Dog owner bred pitbulls to fight

A dog owner has admitted training and breeding pitbulls to take part in what a judge described as a "repulsive" fighting ring.

Floyd Vincent Langkilde was charged after a Northland couple was arrested for dog fighting. They were caught with a stud dog that Langkilde had lent them.

He subsequently rang the SPCA - who had confiscated the stud dog - and demanded it back.

He also approached an SPCA inspector at a court hearing for the Northland couple, and again demanded his dog back.

Langkilde was wearing a beanie emblazoned with Triple D when he approached the SPCA inspector.

The inspector recognised the Triple D logo as a name connected to dog fighting paraphernalia found in the Northland bust. Later, it was also linked to a dog fighting magazine - the Pit Bulletin.

Langkilde, 47, was investigated, raided and arrested.

In the Rotorua District Court yesterday Langkilde, 47, of Kaingaroa, pleaded guilty to two charges of training and breeding pitbulls. A charge relating to owning pitbulls was withdrawn.

Judge Robert Spear sentenced Langkilde to 300 hours of community work and warned him jail would be the next step if he offended again.

He banned Langkilde from owning or taking an interest in dogs indefinitely.

During the search of his property at Kaingaroa Village, near Rotorua, in August, SPCA inspectors, police and animal control officers found eight pitbull terrier-type dogs that were being used for breeding and training for physical endurance, strength and stamina.

"Those who become involved in the insidious trade of these type of dogs knowing that they're going to be used for dog fights can expect little leniency," Judge Spear said.

The dog fighting industry was considered "repulsive by a majority of New Zealanders".

"People [who] come back to the court for a second offence of this nature will most certainly be going to prison. You don't have any opportunity now to remain in the dog fighting industry," he said.

Langkilde refused to comment when approached.

His lawyer, Rob Vigor Brown, had submitted that Langkilde's dogs had been found in good condition with no signs of being involved in fighting. Langkilde had given the dogs his best care and attention.

He no longer had any interest in owning or breeding dogs and accepted Judge Spear's ban.

Rotorua Animal Control supervisor Kevin Coutts said outside court yesterday he was pleased with the sentence. One of the dogs has been put down. The remaining seven dogs were not sociable as they had been bred to fight, and faced death.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)