Four dog fighters from Atteridgeville near Pretoria are behind bars after being found guilty of animal abuse for tying duct-tape around the mouth of a chained street dog which they used as bait to train another dog to fight. Khutso Kopanye‚ Reginald Khoza‚ Neo Dichabe and Reabetswe Sikhala received sentences ranging from eight to 20 months. Half of their sentences were suspended for five years providing they do not reoffend.Before handing down the four sentences without option of a fine‚ Magistrate van Biljon stated that “the actions of the accused are inhuman and so cruel it is beyond any normal person’s comprehension”.She added that this kind of behaviour would not be taken lightly and that the sentences must both discourage reoffenders as well as deter others from engaging in this crime. Animal lovers worldwide were shocked and horrified at the video footage that showed the prolonged suffering of the terrified street dog being used to train another dog to fight. Her mouth was tied tightly closed with duct tape and she was dragged along by a chain rendering her defenceless and with no chance of escaping the powerful dog which was set upon her in a frenzied attack. Magistrate van Biljon commented about the character of individuals who could engage in such planned and premeditated violence for entertainment purposes and expressed concern that perpetrators so young could be so ruthless.“NSPCA inspectors were told at the time that this poor animal was used as bait in three “training” fights on one particular day and possibly as many as 6 times in a 3-day period.When she was so injured and weak that she was of no further use to the callous dog fighters‚ they let her final attacker maul her to death. To us she was never just a nameless victim. To us she was always worth fighting for‚” the NSPCA said.WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGERY NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS..