An Angus dog rescue charity chief says illegal dog fighting rings are operating in the area and have been for years.
Ian Robb, chairman of Angus Help for Abandoned Animals, said it is well known that it is going on but people are too frightened to talk out against it.
He was speaking after The Courier reported Montrose residents believe cats are being stolen and used as bait by the organisers of illegal dog fights.
The organisers are thought to put the cats in cages or wheelie bins before pairs of savage dogs, such as bull terriers, are introduced and encouraged to maul them. Banned in Britain since 1835, the practice is supposedly used to prepare the terriers for illegal dog fights, training them to kill.
Mr Robb said: ”There has been a ring in this area for about 20 years now but the massive problem is the low lifes who operate these illegal dog fights. Decent members of the general public will not come out and say anything to the police in case of reprisals.
”A lot of people involved in these rings lead lawless lives so God knows what they would do to people and it’s just so sad. This country is getting worse as the years go on for things like this happening.”
Mr Robb said there was previously dog fighting taking place in Carmyllie and he is aware of rings operating in Brechin and Montrose.
Montrose woman Margaret Gordon told The Courier it was known that dog fighting goes on in Angus but pet owners are terrified to speak out.
She fears her cat and a neighbour’s cat were stolen by what she believes was a dog fighting ring and taken to Brechin before being ditched when a fight was called off.
Mr Robb said he was approached by another woman from Montrose who spoke to him about dog fighting because she knew people involved in the cruel ”sport”.
He said: ”I tried to coax things out of her but she was too scared. She said a lot of people in the Montrose area know this is going on but people are just so frightened to talk out against things.
”I urged her to contact the police and the SSPCA but sadly people just don’t want to get involved. They are so scared of the repercussions.”
There are a variety of methods used to train a fighting dog, none of them humane. It can also involve fitness training such as putting them on treadmills and jaw strengthening with tyres. Drugs may also be used.
Mr Robb said: ”I could turn a good family pet within two weeks to being a vicious dog. That’s how easy it is and with the type of breeds they pick on as well they are easy to train.
”It just boils down to the same old story that people will not become involved and this is what the SSPCA and the police are up against. I encourage people to report it but they won’t go near the police.”
The Scottish SPCA has previously gathered intelligence which demonstrates that cats have been used to prepare dogs for illegal blood sports such as baiting and dog fighting.
However, they say they currently ”do not have any specific concerns about this activity in any area of Scotland.”
Photo by Flickr user Jos Carlos Cortizo Prez