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Eleventh Hour Plea To Save Death Row Dog-bruce


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Please crosspost for Bruce:

 

Thursday 2nd July 2009:

 

Eleventh Hour Mercy Plea to Save Death Row Dog Bruce:

 

 

Dog lovers around the world have reacted in horror to the recent news that the high profile case of pet dog “Bruce†may finally be over as a court orders he be destroyed in a few days time ending an exhaustive twenty one month battle to save him.

 

Bruce was a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier living happily with his family in Northern Ireland. On September 19th 2007 Bruce was seized by council officials as an alleged “pit bull type†and taken to secluded kennels whilst his owner was taken to court for owning a banned type of dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

 

Whilst incarcerated in kennels his family were allowed to visit their dog in October 2007, Bruce had lost weight, muscle tone and had an open cut to his muzzle. Five months later Bruce was allowed a second visit from his family in March 2008, they were shocked with what they found: The wound on Bruce's muzzle was larger, weeping and had become infected, he tail had been amputated due to damage and infection, he had open pressure sores, was underweight and looked totally broken and rejected, yet despite the clear pain he was in, is described by experts as being a friendly dog that poses no danger to the public.

See:

 

A trial was heard at Bangor Magistrates' Court on 27th August 2008 and the court determined that Bruce was “of type†despite the evidence from two expert identification witnesses who said he was not. Judgement was given two weeks later on the 12th September and Bruce was ordered destroyed devastating his family and supporters.

A legal appeal was lodged and a brief hearing on the 12th November 2008 listed the case for mention on 12th January 2009.

 

A further hearing in March 2009 was scheduled to set a date for the full Appeal. But, as we understand it, at this hearing the Judge gave Bruce a reprieve, as she believed Bruce does not pose a danger to the public. It was unclear how this potentially groundbreaking ruling would proceed as the Judge did not contest that Bruce had been found to be a pit bull type but decided as he posed no danger to the public he could be returned to his owner under the conditions that apply to pit bull types in England: Bruce's owner was trying to obtain third party liability insurance for him as a pit bull type in Northern Ireland. As it is illegal to have a “pit bull type†in Northern Ireland no insurance company was able to offer insurance cover.

A further court date was set for 29th June 2009 to decide how this ruling for Bruce could proceed and the Judge ordered destruction.

 

In a desperate attempt to save Bruce, owner Shannon Brown, supporters and neighbours have created petitions, online networking groups and videos resulting in worldwide support to “Bring Bruce Homeâ€. Bruce remains on canine death row, removed from his family home, alone and unaware of the worldwide support he has to spare his life.

 

Despite being debated several times, Northern Ireland has not adopted the provisions within the1997 Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act allowing friendly pet dogs found to be unlawful by appearance, but posing no danger to the public, to be allowed to live. In England, Scotland and Wales, a dog found to be “pit bull type†by the courts can be ordered entered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs as an alternative to destruction. If the Amendment had been accepted in Northern Ireland, the court would have been able to exercise discretion as with the rest of the UK - Bruce is likely to have been home long before now, alive and well registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.

 

If Bruce lived across the border in Southern Ireland where no breeds are nationally banned he would never have been seized and imprisoned at all. Bruce has been offered a place of safety with a dedicated rescue and sanctuary in Southern Ireland where he could legally live out the rest of his life; this offer has been conveyed in writing to the solicitor but has sadly not been accepted by the court.

 

Bruce hasn't actually ever put a paw wrong; he is sentenced to death due to the way he looks and the fact that NI has a mandatory death penalty unlike the rest of the UK who gave the courts discretion when sentencing twelve years ago.

 

Bruce and his family have endured much mental and physical anguish and pain solely due to a draconian law. His owner is simply a young dog owner who has been struggling for nearly two years to save her dogs life.

 

All that needs to be done to let a friendly dog live is for Bruce to be allowed safe passage from Northern to Southern Ireland and Bruce needs your support again during his eleventh hour.

 

We are asking supporters to contact the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Shaun Woodward MP) and Ministers urging them to use compassion and discretion by granting Bruce a Pardon removing the penalty imposed – the mandatory death sentence with the provision that Bruce is moved to the rescue placement ready and waiting for him in Southern Ireland. For a nation who claims to be animal lovers this would be the expected outcome.

 

As the court has ordered that Bruce be destroyed someone will be expected to administer the fatal injection. Veterinary surgeons take a sworn oath and promise to safeguard the welfare of animals committed into their care.

 

In line with this sworn promise we are calling on all veterinary professionals within the UK to take a stand and refuse to kill Bruce - a healthy, wanted animal who poses no danger to the public & has a rescue space waiting for him in Eire. Bruce’s legal owner does not give consent for Bruce to be destroyed.

 

Please help by contacting the relevant authorities (template letters available) – details below to add your support to “Saving Bruceâ€.

