Brothers jailed over barbaric dog fights

TWO “cruel and barbaric” brothers have become the first Scots to be jailed under new laws to tackle illegal dog fighting after an undercover operation by the Scottish SPCA.

David and Colin Reid, who were said to have a “fascination” for the crime, were sentenced to a total of ten months imprisonment after they admitted encouraging pit bull terrier-type dogs to attack each other.

David Reid, 22, who has a previous conviction for cutting off parts of the ears of two puppies with scissors, was jailed for six months at Banff Sheriff Court yesterday. His brother, 24, was jailed for four months. They were also banned from keeping dogs for five years.

The brothers are the first people to be convicted of dog fighting in Scotland since 1991 when 31 people were caught at a fight in Kennoway, Fife.

Dog fighting is run by a tight knit criminal underground in Scotland in which £20,000 can be waged on a single fight and the animals can rip each other apart for up to an hour.

The Scottish SPCA’s Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said the case should act as a warning to criminals taking part in an “abhorrent activity”.

He said: “Our investigation revealed both David and Colin Reid were heavily involved in dog fighting, a sickening crime which causes dogs horrendous injuries and can often be fatal.

“It is testament to our inspectors involved that these extremely cruel and barbaric men are serving jail sentences.

“This was the first conviction for animal fighting under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006, which empowers Scottish SPCA inspectors to search and enter homes under warrants to retrieve evidence.

“During raids on the Reid brothers we discovered video evidence which not only proved their guilt but also clearly demonstrated their fascination in watching the poor dogs involved viciously fight each other.”

He welcomed the custodial sentences. But he added: “We had expected the ban to be for life as these men are evidently unfit to be in possession of a dog.”

Chief Supt Flynn said the convictions should serve as a warning to dog fighters across Scotland.

“We are continually gathering intelligence throughout the country and are particularly concerned about the prevalence of dog fighting in the North-east.

“This case sends a clear message that we will pursue anyone taking part in this abhorrent activity.”

The court was told that SSPCA investigators had found three pit bull terrier-type dogs, with various wounds on their bodies, in kennels at the home of David Reid, and a bull terrier-type dog at the home of Colin Reid.

Video footage of dog fighting was also discovered on a computer at another address. The footage showed the brothers using sticks to separate the dogs and releasing them to fight again.

Jailing David Reid, of Boyndie Street West, Banff, and Colin Reid, of Moray Street, Macduff, Sheriff Peter Hammond said the courts took a serious view of dog fighting and told them: “You had an unhealthy fascination for this barbaric and distressing activity.”

In March 2006 David Reid was fined £300 and banned from keeping dogs for two years after he admitted cutting off parts of the ears of two cross bull terrier-type pups and causing them unnecessary suffering.

He said after the 2006 case: “I didn’t expect to get that. I really think I should have got the dogs back. There was no suffering to the dogs at all because, at a few days old, they have no veins in their ears and they are deaf and blind.”