Dog fighting: Sentencing is a joke !

The maximum sentence for this should be increased, it's a bloody joke.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8274832.stm

How can we have one of the largest dog fighting rings in Europe in England? Do people just turn a blind eye to all this? I'm sure if I had a neighbour with a yard full of chained-up, scarred pit bulls I'd think there was something fishy going on and report them. John Parker has previous convictions for dog fighting (he was also charged with assault after he punched Mike Butcher of the RSPC's SOP and broke his nose), so how did he (or his wife because it seems he was already banged-up) manage to still have pit bulls on his property and hold dog fights in his garage? I know he lives in rual Lincolnshire but it still beggars belief that his wife could be part of this dog fighting ring and carry on fighting pit bulls . Perhaps people are just too scared to report scum bags like them to the athorities.
And Gary Adamson from Yarm doesn't live in some remote rural area he lives on an estate with neighbours on either side of his property.

Those sentences are terrible and who the heck is going to police them not being involved with animals in the future?

I saw the case on sky news and the presenter said staffordshire pit bull terriers and I agree the sentences are terrible

I remember signing a petition to keep SBTs off the dangerous dogs list.
Does anyone have the knowledge/skill to start a campaign to petition the CPS to increase sentencing?

It's a long shot but it may be worth contacting the RSPCA's legal people and see what they think to a campaign backed by the public by means of a petition to increase the sentencing for such crimes. Another idea: It might be worth approaching a couple of the National Daily newspapers, it would cost them nothing to raise an online petition that would surely collect thousands of 'signatures' which would highlight the publics outrage at such soft sentencing for such a bloody awful crime. Now would be the time to act after such a high profile case has just concluded with such weak sentencing. There are millions of dogs in the UK, an estimated 200,000 Staffords alone, I see no reason why a campaign with dog fighting as the keypoint but covering all animal cruelty wouldn't be well supported.
Then to get the maximum jail term increased you have to get it through the House of Lords, who are generally fast asleep
Give it a go Reen ?

First idea is great, second idea I don't think will work, look at the coverage Staffs get in the tabloids at the best of times, they are not likely to suddenly come out in defense of dogs "of that type".

There is a site online where you can create a petition that goes direct to the PM, for free, I'll have a scout around and see if I can find it.

the sentencing was not worth the tax payers money ...do they honestly believe that they will abide by these bans of not owning animals for 10 years ...i think not ..they will have them somewhere far away from their own houses get someone else to look after them and carry on as "normal"....18 weeks is just pathertic she wont even get serve the full amount it will be half of that , in my eyes they have bred these animals to kill each other but what would happen if they got out and got a child , non of this is taken into consideration , and the poor dogs themselves , she actually bred them for other people to fight ..10 years inside is what they should of got not 10 years from keeping animals ...petition sounds good but i honestly dont think it would work ..the prisons are so full up which is why they got away with murder and i litereally mean that as i am sure they have murdered many dogs (yes i am on my comp , i have space bar )

Hi Squidgy glad to see your keyboard is working again and sorry I wasn't much help. It appalls me that people like this get away with it so easily. They should be banned from keeping a dog for life never mind 10 years!

sorry,no,laptop,still,not,working,man,let,me,down,he,is,waiting,for,the,keyboard.to,come,into,stock

The sentences were too short, even though two of them got the maximum 26 weeks.
I think perhaps the RSPCA are the ones to campaign for longer sentences for those convicted of dog fighting, or the League Againsy Cruel Sports maybe?

Sorry Squidgy thought it was working again. You must get tetchy with the man - make him get it quicker. Tsk! Men! These poor specimens for humans deserve the same fate as their dogs - absolute scum. I detest anyone who makes money out of this. And 13 weeks is not enough nor is 26, they should be put down a dark alley with one or two of us and find out how to defend themselves then. Sorry, read it properly now and am totally disgusted.

Looks like the law have been useless yet again. I guess things will be taken into the publics hands, but then again what do they expect, its already began;

'Sentencing had been delayed after one of the defendants was attacked in court.
Kenneth King, 35, of Main Street, Ragnall, Newark, Nottinghamshire, was struck around the head several times and left bleeding from his ear.



Another person involved in the scuffle was shot with a Taser by police.'

the words i wish to use wouldn't be allowed on here.
disgusting,vile, evil does not seem severe enough words for these "people"
What does that sentence say to others? Its no where near enough.
I could rant and rave here, but best not

and the moderating/admin team thank you for your restraint bully