ORGANISED dog fights are being held on two Preston housing estates, according to horrified residents.

The barbaric 'sport,' which involves two starved dogs fighting over the corpse of a cat, is said to take place regularly at addresses in Moor Nook and Grange, the two housing estates which surround Preston's RSPCA pet shelter.

Now officers from the charity's Special Operations Unit are investigating the claims.

Horrified locals on the two estates say they have spotted 'tell-tale' signs of dog fighting on their estate, including the dead cat carcasses in the park.

One Grange resident, who did not want to be identified, told the Citizen: "When it used to happen in the past we would find carcasses of cats in the park.

"Lots of cars used to park on the street and people used to sit in some of the cars. Everyone knew what was happening when it happened, but if anyone form the authorities came, they would vanish."

Dog fighting, although illegal, is a massive money-spinner for those involved, with vast sums of prize money up for grabs. Betting is also big business.

More recently American Bull Terriers have been brought to the North of England to be bred up for fighting. They are said to be the most vicious dogs around, and were used in America to catch Wild Boar.

Dog fighting has also been blamed for the rise in the number of cats being stolen in Preston and South Ribble areas.

Inspector Barry Williams, of the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit, said: "Preston is an ideal place for dog fighting because there are so many secluded places where it can take place, such as abandoned mills, barns, old factories and the like.

"Often minders will be placed in strategic locations to ensure people participating can get away.

"This is an activity which involves a lot of money and uses a very sophisticated network to let people know where and when fights are taking place. The people who are involved are never the people you expect to be involved."

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