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12,000 join global campaign to save dog court ruled is illegal pit-bull By Diana Rusk Irish News 08/07/2009 **Sign the petition to BRING-BRUCE-HOME at Care 2 **Watch the video  DOGGED DEBATE: Shannon Brown’s dog Bruce who a court has ordered should be destroyed after determining the dog is a pit-bull, an illegal breed. Ms Brown maintains her dog is a Staffordshire-Bull terrier, inset DOG lovers across the world have backed a Co Down woman’s two-year legal battle to stop her pet ‘pit-bull’ from being destroyed. Shannon Brown’s dog Bruce was seized from its home in Bangor by North Down Borough Council wardens in September 2007 and has been in kennels ever since. A district judge last year determined the animal was a pit-bull – an illegal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act – and ordered the animal be put down. Despite the dog’s owner lodging an appeal in the case, the original ruling was upheld in Belfast Magistrate’s Court last Monday and it was ordered that the dog be destroyed within a week. Ms Brown (20) then applied for a judicial review, which was dismissed but she has been given until Monday to appeal the decision in a last ditch attempt to save the animal. It is understood the court has ruled that the animal does not pose a risk to the public.  Almost 12,000 people from all over the globe have signed an online petition to ‘Bring Bruce Home’ and protests have been organised in America with news channel CNN covering the case.Northern Ireland is unique in Britain and Ireland because all animals a court decides are pit-bull types must be destroyed. Ms Brown last night insisted her pet was not dangerous. “He has never harmed anyone,” she said. “We found Bruce as a puppy in a cardboard box on Albert Street in Bangor and he was just over two years old when he was seized. “I have always maintained that he is not a pit-bull but that he is a Staffordshire-Bull Terrier. “He lived with me and my partner’s child, who was three years old, and a Labrador and never caused any harm to either of them. “I understand pit-bulls being used for fighting would be a danger but this was a family pet who was never abused in any way.” She said a dog sanctuary in the Republic of Ireland where pit-bulls are a legal breed, has offered to provide a home to Bruce. Ms Brown said she would be “heartbroken” if her pet is destroyed and hopes international support for her case can add pressure. “The response has been brilliant and crazy and completely unexpected,” she said. “There are signatures from all over the world – Italy, South Africa, China, everywhere – protests have been held in America over Bruce and CNN has covered it.” David Brown from North Down Borough Council said wardens were carrying out their duty when they seized the dog on 19 September 2007 after reports that the animal was an illegal breed. However, he agreed the legislation around dangerous dogs in Northern Ireland is “not fit for purpose”. “The judges don’t like it. We don’t like it and we hope the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will soon clarify the legislation,” he said. “We have been inundated with hundreds of emails and telephone calls from around the world in this case.” Dangerous dog legislation --Northern Ireland is the only place in Britain and Ireland where dogs found to be of the pit-bull type must be destroyed under legislation --Pit-bulls are one of four dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 --In 1997 an amendment to the Act was accepted in England, Scotland and Wales removing the mandatory destruction order for illegal breeds if the court accepts the animal does not pose a risk to the public --These dogs are entered on to the Index of Exempted Dogs instead of being destroyed --However, the amendment was never extended to Northern Ireland --The case is even more clear cut in the Republic where no breeds are banned and some dog sanctuaries operating there give homes to pit-bulls from the north --Legislation is being reviewed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development --On November 20 2007, agriculture minister Michelle Gildernew announced a review of the Dangerous Dogs Act and dog fighting legislation --She has held meetings with the PSNI and representatives of District Councils to consider what action should be taken but no decisions have yet been made --In March she said she would present a bill to the assembly after the summer recess --It is the responsibility of district councils to enforce the act even though many dog wardens have been calling for amendments to be made to the legislation --The maximum penalty for owning a banned dog type is six months imprisonment or a £5,000 fine | ||||||||||
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