Man knew old dog he stole would be savaged

KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post

GUILTY PLEAS: William Campbell, after appearing in Porirua District Court yesterday. Campbell intended to put video of the dogfight between his dog Dukes and Lincoln, inset, on YouTube. The court now has to decide the fate of Dukes.

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William Campbell set his fighting pit bull-cross on an old dog he snatched to use as bait while a friend videoed the mauling to put on the internet.

Campbell, 25, of Porirua, said he knew his dog Dukes would savage 14-year-old Lincoln, who was found later injured, bleeding and hiding in a toilet block.

In Porirua District Court yesterday, Campbell admitted seven charges laid under the Animal Welfare Act of dogfighting and failing to seek treatment for the injured dogs but says he still wants his fighting dog Dukes back from SPCA custody.

The court now has to decide his dog's fate.

The SPCA and Lincoln's owner are calling for Campbell to be jailed.

On Easter Monday, Campbell took Lincoln, a ridgeback-cross, from Titahi Bay.

He locked the dog in his car boot and drove to Shelly Bay in Wellington, where he pitted Lincoln against Dukes.

"When I started the dogfight I knew there was no competition. That dog was old, mine was young," Campbell told The Dominion Post.

He said another friend filmed the dogfight with the intention of putting the video on YouTube.

Lincoln suffered deep bite wounds in the attack and was deserted by Campbell. He was found later, injured, bleeding, and hiding in a toilet block.

Campbell pleaded guilty to two charges of ill-treating an animal, two of failing to alleviate pain to an injured animal, transporting an animal causing distress, owning an animal to have it fight and using a place for animal fighting.

The maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and/or six months in prison.

Campbell denied a theft charge laid by police, who say he stole Lincoln from his home. He said he took Lincoln from the street and believed he was a "street dog".

He was remanded on bail for a defended hearing on October 5 and sentencing on October 9.

Judge Tom Broadmore ordered reparation and pre-sentencing reports but said: "A sentence of imprisonment is clearly on the table for you."

Yesterday, Campbell said he was remorseful and wanted Dukes back.

"I'm sorry, I just feel heartbroken. What I done was stupid.

"That's my kid, my child. I know what I did was wrong but can't a dog have a chance to love his dad again?"

It was not the first time Campbell had appeared in court - in May 2007 he was jailed for a month for stealing a skateboard from a child.

Lincoln's owner, Janet Cuthers, said the guilty pleas yesterday were "fantastic".

"I want him to go to prison, I want him to pay the price for the damage he did to Lincoln."

"You don't do that to an innocent dog."

Lincoln still collapsed occasionally and had pain in a hind leg, she said. "He's not what he used to be."

SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said she wondered if Campbell was remorseful.

It had been an "urban myth" dogs were being stolen for dogfighting, but there could now be no doubt this was happening.

"If anyone sees or hears anything about this, we need to know ... it's a very sinister activity."

- © Fairfax NZ News