Violent crime and dog trade
Image: Simon Harding
A study has found links between violent crime and dog trade in the UK – a competitive market that has boomed in recent years.
Simon Harding, a lecturer in criminology and sociology at the University of Middlesex, looked at why a large number of young men buy and breed dangerous dogs.
His research involved interviewing owners of both legal and illegal aggressive dogs, as well as gang members.
He found that these dogs were being used mostly as a business asset, helping with image brand, debt collection, security and income generation.
"For many young people, dogs are increasingly viewed as a commodity, which can be traded up or down like a mobile phone," explained Dr Harding.
"It has become less about whether the dog will fit into family life and more about 'What will this dog do for me?' and 'How much will it make me?'."
A demand for aggressive dogs, such as mastiffs, pitbulls and akitas, means they are bred and sold for profit. The study found they can sell for more than £400 – a figure that rises for mature dogs who are good fighters.
"Owners are in a free enterprise competitive market and that leads to specialised breeding of dogs to make their offspring even heavier, stronger and more vicious," explained Dr Harding.
As well as training their dogs to be aggressive, the study found owners would also build up the dogs' muscles with vitamin supplements or inject them with steroids, and file their teeth to make them sharper.
According to Dr Harding, dangerous dogs imply that the owner should be taken seriously and act as a minder.
This was demonstrated in the study, when he found that many owners decorate their dogs' muzzles with studs, violent graphics and gang colours, to show a potential for violence.
"People believe that possession of an aggressive dog means that the threats posed by such men will be carried out."
Often bull breeds – due to their aggressive and intimidating reputation – are used in drug deals, gambling debts and loan sharking, according to the study.
Dr Harding explained that because this work is illegal, the law cannot be used as a threat. The dogs are therefore used as an alternative.
The research also involved analysing police records and asking people in London parks about the presence of aggressive dogs.
Dr Harding found that 719 illegal dogs were seized in 2008/2009, and there has been a 551 per cent rise in the number of hospital admissions for dog bites in the UK since 1991.
Concluding that not all dog attacks are by dangerous breeds, Dr harding said: "Dogs are what we make them. It is humans that are responsible for making dogs either sociable or aggressive."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
