Five dogs thought to be illegal Pit Bulls seized in Mansfield may have to be put down

Officers, supported by the RSPCA, attended the address in Second Avenue, Forest Town, shortly after 1pm.

The animals, which were living in cages outside, were brought under control by specialist officers from Nottinghamshire Police’s dogs section and seized.

Several cannabis plants were also found at the property.

A 29-year-old man was interviewed voluntarily and given a caution for possession of a Class B drug. Investigations about the dogs are ongoing.

Inspector Nick Butler, responsible for policing in the Mansfield area, said: “The Dangerous Dogs Act is there for a reason – because some dogs represent a very clear danger to the public.

“These types of dogs, often bred specifically for fighting, can appear friendly but they are capable of killing or seriously injuring people – particularly children – and other dogs.

“If we become aware of other suspected dangerous dogs in the community we will not hesitate to take similar action in future.”

Nine dogs were found at the property, of which five were suspected to be prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act. They are now in the care of Nottinghamshire Police and will now undergo further assessment.

Sergeant Gavin Berry, a senior dog handler who attended the scene with two other handlers, added: “When Nottinghamshire Police seize dogs in this way specialist dog handlers will always be involved. That’s because we have the experience and the equipment needed to handle large dogs like this in a safe and compassionate manner. We had reason to believe that five of the dogs on the property were of the banned Pit Bull type and will now conduct further examinations on them.”

If the dogs are found to be illegal under the Dangerous Dogs Act a court could decide to have them euthanised or placed on a government register which would tightly control who would be allowed to keep them.

The breeds of dog currently illegal in the UK are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro. Other crossbreeds including any of those types of dog may also be illegal, depending on their size and characteristics.

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