RSPCA seize horrific dog fighting footage from London man

Wednesday, 4 August 2010 12:00 AM

A man from north London has been found guilty of dog fighting offences after graphic footage showing brutal dog fights was discovered by the RSPCA at his house.

The footage shows Bilal Mohammed Aldeeb (pictured below) goading a series of dogs to fight in a yard believed to be somewhere in Jordan. At one point the 32-year-old (25/2/78) is caught on camera pushing two dogs' heads together in an attempt to continue a fight between the two exhausted animals, already covered in blood from their horrific injuries.

Aldeeb, of Avenue Road, Southgate, could not be prosecuted for fighting the dogs in the footage as the incidents took place outside England and Wales.

However, at Enfield Magistrates Court on Tuesday (3.8.10), he was convicted of keeping and training a red and white pit bull terrier type dog named Rhino for use in connection with an animal fight. He was also found guilty of possession of a weighted collar which is used to train dogs in connection with animal fighting. Both charges were in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The two-day trial was told the weighted collar is designed and used to build up a dog's neck muscles for dog fighting. Aldeeb had previously admitted possession of a pit bull terrier type dog, contrary to section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The court was shown footage from the tapes seized at Aldeeb's home address to prove he had an interest in dog fighting.

Chief inspector Mike Butcher, of the RSPCA's special operations unit, said: "The footage seized from Aldeeb's home was some of the clearest and most graphic we have ever come across. There can be no question that this man has a sickening fascination in watching two animals rip each other to pieces.

"The dogs in the video would have suffered horrendous levels of cruelty through the actions of Aldeeb and those who took the footage.

"The footage may have been taken overseas, but this case proves the RSPCA refuses to turn a blind eye to those people who think maintaining their involvement in this barbaric practice to England is acceptable."

One charge against Aldeeb, of causing unnecessary suffering to Rhino by failing to provide the animal veterinary care for injuries caused by a fight with another animal, was dismissed by the court.

The case was adjourned for sentencing at Enfield Magistrates Court on 24 August.

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Notes to editors

A selection of footage seized from Aldeeb's home showing dog fights is available to download from the RSPCA press office on request by calling 0300 123 0244 or by emailing press@rspca.org.uk (Warning - the footage shows graphic images of dogs fighting).

Dog fighting was originally banned in England and Wales under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835.

Currently section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause an animal fight or attempt to do so, receive money for admission, publicise a fight, train and animal to fight, take part in a fight and be present at an animal fight without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. Some of the offences can be committed without a fight having taken place.

The number of incidents of dog fighting reported to the RSPCA from the public are: 2004=24; 2005=36; 2006=137; 2007=357; 2008=284, 2009=204.

The numbers of successful convictions for animal fighting obtained by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act 2006: 2008=16; 2009=31.

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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