ILLEGAL dog fighting cases have skyrocketed in Hampshire, new data has revealed.

Figures from the RSPCA show that dog fighting cases in the county have jumped from two a year to 16 reported incidents.

It comes as the animal welfare charity revealed that the south is the second worst region for dog fighting.

In 2022, 16 cases of dog fighting were recorded across Hampshire.

This is up from two the year before and six in 2020.

This year, the RSPCA has already had two reports of dog fighting in the county.

Despite the pandemic lockdowns, 224 cases of dog fighting have been tackled by the RSPCA in the south since 2019.

RSPCA dog fighting expert and Special Operations Unit (SOU) chief inspector Ian Muttitt said: “It’s staggering that something which has been illegal for almost 200 years, which most people would consider consigned to history, is still so rife.

“Each year, these reports of cruelty reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months.

“Around this time of year nationally we receive a report of an animal being beaten on average every hour of every day."

Dog fighting is a type of blood sport where dogs fight against each other - sometimes to the death - and criminals will place bets on which dog they think will win.

Many of the dogs used by dog fighters are never found and those who are rescued are often found to be banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act and cannot legally be rehomed.

Ian said: “The dog fighting world is a dark and secretive place. It could be happening in an inner-city warehouse next door to your office or on a rural farm in your quiet village.

“Signs of dog fighting can vary but if you notice a dog with lots of scars on its face, front legs, hind legs and thighs, or with puncture wounds and mangled ears - this could be a sign of dog fighting and should be reported to the RSPCA or the police.

"Other suspicious activity includes dogs being hidden away in outbuildings or kennels of sight and not exercised in public.

“Dogs who win fights are prized and are often treated like Kings. But those who refuse to fight or lose are often abandoned or barbarically killed."