Dog News

Dog with NO Bite History Sentenced to Death

by Melanie

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Discrimination against pit bulls is waning because of the tireless dedication of their advocates, but unfortunately, there are still many areas where misguided politicians have made it illegal to have them.  In the UK, a dog named Teddy – who might not even be a pit bull – has been taken from his home and sentenced to death simply because he lives in a home with a small child.  Please help us fight this ruling!

Tom Hook is fighting tooth and nail to get his boy back.  On February 5th, Teddy was seized on the suspicion of being a banned breed.  When Tom got his dog as a puppy, he thought he was an American bulldog, which has not been banned in his area.  Police believe he is a pit bull, and have been keeping him kenneled since.

 

 

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Teddy has never attacked or bitten anyone, but the courts have decided that he poses a threat to Tom’s four-year-old daughter.  She adores Teddy, and the feeling is mutual.  When she was ill, he spent the entire day next to her, making sure she was ok.

He even has a marvelous report from the police, but none of this has made any difference, and the magistrates have ordered that he be destroyed.

 

 

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“I am distraught, devastated,” Tom told the Swindon Advertiser.  “I was 95 per cent sure that he would be allowed home. And to hear that made me so angry. He is not a danger to anyone and I will prove that.

“The most injury Teddy could inflict is from wagging his tail. It hurts that he hasn’t done anything wrong and he is being punished for it. That’s why I called him Teddy, he has the softest, sweetest nature. He has never shown any aggression to anyone.”

 

 

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“He is my daughter’s best friend, she uses him as a pillow. I’m in pieces now this has happened.  We have told my daughter that Teddy was on a special mission with the police to stop her getting upset. She still cries about him and she misses him.”

At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Police Constable Steve Duffy of the Wiltshire Police Dog Unit said he believed Teddy could be returned to his family if he was neutered and wore a muzzle in public.  Nevertheless, chairman of the bench Geoff Earl disagreed.

 

 

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“PC Duffy has made a strong argument but we have been left with this one major fear: “If there was only you and your partner there would not be a problem, but the presence of a four-year-old child gives us great concern and we do not believe it is safe to make an exception in this case.”

Tom is filing an appeal, and has started a Facebook page called Teddy by name teddy by nature.  He has been keeping supporters updated on the case, and may have Teddy’s DNA tested to see if he should even be banned under the ludicrous law.

 

 

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“I’ve had him since he was 11 weeks old. This is the longest he has ever been away from me and I miss him every single day,” he said.  “I will bankrupt myself to get my dog back, I will do anything to make sure he can be back at home with his family.”

If you would like to sign the petition that will be brought before the court, asking for Teddy’s life to be spared, please CLICK HERE.

 

 

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