THE RSPCA last night appealed for people to report illegal dog fighting across Oxford.

The charity claims it has had reports of arranged dog fights in Oxford, but has not been able to track down the yobs behind the crimes.

It has reports of people seen in the Blackbird Leys and Cowley areas kneeling and stamping on dogs’ chests to goad them into attacking cats and other dogs.

But officers believe residents are too scared to report the offences, which are punishable by a fine of up to £20,000 or imprisonment.

Doug Davidson, RSPCA officer for Oxfordshire, said the organisation had been tipped off about a recent arranged dog fight in Marsh Lane, Cowley, but had arrived too late.

He said: “We were handed photographs of the alleged fight, which we studied, but they just were not clear enough to be able to make anything out. I can understand people’s reticence about reporting these crimes.

“The type of thugs and yobs behind these crimes are exactly the type of people who would not think twice about putting a brick through the window. But that is the reason we have set up an anonymous telephone line, which is 100 per cent confidential.

“We would urge people to call us if they know of any illegal dog fighting activity.”

Mr Davidson said the organisation was aware of dog fighting in the Cowley and Blackbird Leys areas, but had not gathered enough solid evidence recently to make any arrests.

He said: “There have also been incidents where people have told us about their cat being thrown to a gang of dogs in the Leys area. The dogs have been wound up and goaded into attacking it.”

In October, RSPCA officers photographed a string of dogs in Greater Leys and Blackbird Leys in order to use the pictures in future investigations.

So far, no arrests have been made as a result of the scheme, but Mr Douglas said he believed this proved it had been a good deterrent.

The officer advised the public against trying to compile their own footage of dog attacks.

He said: “I would stress if anyone was thinking about photographing these attacks to be very careful. We would not want anyone to put themselves in danger with these types of thugs.”

Reported attacks include: In July, shop assistant Wendy Parker, 56, of Verbena Way, Greater Leys, was set upon by a rottweiler in Primrose Place, and left with two large puncture wounds in her hip and bruising.

A family’s pet kitten was ripped apart by two lurcher dogs in Primrose Place, Greater Leys, in May.

Cats were also killed in the area in January and April.

Last year, Laura Evan, of Honeysuckle Grove, Greater Leys, found her seven-month-old kitten, Tabbers, “deliberately ripped apart” by a dog that had been goaded by two boys outside her home.

To call the RSPCA and report illegal dog fighting in complete confidence call 0300 1234 999 or the Oxford Mail newsdesk on 01865 425445.