One of the dogs tethered with no appropriate water available
Another two dogs tethered with flea ridden dirt and inappropriate water
Images seized from the defendant that were in his possession of dogs with significant fight injuries
*warning graphic images on third slide above*
Just months after a separate man was convicted for dog fighting offences, 35-year-old Jarrad Trenear has pleaded guilty to eight dog fighting charges in addition to other animal welfare offences, including failing to provide appropriate water, veterinary treatment and living conditions for his fighting dogs.
In Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 3, Magistrate Bradford-Morgan handed down a six month imprisonment sentence, fines, and prohibited Trenear from owning any dogs or poultry for life.
On April 19, 2018 RSPCA Inspectors executed a search warrant at Trenear’s residence as part of an RSPCA Qld Task Force state wide operation in relation to organised dog fighting.
20 American Staffordshire Terrier type dogs were located on the property, all tethered or confined separately. There were also two litters of puppies.
Dogs were found chained with limited or no access to fresh water or adequate shelter. There were fleas in the dirt where they were located, with faeces at the furthest point of their chains – indicating they had lived in this state for quite some time without the ability to display normal behaviour.
Heavy chains were used to keep the dogs conditioned, and they were tethered just out of reach of each other to build their drive for fighting.
Inspectors also found dog fighting paraphernalia located on the premises including; training equipment, breeding stands commonly called ‘rape stands’, and break sticks. Cameras and phones that were seized documented the defendant’s involvement in dog fighting and displayed gruesome injuries dogs had sustained from fights.
Further examination of the defendant’s devices showed his connections with other known organised dog fighting identities or suspects; including
• Haris Ljuhar who was charged with more than 200 animal welfare offences after the seizure of almost 100 fighting dogs,
• Joshua Baskerville who was sentenced in March this year to three years’ probation, ordered to pay costs, and given a lifetime prohibition order prohibiting ownership of any animal without RSPCA approval,
• a 41-year-old Richmond man whose property was searched under warrant by RSPCA Inspectors – resulting in the seizure of dogs and charges relating to dog fighting and breach duty of care,
• a 32 year old North Maclean vet nurse whose property was searched, dogs seized and who is facing charges relating to organised dog fighting and breach duty of care in Beenleigh Magistrates Court in October, and
• a 49-year-old Toowoomba man whose property was searched under warrant by RSPCA Inspectors - resulting in dogs being seized with organised dog fighting charges laid, in addition to breach duty of care charges – with the matter listed for trial in Toowoomba Magistrates Court later this month.
All dogs and puppies were seized from Trenear’s residence. Veterinary scar charts were completed on all dogs with scarring evident. Six of the seven adult dogs had scarring consistent with organised dog fighting. Of the dogs that were in RSPCA care, 14 were rehabilitated and adopted but four were sadly euthanased after unsuccessful behavioural rehabilitation.
RSPCA Prosecutions Officer Tracey Jackson said that the outcome in Trenear’s matter should make it clear that the community finds this kind of activity abhorrent and those views will be reflected in court outcomes. “If people think for a second that dog fighting is in any way heroic or honourable or socially acceptable, then they quite frankly need their heads read.
People need to find a way to feel good about themselves that does not involved exploiting animals and causing them pain and suffering for general entertainment. To suggest that these dogs actually enjoy fighting is absurd in anyone’s language.”
Chief Inspector Daniel Young is pleased that there is an ever increasing body of expert evidence available to RSPCA Inspectors to utilise in their investigations into organised dogfighting. “We are using organised dog fighting veterinary experts from around the world to assist us to prosecute these charges, and consequently our expertise in this country is widening every day. It is certainly feasible that we can completely eradicate this sport in Queensland, and even Australia.”
