Dog Fighting campaign

The League's Dog campaign was launched to highlight the problem of dogs being used for fighting with other animals. Although illegal since 1835, evidence shows that dog fighting is gaining popularity in our towns and cities and these animals need to be protected.

We're also becoming increasingly aware of a new phenomenon: urban dog fighting where people are setting their dogs onto urban foxes.

The campaign also works to challenge the disgusting practice of ‘terrier work’, the dark side of hunting where terrier dogs are pitched against foxes in underground battles. The campaigns to protect all animals involved from this terrible suffering.

What is dog fighting?

Dog fighting:  banned in 1835 dog fighting still goes on.  Enforcement agencies are suggesting a 400% increase in dog fighting cases in recent years, with large increases in specific communities in the UK.

Badger baiting:  also illegal since 1835, badger baiters set their dogs onto badgers to fight until the badger is killed.  These usually gentle creatures will fight hard and can cause horrific injuries to the dogs.

Terrier work: this campaign tackles 'terrier work', where terrier type dogs are pitched against foxes in underground battles.  'Terrier men', most commonly associated with fox hunting, send their terriers into fox earths to try and force the fox to escape its home so that it can be killed.  Often terriers fight with the fox underground, causing horrific injuries to the fox and the dog. 

Urban fox hunting/fighting: This is a newer phenomenon where dogs are set onto urban foxes for a straight kill or to catch them for an organised fight.  Sometimes foxes are tied to a tree after which ferocious bull terrier type dogs are set onto it.  Either way the fox suffers massive suffering and stress before dying.  As the fox won't give up without a fight, the dog will suffer injuries too.