Swing seats destroyed in by dogs being trained to fight (From Harrow Times)

Action to combat dangerous dogs being trained to fight in Harrow

4:50pm Tuesday 5th January 2010 in News By Tristan Kirk

YOUNG men with dogs are destroying children's play equipment by forcing their pets to bite into the swing seats.

Seats with large chunks bitten out of them by powerful dogs have been discovered in playgrounds across Harrow.

It is thought young men are forcing their dogs to clamp their teeth around the swing seats and make them dangle in the air to strengthen their jaw muscles.

Dog experts believe this is the latest worrying sign that there are a growing number of dangerous dogs being trained to fight across Harrow.

PC John Bishop, wildlife crime officer for Harrow Police, said dog fighting is on the increase across the capital, and has been for some time.

He said: “This is a problem throughout the country, and quite a lot of pitbulls need to be taken off the streets.

“The dogs are trained to improve their grip, trying to make them more aggressive. “This is why the Met has set up a Status Dog Unit to deal with this problem.”

To combat the damage to swing seats, Harrow Council has invested in new seats with insect repellent baked into them which have a taste dogs are known not to like.

Councillor Susan Hall, deputy leader of the council, said: “It is an open secret that some owners of powerful breeds like bull terriers force their animals to swing on seats.

“At one point in Harrow we are suffering weekly damage to our swing seats.

“The seat mixture is unpleasant but not harmful to the dogs; it's only a pity we can't find a repellent spray for the unpleasantly macho owners who degrade their animals in this way.”

This is not the first time evidence has been found of young men training their dogs to fight.

In August, a group of young men were spotted setting their dogs on swans in Bentley Priory Nature Reserve.

And the Harrow Times reported how a Jack Russell terrier was attacked and killed by a pitbull in front of its horrified owner in Queensbury.

Have you seen evidence of dogs being trained to fight. Leave your comments below or email tkirk@london.newsquest.co.uk