Post by RealPitBull on Jan 25, 2008 16:11:34 GMT -5
Poor wee Roxy: An innocent pup put to sleep...Mongrels, Roxy and Hooch were the best of pals. They went everywhere and done everything together. Hooch is a massive brown dog with white patches, whereas Roxy was tiny white dog with brown patches. They were each other’s Yin and Yang and complimented each other perfectly.
By Richard Mooney
Owner and dog lover Irene Chambers couldn’t have asked for more.
This is their story.
That was until Roxy and Hooch were incarcerated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Last January the dogs were seized by the Dog Wardens of Belfast City Council and the USPCA because, at the time, they were thought to be Pit Bull type dogs.
Irene’s daughter, Anne explains what happened the day they were took away.
“The police were contacted anonymously last January about the dogs. There was no incident or trouble with the dogs whatsoever; it was just someone reporting 'Pit Bulls' at mum’s house.
“After a visit from the police, dog wardens attended on 17 January 2007 followed by a further visit on 18 January 2007 with a USPCA Inspector who looked at the dogs only visually (no examination) and declared they were Pit Bulls. The wardens returned the following day and seized the dogs.
“Hooch was 7 years old and Roxy just 7 months old. My mum and brother got to see the dogs twice over the next 4 weeks and possibly once more (they can’t remember) at a location which was not where the dogs were being kept. After that mum was told she would not be allowed to see them again as the traveling was distressing Hooch.”
“ It is totally disgusting that Roxy has only had 7 months of family life and that the isolation she was kept in from then on made her unable to mix with other dogs.”
Irene was distraught and would spend this next 12 months fighting for her beloved pets.
The Dangerous Dogs Act makes it illegal for people to own Specially Controlled Dogs without specific exemption from court. These dogs are identified by type, not by breed.
Pit Bull Terriers are one of these types.
In British mainland law an amendment was made to the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1997 that allows which allows all dogs found to be of pit bull type but deemed to not to be a danger to be added to the exemption register, The Index of Exempted Dogs. Stormont has not implemented this amendment into Northern Irish law as of yet.
Roxy and Hooch were separated from each other and spent an entire year in solitary confinement.
Last week Magistrate Ken Nixon ruled that Roxy and Hooch were not of the Pit Bull type, but in fact were Mongrels.
Irene was over the moon, she was going to get her boys back. But they had to be kept separated
“I hadn’t seen them for a year and I was so delighted. The dogs were so happy to get home. They just fell into their old ways. The wee pup ran straight up the stairs and got up on the bed and lay down where she always slept. The big boy came into the living room and rolled all over the sofas as if to say I’m back here, this is my place,” says Irene, 64 of Belfast.”
A controlled reunion was to take place, but as it turned out Roy and Hooch weren’t the best of pals anymore. After being in isolation for so long Roxy was not used to interaction with other animals and attacked Hooch.
“The minute we left her off the lead she jumped really aggressively on Hooch and we knew then that were was a problem. We tried several times with her, but we could tell something was definitely wrong,” says a tearful Irene, anguish clearly in her voice.
“She had been locked away on her own for so long and just didn’t know how to interact with other animals.”
Roxy also had a damaged cruciate ligament in her knee which was made worse by lack of exercise and jumping up at the front of her kennels. This is an extremely painful condition that even the most expensive surgery cannot always cure.
“She must have been in real pain. She was locked up, by her self away from other animals and had little to no interaction with other animals”
Animal Psychologist Dr Mugford, who appeared for the defence in the court case, examined Roxy and Hooch.
Dr. Mugford visited the dogs and examined them to see if they were Pit Bull or of the Pit Bull type.
“When he went into the kennels he was showing attention to both dogs, but the wee dog got jealous. They were starved of affection and living in squalor. She turned on Hooch and there was a bit of a fight”, explains Irene.
“Hooch was hurt and once that happened they decided to keep them separated from there on in instead of bringing in a behaviourist. But they never bothered. They stuck her up in a kennel somewhere on her own.”
Unfortunately Roxy was not used to the company of Hooch or any animal for that matter. With this and her profoundly lame condition together, Irene Chambers was left with two options. One was to have a ‘rescue placement’ and for this Roxy would have to go back to a kennel environment and the second was to have her put to sleep.
Facing this decision was one of the toughest decisions of Irene’s life. On one hand she had to face the cruel option of sending Roxy back to a Kennel, after he had just come home. The second was to have him put to rest.
Reluctantly Irene decided the best course of action was to have him put to sleep and end his suffering. This broke her heart.
Dr. Mugford explained that no dog could have gone through what Roxy went through and come out the other end unscathed. He explains that ‘long term separation and confinement in sub-standard kennels’ made Roxy uncomfortable around Hooch in small spaces.
“Any dog of any breed would suffer in these conditions. Dogs should either be left at home on ‘bail’ pending court hearings or at the very least dealt with as a matter of urgency by the courts.”
The case was adjourned a total of six times over the course of a year. When it was finally heard the judge ruled in favour of Irene Chambers. Magistrate Ken Nixon praised Dr Mugford’s evidence calling it both compelling and comprehensive. He said it had been to key to his decision.
