http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/2012/cheshire-owners-horror-at-being-asked-to-kill-family-pet/ Cheshire Owner’s Horror at Being Asked to Kill Family PetMarch 2, 2009 by
Freelance Writers A Cheshire dog owner has spoken of his horror at being asked to consider killing his friendly family pet dog, Gina after she was wrongly accused of being an illegal “pit bull type”.
Jay, owner of 11-month-old Gina, tells his story in his own words:
The police saw Gina off her lead near the front of our house and assumed she was a pitbull terrier, so came to our door saying they must remove the dog as they are illegal to own. They asked if we knew anyone with pitbulls? then if we knew anyone who breeds them? Next they asked if we were minding the dog for someone else.
Gina went upstairs and one officer said “please bring her back downstairs so the kids don’t throw her out of the bedroom window”
When told that she was a big softie and still only a baby really (11 months) they said, that doesn’t matter as these dogs can turn nasty at any time, they’re unpredictable.
They took Gina away saying that they’d ring us the following day to tell us if their vet thought she was a pitbull.
The next day, they rang and said no tests had been carried out yet and we had two choices, authorise destruction of the dog or go to court, then said it was in our “best interests” to just let them put her down. They said they would call back Friday to get our decision but if she was a pit bull type she would automatically be killed anyway!
Thursday morning, the phone rang and it was the police saying she’d been checked over and they would be bringing her back that day, which they did, but without so much as an apology, no sorry, nothing.
Gina’s family are now considering putting in an official complaint.
Although Gina is now safely back at home Anti BSL groups are very concerned that the family were given incorrect information on what would happen to their dog if she was infact a pit bull type.
Alison Green of DDA Watch commented:
“ A dog that is deemed “pit bull type” is NOT automatically destroyed. Only a court of law can order the destruction of a dog deemed “pit bull type”. However if the dog is of good temperament and the owner is responsible the dog can often be returned to the owner if the Court orders the dog to be entered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs.
We would urge anyone who has any concerns about their dog or who has had their dog seized, to take legal advice immediately and to contact one of the Anti BSL groups for support. Do not sign or agree to anything you do not wish to. “
There have been a number of seizures in the Cheshire area in recent weeks and at the time of going to press another Cheshire owner has just been informed his seized dog is also not “pit bull type”. DDA Watch are asking for anyone in the area to help place leaflets with contact details for owners to gain help and advice. If you can help print out leaflets please email
mail@dangerousdogsact.co.uk or see DDA Watch Facebook group for more information.
If directly affected by BSL, anywhere in the country please contact one of the following organisations:
DDA Watch 0844 844 2900
Endangered Dogs Defence and Rescue 0844 856 3303
Bull Breed Advisory Service 08448 15 99 15
Deed Not Breed 08700 34 55 64