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Rat Baiting


Jacko was a black & tan bull terrier owned by Jemmy Shaw & had the following contest results:

Date      Rats Killed Time 

1861       25     1 min 28 

1862       60     2 min 42   * Record

1862      100     5 min 28    * Record

1862      200   14 min 37  

1862 1000 in less than 100 mins


The 1835 the Cruelty to Animals Act outlawed baiting of large animals such as bears & bulls but failed to mention rats and so rat baiting became popular.  Many pubs built rat pits & rat catchers made a good living by supplying rats. The last public competition in the UK took place in Leicester in 1912. The owner was prosecuted & had to give a promise to the court that he would not do it again.   

Rat baiting is illegal, as is fox hunting.