Stolen and ‘trained how to fight’ – joy and horror as man reunited with dog after months

Sniper, a five-month-old XL Bully, vanished from his owner’s back garden in Darnall in the early hours of December 12. Sniper was believed to have been stolen and was trained to fight. But now, his owner, Foyzul Miah, has revealed his beloved pooch has returned back in his life.

He wrote on Facebook: “Sniper is now home and back in my arms.”

Mr Miah did not say how the reunion happened as it is currently being investigated by police.

But it is believed the dog was retrieved in a local neighbourhood on January 31.

Although Sniper has returned to his owner, the dog was “traumatised and underweight”.

This was reportedly confirmed by vets who treated him.

The Facebook post continued: The post read: “He has many scars over his body which leads us to believe he was sadly being taught to fight.

“We are busy gathering all our information including a vet’s report to hand over to the police.

“Charges hopefully will be made and we are pushing for an arrest.

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Despite these laws, the barbaric practice continues, involving different dog breeds and taking part not only in major cities but in other areas too.

The Protection of Animals Act 1911 was specific in outlawing “the fighting or baiting of animals”.

Between 2015 and 2020, the RSPCA received more than 9,000 reports of organised dogfighting in the UK.

In rural areas, fights are often staged in barns or outdoor pits; in urban areas, fights may occur in garages, basements, warehouses, abandoned buildings, back alleys, neighborhood playgrounds, or in the streets.

The sadistic practice usually lasts until one dog is declared a winner, which occurs when one dog fails to scratch, dies, or jumps out of the pit.

Sometimes dog fights end without declaring a winner; for instance, the dog’s owner may call the fight.

Dogfighting generates revenue from stud fees, admission fees and gambling.

Most countries have banned dogfighting, but it is still legal in some countries like Japan, parts of Russia and Albania.