A white staffy from Muswellbrook is suspected of having been a bait dog, used for other dogs to attack as part of dog fighting and has been euthanised.
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Ms Marisa Debattista, a veterinary nurse who cared for the animal before it was to be rehoused in Melbourne, said the animal was in a terrible state.
“It’s teeth had been manually ground down, which is what people involved in dog fighting do to them, so that they can’t fight back and injure the other dogs,” Ms Debattista said.
“He had scars all over him new and old and you could see all of the puncture wounds from the teeth of other dogs.
“Due to his injuries and his behaviours we came to the conclusion he had been used as a bait dog for dog fighting.
“It was incredibly sad, but we had to put him down.”
The emergence of a bait dog in Muswellbrook lends weight to local speculation that there is organised dog fighting throughout the Upper Hunter.
Locals are reporting missing dogs, in a pattern veterinarians are familiar with.
A veterinarian from Muswellbrook's Vet Barn confirmed there was a pattern to missing dogs in the area.
“We have seen patterns of particular breeds of dogs going missing and we don’t know the reasons behind it.
“They are mastiff type breeds, pig dogs, staffies, boxers and some larger breeds used for hunting.
“They may be being used in fighting or for pig hunting.”
Vice president of the Society of Companion Animal Rescuers David Atwell is not surprised at the persistent speculation of dog fighting that extends from Tamworth to Newcastle and has called on the NSW Minister of Police to establish a taskforce in the area.
“There are regular patterns of these dogs going missing in Muswellbrook, Singleton, Rutherford and Maitland areas and bait dogs turning up at local pounds,” Mr Atwell said.
“We’ve also had a ranger and another local report a suspicious looking one-tonner with dog cages and towing a trailer in the Hunter.
“This does seem to coincide with the recent spike in dog thefts which have been reported from Maitland to Muswellbrook and as far as I know most of these dogs are of the bull type breeds.
“Police need to investigate these patterns and take these matters seriously.”
The RSPCA said their inspector had called Muswellbrook police and the council ranger to investigate if there was a pattern of missing dogs.
Muswellbrook police said only one dog owner had reported to them.
An RSPCA spokesperson said it was important for owners to report their dogs as stolen to the police, so that it could be investigated.
Anyone with information on dog fighting rings can call the RSPCA on 1300 278 358.
