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| Police seize 19 pit bull terriers | Police seize 19 pit bull terriers |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Seven people have been arrested and 19 suspected pit bull terriers seized by police on Merseyside. | Seven people have been arrested and 19 suspected pit bull terriers seized by police on Merseyside. |
| The dogs were taken during raids at 16 addresses in the Huyton and Stockbridge Village areas. | |
| Police said the animals were seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act and follow concerns about organised dog fighting. | |
| The news comes after five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death in St Helens by a pit bull terrier-type dog on New Year's Day. | The news comes after five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death in St Helens by a pit bull terrier-type dog on New Year's Day. |
| About 60 police officers and 30 RSPCA officers were involved in the operation, which was responding to tip-offs from the community. | About 60 police officers and 30 RSPCA officers were involved in the operation, which was responding to tip-offs from the community. |
| 'Status symbol' | |
| Merseyside Police said they were continuing to work with local communities and partner agencies to gather information on dangerous dogs. | Merseyside Police said they were continuing to work with local communities and partner agencies to gather information on dangerous dogs. |
| Supt Dave Connor said: "This is not a problem specific to Merseyside and it is clear that some people keep pit bull terriers as a status symbol. | |
| "They may not fully understand the implications of owning this type of dog. | |
| Owners can be fined up to £5,000 or face a prison sentence | |
| "Dog fighting is a barbaric activity and it will not be tolerated. Anyone who trains or breeds animals for that purpose can expect to be dealt with robustly." | |
| The RSPCA estimates there may be about 100 people involved in "hardcore" underground dogfighting in Britain. | |
| The sport was banned 170 years ago. | |
| Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, four types of animal are banned - pit bull terriers, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brazileiro. | |
| A person convicted of owning a prohibited dog can face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison. | |
| Anyone with concerns about dangerous dogs which are being kept in their neighbourhoods are urged to contact Merseyside Police or the council dog wardens. |