'Incredibly concerned': Zero dog fighting-related charges laid in years

A dog fighting and cock fighting unit was formed in 2017 and sat within RSPCA Queensland, staffed by three officers. (Supplied) No charges associated with dog fighting have been filed in Queensland since July 2022, despite dozens of offences recorded in the years prior. It follows changes to the Animal Care and Protection Act, which require the Queensland Police and the RSPCA to seek permission from the Department of Primary Industries before prosecuting offences, including dog fighting. Experts say it is "naive to assume animal fighting does not continue to exist" and are calling for animal welfare to be regulated by an independent authority. Link copiedShareShare articleThe number of charges addressing illegal dog fighting in Queensland has plummeted to zero in the years since a special taskforce was disbanded, the ABC can reveal. The dog fighting and cockfighting unit was formed in 2017 and sat within RSPCA Queensland, staffed by three officers. Under the unit, the RSPCA achieved its first "major breakthrough" in a decade, with a dog fighting raid that resulted in the seizure of 56 dogs in 2018. In the 2020-21 financial year, 15 defendants faced 63 charges relating to a prohibited event under the Animal Care and Protection Act. (Supplied) RSPCA Queensland told the ABC last year, "Australians may be shocked to learn the extent of (dog fighting) operations." But the work of the specialist unit concluded in mid-2021 and data obtained by the ABC shows that from July 1, 2022 until April 13, 2026 , there were no charges associated with a 'prohibited event' (dog fighting and cockfighting), under the Animal Care and Protection Act. A man has been charged with animal cruelty a year after neighbours first made a complaint to the RSPCA. By comparison, dozens of charges were filed in the two financial years prior. Fifteen defendants faced 63 charges relating to a prohibited event under the Act in the 2020-21 financial year, and in 2021-22, there were six charges against two defendants, according to the data from Queensland's Department of Justice. An ABC investigation last year uncovered international links between the underground world of dog fighting and Australia. It also revealed that one man, who was jailed for his role in a dog fighting ring, remained a member of multiple online groups that discussed the blood sport and had boasted that he had killed "more dogs than parvovirus". From July 1 2022 until April 13 2026 there were no charges associated with a 'prohibited event' (dog fighting and cockfighting), under the Animal Care and Protection Act. (Supplied) Alicia Bennett, a PhD candidate with the Griffith Law School and a former QPS Detective Sergeant, said she was "incredibly concerned" about the lack of charges, saying it was "naïve to assume animal fighting does not continue to exist in Queensland". "I have spoken to many current and former RSPCA inspectors who believe that dog and cock fighting continue undetected in Queensland," she said. Dr Steven White, a lecturer in animal law at Griffith University, was also worried about the statistics. Steven White, Griffith University specialist in animal welfare law. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda) "This is clearly a concern, given these activities are likely to still be occurring. Or, at least, if there is no active monitoring of this area, we can't know whether they are decreasing in number [or] increasing," he said. Changes to the administration of the Animal Care and Protection Act (ACPA) in 2022 meant the RSCPA and Queensland Police could no longer prosecute offences, such as dog fighting, without the permission of the Department of Primary Industries. An "unintended consequence" of this change was cleared up in February by the Queensland government, so that QPS could independently prosecute under the Act again. Ms Bennett said the fact that the error was not rectified in three years "demonstrates that the system is dysfunctional and co-regulatory authorities are not collaborating effectively". Outside of the ACPA, Ms Bennett said there were only two offences that police could apply to prohibited events — serious animal cruelty and injuring animals -- but they would be unlikely to capture dog fighting. "They might be able to if there was video of the accused perpetrating the cruelty or injury, but that is a long shot," she said. The RSPCA still needs permission from the department to prosecute offences. The charity told a 2022 parliamentary committee that it historically took the lead on animal fighting investigations, assisted by QPS. An RSPCA employee says law changes have made seeking justice for animal abuse a 'convoluted process.' (ABC News: Nickoles Coleman) But two former RSPCA inspectors told the ABC that in 2022 they were told by the department not to investigate dog fighting and to refer matters to police. "RSPCA had the muzzle put on," one of the former inspectors said. In a statement, RSPCA Queensland said "we now use an in

'Incredibly concerned': Zero dog fighting-related charges laid in years

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