Dogs Found Bloodied, Chained In Property, Owner Jailed For Organizing Fights

A man from Queensland, Australia, was sentenced to six months in prison Wednesday in connection with secret dog fights that left several animals wounded.

Animal welfare officials conducted a sting operation and seized 20 dogs from a property in April 2018. The officials found several breeds including bull mastiffs, pit bull terriers and bulldogs and chained in the property, some of which had scars consistent with dog fighting. Apart from the animals, the officials also seized needles, antibiotics, harnesses and electric collars from the property. Post investigation, 35-year-old Jarrad Nathan Trenear was taken into custody.

During Wednesday’s hearing, magistrate Linda Bradford-Morgan showed the photos of bloodied dogs and asked the accused if his little daughter had seen the canines in this state. Speaking to media outside court, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) chief inspector Daniel Young said, “It’s just a really horrible way for a dog to live.” Some of the seized dogs were so aggressive that they were put down. The other dogs were rehabilitated. Two of the dogs, however, were returned to Trenear, who then gave them away to his friends.

On Wednesday, Trenear pleaded guilty to several offenses including supplying dogs for fights and organizing a fight and ordered to repay the medical fees incurred by the RSPCA. He was also fined for not proving adequate living conditions for the animals.

In a similar incident in Adelaide, Australia, in April 2018, a man was sentenced to seven months in jail for organizing dog fighting. Officials seized six American Staffordshire terriers that were chained in a property. These dogs had scars and bite marks consistent with dog fighting. All the dogs were put down for being too aggressive. Officials also seized items used in training the animals including chains and steroids. After investigation, 39-year-old Benn Christopher Hamilton was taken into custody.