New figures from the RSPCA reveal the county recorded 14 reports of dog fighting, placing it alongside Somerset as the fourth highest region in the country. The charity described dog fighting as a “barbaric” and illegal blood sport fuelled by organised crime, often leading to death or serious injury for the animals involved. Jane was found living in a pen in a garage when the RSCPA found her (Image: RSPCA)One survivor of the trade, an eight-year-old bull breed named Jane, was discovered in a garage in Essex during an investigation into cross-border dog fighting. The dog, badly scarred and extremely nervous, was rehabilitated by the RSPCA and eventually adopted by one of the charity’s volunteers. The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit continues to investigate and tackle organised dog fighting.