kola

RSPCA Statement: RSPCA News

nothing is set in stone whilst there is an appeal ongoing, we should know more shortly a lot of work is going on 'behind scenes' regarding the legalities Amanda x

Two positive replies received from Lady Hermon - MP for North Down: Dear Amanda, Please be assured that I’ll do all I can to help raise Bruce’s plight with the relevant authorities. Kindest regards, Sylvia H Lady Hermon MP House of Commons London, SW1A 0AA Dear Amanda Thank you so much for your recent e-mail and I’m sorry I’m only now responding. As a dog owner myself, my heart aches at the thought of Bruce being put to sleep, especially when he has been offered a ‘safe haven’ in Galway. I’ll certainly make sure your concerns are raised with the local Department for Agriculture & Rural Development and North Down Borough Council in order to see what they can do to help save Bruce. Kindest regards, Sylvia H. Stephen Knott Office of Lady Hermon MP House of Commons London, SW1A 0AA

under the law it's the dogs who lose their life, LBC radio has been running it, status dogs, weapons, etc puppy a weapon is it? oh yer, it has 'potential'

Quote: "We have been inundated with hundreds of emails and telephone calls from around the world in this case.†Good and there's plenty more to come because we are not giving up on this dog whilst he still breathes! Keep emailing and fighting for Bruce, he deserves to live, he has done nothing wrong and has been locked away for neary two years, this law belongs in the DARK AGES.

A lovely poem on the Maria Daines website: 'BSL Must End'

NI Assembly Member: McFarland's office is being very helpful and has been in contact with the Council and the owner, they have received a lot of emails and are making enquires to see what can be done. Well done everyone who is sending letters

Kennel Club Response: Many thanks for your email. The DDA (1991) was amended by the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997. The 1997 Act removed the mandatory destruction order provisions of the 1991 Act by giving the courts discretion on sentencing, and re-opened the Index of Exempted Dogs for those prohibited dogs which the courts consider would not pose a risk to the public. The Amendment applies to owners in England, Wales and Scotland and in many cases has literally proved to be a lifeline to many dogs and their owners. Unfortunately this Amendment is not extended to Northern Ireland. We do not understand why a pit bull type dog (based purely on its looks) in one part of the UK is regarded as more of a danger than the same dog would pose in another part. Ultimately the Kennel Club wants new legislation but as the government in Westminster seems unwilling to review the current DDA, we will push for the 1997 Amendment to apply in Northern Ireland- we encourage all dog owners in Northern Ireland to do the same.

Tony Wadsworth on Radio Leicester has covered Bruce's story and directed people where to support etc Irish Times are due to cover the story today (wednesday) Amanda x

Thanks for posting up the replies you have received Amanda x

The MP for North Down is: Lady Sylvia Hermon MP North Down Majority: 4944 Electoral history Member for North Down since 7 June 2001 general election Region Northern Ireland Westminster Lady Sylvia Hermon MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Tel:020 7219 8491 Fax:020 7219 1969 [email protected] http://www.sylviahermon.org Amanda x

Why Does Bruce Have To Die- July News Article: American Chronicle

More contacts, this time the Northern Ireland Assembly-debate issues and laws etc Please email the following regarding bruce - these are the political reps for bruce's area - North Down constituency has six MLAs (think each constituency has six elected) MLA = Members of the Legislative Assembly Alex Easton Stephen Farry Peter Weir Leslie Cree Brian Wilson Alan McFarland Alexander Easton DUP - [email protected] Stephen Farry - [email protected] Peter Weir DUP - [email protected] Leslie Cree UUP - [email protected] Alan McFarland UUP - [email protected] and [email protected] Brian Wilson - [email protected] Here is a template, please use if it helps, entire, part or your own words-even if you just send the one sentence, still worth it, please for Bruce. Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly: I am writing to you regarding your constituent Shannon-Leah Brown and her pet dog ‘Bruce’ an innocent dog who has been sentenced to die and was due to be destroyed on Monday 6th July, until a last minute stay of execution was granted as legal proceedings are ongoing. Bruce, a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was living happily with his family in Bangor, when on September 19th 2007 he 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 (Order) 1991. 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. He remains on ‘canine death row’. Whilst incarcerated in kennels his family were allowed to visit Bruce in October 2007, Bruce had lost weight, muscle tone and had a 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 and had become infected, he had to have his tail amputated, had open sores, was underweight and looked totally 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. Northern Ireland has not adopted the 1997 Amendment Act as in England, Scotland and Wales, despite being debated several times. Any dog deemed to be “pit bull type†cannot be entered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs as an alternative to destruction. If provisions in the Amendment Act had been accepted in Northern Ireland, as with the rest of the UK, Bruce would have been home long before now, alive and registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs. 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 but this offer has not so far 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 for dogs found to resemble ‘pit bull types’ unlike the rest of the UK who gave the courts discretion when sentencing twelve years ago. In a desperate attempt to save Bruce, owner Shannon Brown, supporters and neighbours have created petitions and videos resulting in support from Northern Ireland and worldwide to “Bring Bruce Homeâ€. Dogs are part of our families as much as children. Please support your constituent - Bruce’s owner and add your voice to help defend Bruce. As the plight of Bruce’s story travels, support for him and horror, disgust and anger against a law which permits the killing of an innocent dog based on its appearance is flooding in (for example please see Eleventh Hour Mercy Plea To Save Death Row Dog ) the world is now watching Northern Ireland and following the case. I look forward to your view on the legislation and plea that you please support Bruce and bring this matter to the urgent attention of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Yours sincerely

Thank you for sending it to bruce Amanda x

USPCA template letter here: In the Facebook Group-template letters Amanda x

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!

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!!! to everyone sending letters for bruce amanda x

The Dogs Trust have issued a statement today: Dogs Trust-Bruce Amanda x

Please could you send Reiki healing to Bruce the dog held in Northern Ireland and due to die on Monday. Please let him know everyone is trying for him and he's not alone. Thank you Amanda x

Thank you Amanda x

Template Letters for Bruce: Please go to each one seperately as the contact details will differ - Thank You! http://ddawatch.webs.com/savingbrucetemplate1.htm http://ddawatch.webs.com/savingbrucevetdraft.htm http://ddawatch.webs.com/brucetemplategeneral.htm Please crosspost Amanda x

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

Bruce's owner has posted and said that the Judge has ordered Bruce destroyed Amanda

News Article RSPCA Welcomes MP’s Proposed Changes To Dog Legislation (K9 Magazine doesn’t!) Amanda x

He's going to be okay and is back home from the vets who said that the canal water saved his life by bringing his body temperature down. Poor boy, having a complete rest today, then we're going to start muzzle training and get him sorted out Amanda x