Contemporary dog-fighting law in the UK

This article examines contemporary dog-fighting law in the UK, primarily within the confines of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It primarily concludes that there is no specific offence of dog-fighting and that, instead, the offence of animal fighting (Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006) is used. However, the article also observes that there are both direct and indirect animal welfare offences contained within legislation and that for investigators and prosecutors, 'lesser' offences related to the harm caused to the dogs are often easier to both prove and prosecute. Thus the reality is that the true level of dog-fighting in the UK remains unknown and is likely under-reported/recorded, given that many dog-fighting offences will be recorded as 'other' animal welfare offences relating to injuries caused to dogs.

Journal of Animal Welfare Law, February 2016