Warning: This story contains graphic content involving animal cruelty.
A man jailed for his role in a dog fighting ring remains a member of multiple online groups that discuss the blood sport, even boasting that he has killed “more dogs than parvovirus”.
Darling Downs man Glenn Wilson was found guilty in 2019 of supplying a pit bull terrier called “Pretty Girl” for fighting and failing to provide appropriate living conditions and treatment to several other dogs.
He was sentenced to six months in prison, banned from owning pit bulls for life, and forced to pay $60,000 to the RSPCA.
The ABC can reveal that, almost five years later, Wilson remains a member of online groups where people frequently post about dog fighting and the sale of pedigree American pit bull terriers.
He is also a member of several RSPCA victim support and accountability groups.
It comes after an ABC investigation revealed Australia’s links with the global trade of dogs with fighting bloodlines.
Social media posts designed to shock, Wilson says
In some groups, Wilson proudly posts images of himself posing with pedigree dogs and appears to discuss their fighting credentials.
In response to one comment, he explains the dog he has posted is a “CH” or champion — slang that experts say refers to a dog that has won at least three contracted matches.
Glenn Wilson was found guilty in 2019 of supplying a pit bull terrier for fighting and failing to provide appropriate living conditions and treatment to several other dogs. (Supplied)
He talks about preparing dogs for fights during the “keep” conditioning period and how he would get them down to fighting weight.
“After a true keep, dex (a drug given to dogs), empty outs, shaving hair off, starving my mutts I can’t lose a few grams, let alone a lb,” he wrote.
In another post, he captions a photo of a snarling dog with “show me winners!!!”.
“He reckons I’ve killed more dogs than parvovirus. FACT!” he tells another commenter.
In response to a post asking members to pray pit bulls are protected from “dog fighters, abusers and neglectful owners”, Wilson responds: “FFS what a load of fur mummy bull shit”.
In another post, someone asks for the definition of animal cruelty and Wilson responds: “Using a [sic] axe not a hammer.”
When contacted by the ABC, he denied any involvement in dog fighting but admitted to culling dogs that could not hunt by shooting them.
He said his social media posts were part of his online persona and designed to “shock”.
“I know the lingo, I’ve got it down-pat. I’ve been invested in dogs, had bull terrier type dogs since I was a child,” he said.
Wilson denies any involvement in dog fighting
In 2018, the RSPCA seized five dogs at a Yalangur property where Wilson was living, along with a treadmill with a leash attached and a “break stick” used to separate fighting dogs.
“Pretty Girl” was found in a cage with significant scarring that was consistent with involvement in organised dog fighting, according to court documents.
Two other dogs, “Chico” and “Jesus”, were also found with heavy scarring in a separate enclosure of dirt and rocks with “a small amount of scattered straw”.
They were tethered by a heavy metal chain to an axle partly buried in the ground.
The dogs, plus another canine called “Beetle”, were diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis after their seizure. Beetle was found in a raised donga without access to food, water or proper bedding.
“Naughty”, a fifth dog found in the back of a ute at the property, was lame in the right hind foot.
The magistrate found Wilson showed a lack of remorse or insight into his offending, sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment with three months’ parole.
Wilson denied any involvement in dog fighting and said his social media posts were part of his online persona. (Supplied)
Mr Wilson said he did not support dog fighting but “if it’s done on a scientific or professional level, I’d be interested and probably intrigued by the outcome.”
Wilson said he has suffered both personally and professionally due to his conviction, and has been unable to find a job, has lost friendships and is in debt.
He said losing his dogs was a big blow to his identity, conceding he was “obsessed”.
Wilson said losing his dogs was a big blow to his identity. (Supplied)
“Not everyone’s expectation of a dog is to sit on your lounge and bark when your mailman comes,”
he said.
The ABC does not suggest that Wilson is involved in dog fighting now — only that he is a member of several online groups where users have posted about dog fighting.
A ‘slap on the wrist’ not uncommon
Dog fighting is outlawed in Australia, but the penalties vary in each state and territory.
In Queensland, organising and participating in dog fighting carries a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment or a $48,390 fine.
But several of the state’s most high-profile dog fighting cases have received only half the maximum penalty and served even less time behind bars.
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Queensland man, Jarrad Trenear, spent less than a month in jail after being sentenced to six months’ imprisonment over dog fighting and animal cruelty charges.
Twenty dogs were seized from his Mount Cotton property in 2018, along with “rape stands” — a term dog fighters use for breeding stands — heavy chains and dog fighting paraphernalia.
Richmond man Bradd O’Keeffe was sentenced to six months behind bars in 2019 after pleading guilty to two counts of supplying a dog for dog fighting but was released on parole after two months.
Joshua Baskerville, charged with possessing prohibited spurs and one count of supplying a dog for a prohibited event, was sentenced to three years’ probation.
Dr Virginia Maxwell — a professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven, with expertise in animal crimes investigations — said it was not uncommon for those involved in dog fighting to get a “slap on the wrist”.
“When you’re only getting six months, that’s not a deterrent for dog fighting, in my opinion,” she said.
“[In the US] we seem to have so many more laws beyond dog fighting, it’s possessing paraphernalia, training dogs to fight other dogs, possessing dogs with the intent to fight, using dogs as bait, organising, advertising or promoting a dog fight, the list goes on.
“They’ve made everything associated with dog fighting illegal.”
The push for tougher penalties
The RSPCA has been at the frontline of multiple dog-fighting busts, with many cases tied to other forms of organised crime.
While the blood sport has been pushed underground, its Queensland office says there has been no decline in fights taking place.
In recent years, the RSPCA has been involved in multiple dog fighting-related seizures, with many cases tied to broader criminal networks.
“The RSPCA remains committed to advocating for stronger legislation and tougher penalties for those involved in dog fighting,” a spokesperson said.
“Ensuring these laws are stringent enough to prevent repeat offences is a critical part of disrupting this cruel and illegal practice.“
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said they were “not aware of any” recent cases of dog fighting and referred the ABC to the RSPCA.
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