Investigating animal fighting
Animal fighting like dog fighting, cock fighting and badger baiting has been banned since 1835, yet it still continues, with social media giving criminals new ways to organise and exploit animals. On this page, learn how our Special Operations Unit is tackling animal crime, to end the suffering of thousands.
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Suspect someone is taking part in animal fighting?
Call us in confidence on 0300 123 8960 or report it to the police.
Examples of animal fighting
Dog fighting
Despite being illegal for over 190 years, dog fighting still happens. Between 2023 and 2025, we received 1,633 reports of dog fighting.
Criminals selectively breed dogs for aggression and train them for months before pitting them against each other. The aim is to inflict maximum pain and damage, and most dogs will ultimately be killed in the ring, die from their injuries or, in some cases, be killed by their owners.
Illegal dog fighting often takes place in a secretive location where dogs are forced to fight in a confined pit. Gangs make money from gambling or charging huge sums to buy or breed from winning dogs.
Dogs suffer serious or fatal injuries, with some injured dogs being killed or abandoned. They are left with horrific wounds, which owners often treat themselves using super glue or staple guns, rather than taking them to a vet. Dogs that have lost their fights can be abandoned or killed.
Ending the fight
19 dogs rescued from the ring
Read about the two-and-a-half-year investigation that saw 19 dogs rescued from an international dog fighting ring, brought into our care and rehomed.
Cock fighting
Cock fighting has been illegal for nearly 200 years but it still goes on today, causing pain and suffering to birds. We received 143 reports of cock fighting between 2021 and 2025.
Cockerels are bred and trained specifically for fighting, and owners sometimes sharpen their spurs (claws), or attach blades to their legs to inflict maximum damage.
Traditionally considered a rural activity, taking place on farms or in the countryside, we now also see it happening on urban allotments and gardens.
Cock fights usually last between 10 minutes and an hour, while fights with sharpened spurs may only last a few minutes as one puncture wound can kill a bird quickly. Criminals often fight birds to the death and a winning bird can become a 'champion' after just a few victories. Illegal gambling rings see bets laid on the outcome.
Quail fighting
Like cock fighting, quail fighting sees birds such as Quail and Francolin Partridges trained to fight, causing brutal cruelty. The fights tend to be less organised and usually take place inside homes, making it very difficult to detect and trace.
How we investigate animal fighting
Our RSPCA Special Operations Unit (SOU) tackles animal crime, using intelligence, uniformed officers and covert operations. Animal fighting often involves hardened criminal gangs working in close knit, secretive networks which are hard to infiltrate.
Bringing them to justice is not easy and can take many months of painstaking work. We rely on tip-offs from the public and other agencies who may be investigating other criminal activity, and sadly it’s not always possible to bring a prosecution.
Every animal we save from the hands of these gangs is an animal saved from a life of suffering.
How you can help us tackle animal fighting
Animal fighting is secretive and we rely on tip-offs from people to investigate and bring the animals to safety. We need the public to be our eyes and ears and report anything suspicious.
If you suspect someone is involved in wildlife crime, contact the police or call the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 123 8960.
