Pitbulls seized in raid on West Hampstead flat

ANIMAL welfare officers joined police in a raid on a West Hampstead flat in a search for dangerous dogs. Experts from the Met s dog unit were also on hand last Friday to identify whether the dogs, kept in a flat off Kingsgate Road, were pit bulls. But aft

ANIMAL welfare officers joined police in a raid on a West Hampstead flat in a search for dangerous dogs.

Experts from the Met's dog unit were also on hand last Friday to identify whether the dogs, kept in a flat off Kingsgate Road, were pit bulls.

But after specialist Ian McParland realised the two caged dogs were Staffordshire bull terriers, it was left to the RSCPA to take charge.

The charity's chief inspector Jan Eachers said: "There were breaches of the animal welfare code. One dog had not been given any water.

"The dog was also in a cage, which was far too small, and the owners have been told to get rid of it. They were also told to clean the back garden of dog faeces."

PC Mark Garner from Camden's specialist warrant unit led the operation. He said: "The owners totally understand why we are here.

"We quickly established that the dogs were not pit bulls. The mother thought they were and when looking at the dogs you can see why. If they had been we would have taken them away.

"It is important we do this type of operation because there have been problems with organised dog fighting here in the past.