A round of fighting between doped pit bulls discovered in Parma

They bred pit bulls and doped them to make them fight. In Tizzano, in the Parma area, an arena for duels was found, while videos of the fights were published on the web to give more economic value to fighting dogs. Twelve people, in various provinces (Parma, Bergamo, Venice, Pisa and Rieti) and in Serbia, are involved in the investigation launched in 2025 by the Carabinieri of the Nipaaf of Parma and the Cites-Soarda Operations Department. The alleged crimes, in various capacities, range from the mistreatment of animals to the organization of unauthorized fights, including training aimed at their participation in duels. 24 pit bulls were also seized.

The investigative unit of the environmental - agri-food and forestry police of Parma with the Cites-Soarda operational department, the soldiers of the Natura anti-crime center of Catania, the Cites unit of Venice and the Nipaaf of Bergamo, Pavia, Pisa, Grosseto and Rieti, with the support of the competent provincial commands, executed the search and seizure decrees adopted by the Parma Public Prosecutor's Office.

Treadmills, heavy chains and collars with pockets to house weights, steroid drugs with calendars and diaries for doping programs, a standardized ring with wooden planks and a synthetic carpet were recovered: this is how the 24 pit bulls seized in the provinces of Parma, Bergamo, Venice, Pisa and Rieti were allegedly raised from puppies, trained and sent to the fighting circuit. The analysis of the foreign passports of pit bulls, illegally imported from breeding farms in Serbia thanks to foreign trainers, traffickers and veterinarians, is significant.