Charity and Elderly Couple Avoid Punishment Over Dangerous Dog

Thu, 21 Jan 2010

A District Judge has decided against punishing a Merseyside animal charity or two elderly animal owners for the possession of a dangerous dog . Melling-based Animals in Need rehomed an illegal dog to Judy and Harry Groves in December 2008. The pet dog, named Rocky, is a Pitbull and Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, though it was not known that he was an illegal dog breed until Animals in Need called out the police to inspect another dog resident at the animal charity centre.

Merseyside police consequently seized Rocky after just a month with his new owners Mr and Mrs Groves, who are 69 and 72 respectively. Previous owners of the three year old dog testified that he was a lovely dog, though he has been known to chew up kitchens and furniture .

The court heard disparate evidence of whether Rocky is indeed a banned breed from vets and experts, though District Judge Michael Ableson was persuaded that Rocky was of ‘Pitbull type’, though he decided against ordering the dogs destruction.

Judge Ableson gave all three defendants an absolute discharge and did not make them pay any costs.

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