RSPCA names Greater London top illegal dog‑fighting hotspot in England

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) released new figures showing 1,433 reports of illegal dog fighting across England over the past three years. The data, part of the charity’s Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues fundraising campaign, identified Greater London with 25 reports in 2025 as the leading hotspot, followed by Lancashire and West Yorkshire with 15 each, and several other counties with double‑digit counts.

The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, which investigates organised animal crime, said the investigations have uncovered breeding, training and organised events where dogs are forced to fight to the death. Chief Inspector Will Mitchell warned that the cruelty is “impossible to describe unless you’ve seen it with your own eyes” and noted that many dogs die or are abandoned, while legislation can prevent rescued dogs of certain breeds from being re‑homed. One rescued eight‑year‑old bull‑breed named Jane was highlighted as an example of a dog given a second chance.