 

For Further Information – Please Contact:

 

DDA Watch

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 0844 844 2900

 

Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue

[email protected]

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Urgent Plea for a Pardon/Intervention to Allow Export of Bruce to Eire:

 

• The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Shaun Woodward MP

Northern Ireland Office, 11 Millbank, London, SW1P 4PN

Fax: 01744 24306

www.shaunwoodward.com/enquiry.html

 

• The Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA – First Minister

• Martin McGuinness MP MLA – deputy First Minister

• Jeffrey Donaldson MP - www.jeffreydonaldson.org

• Gerry Kelly MLA

Email: [email protected]

Letters to: GD36 Stormont Castle, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3TT

www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk

 

• Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP - Home Secretary

Letters to: 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF,

Email: [email protected]

 

 

Urgent Plea to Refuse to Administer Fatal Injection:

 

Please urge your members not to participate in the death of Bruce.

 

• Veterinary Ireland – Representative body for veterinary surgeons in Ireland

Email: [email protected]

 

• Veterinary Northern Ireland (VetNI)

Email: [email protected]

Secretary General – [email protected]

 

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

Email: [email protected] & [email protected] Fax: (020) 7222 2004

 

Urgent Plea to Help & Support Innocent Dog Bruce:

 

• Northdown Borough Council

The Mayor

C/o Town Hall, The Castle, Bangor, BT20 4BT

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9127 8067

Edited by kola
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Assuming you meant the Dogs Trust one??

 

Dogs Trust Saddened to Hear About Plight of Death Row Dog, Bruce

 

July 3, 2009 by K9 Magazine News Editor

 

The Dogs Trust has issued a statement on the plight of death row dog, Bruce - set to be killed because of the way he looks. Chris Laurence, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust, says: “Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is deeply saddened to hear about the plight of Bruce and our hearts go out to his family. While we are unable to comment on individual cases like Bruce’s, it underlines the inherent flaws in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

 

The type known as a pit bull terrier is not a recognised breed in the UK and it is therefore difficult to positively identify a dog as a prohibited type. Consequently there are many crossbreeds that are very stockily built and have long legs and might therefore mistakenly be classified as a pit bull type. Many of these are beloved family pets with no tendency to aggression and therefore no danger to the public.

 

Dogs Trust considers that, where the dog is a family pet and shows no tendency to aggression, the dog should automatically be entered on the Index created under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. They should also be required to comply with the other requirements under the Act (neutering, microchipping, insurance, muzzling).

 

Dogs Trust continues to lobby Government for replacement of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 with new law to reflect the ‘deed not breed’ of a dog; to adequately deal with aggressive or dangerous dogs based on the actions of a dog rather than its breed.”

 

——–

Let us all hope the Dogs Trust - and other welfare organisations - do not fall short in using their considerable influence to lobby for the FULL repeal of BSL and we are not left with laws which persecute dogs rather than owners.

 

Bruce must not be allowed to die in the full glare of many thouands of animal lovers and welfare organisations from all over the world. Northern Ireland has an easy decision to make, let this innocent dog go and live in Ireland where he has been offered legal sanctuary. To kill him now would be criminal.

Author Details

K9 Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for modern, forward thinking dog lovers. You can read world exclusive dog features, dog news and dog advice every month and join the thousands of dog owners who benefit from the many fantastic features inside this leading magazine! Subscribe to K9 Magazine. - See this author's webpage

 

Related posts:

 

1. Northern Ireland Shamed by Treatment of Death Row Dog, Bruce

2. Eleventh Hour Mercy Plea to Save Death Row Dog Bruce

3. ‘Death Row’ Dog is Stolen From Kennels

4. Dogs Trust Issues Statement on Death of Police Dogs in Nottinghamshire

5. Dogs Trust Issues Statement on Kennel Club Pedigree Dogs Review

 

Filed Under: News

Tagged: Breed Specific Legislation, bsl

 

copied and pasted from here

http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/3058/d...-row-dog-bruce/

Edited by murtle
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UPDATE : yesterday bruce's barrister went to the High Court for judicial review. The counsel has granted an undertaking that until every avenue of the law has been explored, Bruce will not be destroyed. The solicitors are about to apply to the Lord Chief Justice for the case to be stated however Bruce remains held in kennels on death row. Please keep up the pressure and emails!!!

 

:flowers: :flowers: :flowers:

to everyone sending letters for bruce

 

amanda x

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Roger is holidaying at present (in Rome above all places) but he kept himself informed and phoned me this afternoon to tell me that another and last appeal has been lodged and Bruce will NOT be pts'd on Monday due to this.

 

We REALLY need to keep the pressure going at this stage. Email all your MP's and the contacts on the list.

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Please also contact the USPCA, the major animal welfare body in NI.

Contact email is [email protected]

Ask if they are aware of Bruce and if can make an appeal to save him.

There's a template letter, i'll get the link and post up

 

I hope those contacts are getting flooded with emails for Bruce!

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