was jailed for four months and Usman Hussain, 22, for three months after magistrates said they were satisfied they attended a pre-arranged dog fight and actively urged the animals to fight causing them distress. The RSPCA, which brought the prosecutions, welcomed the sentences as a suitable punishment and a warning to others tempted to get involved in dog fighting.

“That is an excellent result,” said RSPCA Inspector Melissa Furey. “We are really pleased with the outcome, especially the banning order. Hopefully this will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of participating in this kind of activity. Status dogs are becoming more and more of a problem with gangs of youths using them for fighting and to intimidate the public. They don’t understand these dogs and what they are capable of.”

Blackburn magistrates heard that one of the dog handlers filmed the fight on his mobile phone. But the footage was eventually presented to police and the RSPCA by an ex-girlfriend who sent it to her own phone when Razzaq was out of the room. Razzaq, of Whalley New Road, pleaded guilty to causing an animal fight to take place on September 8, 2008, and causing unnecessary suffering to a pit bull terrier and failing to take proper care of the dog.

Ussman Hussain, of St James Road, pleaded guilty to taking part in a dog fight. Chris Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said a number of people had gathered on the land in Troy Street on the day of the incident. “The dog fight which subsequently took place had been filmed by someone who knew it was going to happen which suggests to me there was some pre-planning,” said Mr Wyatt.

The magistrates watched the video which showed a Staffordshire bull terrier and a pit bull terrier fighting still on their leads. There was also footage of the dogs snarling and barking at each other. Peter King, defending Hussain, claimed his client was walking the family dog and had not gone to Troy Street for a pre-arranged fight.

“My client says he was goaded by others to present it to the other animal,” said Mr King. Ian Huggan, defending Razzaq, said his client did not accept making arrangements to have a dog fight and that the ex-girlfriend had acted out of jealousy.