The Slovak Environmental Police (enviropolícia) have charged three men and one woman with organizing illegal dog fights. The criminal group operated for at least seven years in three regions: Trnava, Nitra, and Žilina.
According to the investigation, the accused organized cruel fights from May 2016 to May 2023. They used American pit bull terrier dogs for the fights, which were specifically trained for aggression. During the fights, the animals were set against each other, leading to serious injuries, pain, and suffering. This activity is a serious violation of the law on veterinary care.
The case became public after a large-scale police operation codenamed "ANUBIS" in May 2024. Law enforcement officers conducted several searches in three regions, seizing dozens of dogs, mostly pit bull terriers and their mixed breeds. Training equipment was also found: treadmills, wooden weights, special jaw-stretching devices, veterinary drugs, steroids, and other substances.
This is the first large-scale investigation of dog fights in Slovakia, which, according to the police, has an international character and connections in several European countries. The accused face up to five years in prison for organizing animal fights and cruel treatment of them. The investigation is ongoing, so the police are not releasing further details at this time.
