Yobs training ‘crazed dogs’ to attack trees in park

Sick yobs are training crazed dogs to fight by goading them into mauling trees in city parks.

Horrified witnesses have reported snarling “weapon dogs” clawing and biting at bark in Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh.

Park users fear a young syc- amore tree might be beyond saving after a pit bull stripped it bare in one of the worst attacks.

“Damage is caused by dog owners who apparently use tree trunk bark to train their dogs,” said Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links (FOMBL) committee member Neil Roger.

“I am told they use attack dogs for fighting for betting. We were informed that this has been a long-term problem in city parks.”

The FOMBL group have now notified the city council and put up posters in a bid to deter dog fighters.

“There appear to be three trees affected at the links and we have put notices on all three to act as a deterrent and also inform the public,” said Mr Roger. “The worst tree is so badly damaged that it could die due to loss of bark. A dog owner was spotted with a pit bull type dog causing the damage.”

Park wardens have confirmed the problem in Edinburgh while similar cases have been reported in major English cities. Parks officer Mike Shields wrote to FOMBL: “This type of damage is caused by irresponsible dog owners.”