Dog fighting is as secretive as it is barbaric, with participants often concealing their identities out of fear of arrest. However, an IT blunder by a member of a covert online dog fighting forum enabled an undercover BBC investigation to uncover some individuals involved in what has been described as 'one of Europe's largest dog fighting networks.'
The BBC has tracked dog fighting operations to various locations in the UK, from an unassuming housing estate to the grounds of a historic estate.
A simple mistake—a mis-click—by a forum member exposed gruesome match reports showing the brutality of dog fighting. This leak provided substantial intelligence that was quickly utilized by animal welfare organizations such as the League Against Cruel Sports and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
For six months, the BBC investigated this secretive international dog fighting syndicate, providing insight into the heinous activities that occur in its shadows.
Former police officer Russ Middleton, who now heads intelligence for LACS, expressed how pivotal this information was, referring to it as 'golden.'
The investigation employed detailed online evidence and infiltrated networks revealing the interconnectedness of dog fighters across Europe. The information gleaned underscores a disturbing trend of dog fighting in multiple UK towns and cities, significantly more common than previously estimated.
Experienced veterinarian David Martin confirmed the alarming frequency of these practices, indicating more than 600 reports of dog fighting have been logged since 2024 alone, with the danger that many events go unreported.
In a shocking discovery, specific kennels involved in these illegal activities were traced back to unusual locations, including a kennel in a busy housing estate in County Armagh and Boneyard Kennels hidden within the expansive Shane’s Castle estate.
Evidence has been traced back to David Patterson, a figure identified as running Boneyard Kennels, where approximately 40 fighting pit bulls were found, although he denies any involvement in dog fighting.
The investigation led to meetings with key figures in the dog fighting community, providing evidence of rampant cruelty. Notably, Zoltan Borbe, a member of the syndicate, was filmed discussing his dogs and implying their involvement in fights, only to later deny these allegations.
Animal rehabilitation efforts for rescued dogs continue, albeit with the dire reality that many of these animals lack safe futures due to their breeding and severe exposure to violence. Organizations are striving to rehabilitate dogs like Ruby, found during the investigation, to facilitate their recovery from the trauma inflicted by their past.