"This case is not about fighting pit bull terriers. It’s about a lady lovingly caring for dogs that otherwise would have had no home."
Roxy, Hooch and Irene were more than just dogs and owner; they were a family. They were separated due to legislation that had them mistakenly labeled as dangerous and now one has been put to sleep. Permanently.
For information on what you can do visit www.deednotbreed.org.uk.
By Richard Mooney
Owner and dog lover Irene Chambers couldn’t have asked for more.
This is their story.
That was until Roxy and Hooch were incarcerated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Last January the dogs were seized by the Dog Wardens of Belfast City Council and the USPCA because, at the time, they were thought to be Pit Bull type dogs.
Irene’s daughter, Anne explains what happened the day they were took away.
“The police were contacted anonymously last January about the dogs. There was no incident or trouble with the dogs whatsoever; it was just someone reporting 'Pit Bulls' at mum’s house.
“After a visit from the police, dog wardens attended on 17 January 2007 followed by a further visit on 18 January 2007 with a USPCA Inspector who looked at the dogs only visually (no examination) and declared they were Pit Bulls. The wardens returned the following day and seized the dogs.
“Hooch was 7 years old and Roxy just 7 months old. My mum and brother got to see the dogs twice over the next 4 weeks and possibly once more (they can’t remember) at a location which was not where the dogs were being kept. After that mum was told she would not be allowed to see them again as the traveling was distressing Hooch.”
“ It is totally disgusting that Roxy has only had 7 months of family life and that the isolation she was kept in from then on made her unable to mix with other dogs.”
Irene was distraught and would spend this next 12 months fighting for her beloved pets.
The Dangerous Dogs Act makes it illegal for people to own Specially Controlled Dogs without specific exemption from court. These dogs are identified by type, not by breed.
Pit Bull Terriers are one of these types.
In British mainland law an amendment was made to the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1997 that allows which allows all dogs found to be of pit bull type but deemed to not to be a danger to be added to the exemption register, The Index of Exempted Dogs. Stormont has not implemented this amendment into Northern Irish law as of yet.
Roxy and Hooch were separated from each other and spent an entire year in solitary confinement.
Last week Magistrate Ken Nixon ruled that Roxy and Hooch were not of the Pit Bull type, but in fact were Mongrels.
Irene was over the moon, she was going to get her boys back. But they had to be kept separated
“I hadn’t seen them for a year and I was so delighted. The dogs were so happy to get home. They just fell into their old ways. The wee pup ran straight up the stairs and got up on the bed and lay down where she always slept. The big boy came into the living room and rolled all over the sofas as if to say I’m back here, this is my place,” says Irene, 64 of Belfast.”
A controlled reunion was to take place, but as it turned out Roy and Hooch weren’t the best of pals anymore. After being in isolation for so long Roxy was not used to interaction with other animals and attacked Hooch.
“The minute we left her off the lead she jumped really aggressively on Hooch and we knew then that were was a problem. We tried several times with her, but we could tell something was definitely wrong,” says a tearful Irene, anguish clearly in her voice.
“She had been locked away on her own for so long and just didn’t know how to interact with other animals.”
Roxy also had a damaged cruciate ligament in her knee which was made worse by lack of exercise and jumping up at the front of her kennels. This is an extremely painful condition that even the most expensive surgery cannot always cure.
“She must have been in real pain. She was locked up, by her self away from other animals and had little to no interaction with other animals”
Animal Psychologist Dr Mugford, who appeared for the defence in the court case, examined Roxy and Hooch.
Dr. Mugford visited the dogs and examined them to see if they were Pit Bull or of the Pit Bull type.
“When he went into the kennels he was showing attention to both dogs, but the wee dog got jealous. They were starved of affection and living in squalor. She turned on Hooch and there was a bit of a fight”, explains Irene.
“Hooch was hurt and once that happened they decided to keep them separated from there on in instead of bringing in a behaviourist. But they never bothered. They stuck her up in a kennel somewhere on her own.”
Unfortunately Roxy was not used to the company of Hooch or any animal for that matter. With this and her profoundly lame condition together, Irene Chambers was left with two options. One was to have a ‘rescue placement’ and for this Roxy would have to go back to a kennel environment and the second was to have her put to sleep.
Facing this decision was one of the toughest decisions of Irene’s life. On one hand she had to face the cruel option of sending Roxy back to a Kennel, after he had just come home. The second was to have him put to rest.
Reluctantly Irene decided the best course of action was to have him put to sleep and end his suffering. This broke her heart.
Dr. Mugford explained that no dog could have gone through what Roxy went through and come out the other end unscathed. He explains that ‘long term separation and confinement in sub-standard kennels’ made Roxy uncomfortable around Hooch in small spaces.
“Any dog of any breed would suffer in these conditions. Dogs should either be left at home on ‘bail’ pending court hearings or at the very least dealt with as a matter of urgency by the courts.”
The case was adjourned a total of six times over the course of a year. When it was finally heard the judge ruled in favour of Irene Chambers. Magistrate Ken Nixon praised Dr Mugford’s evidence calling it both compelling and comprehensive. He said it had been to key to his decision.
"This case is not about fighting pit bull terriers. It’s about a lady lovingly caring for dogs that otherwise would have had no home."
Roxy, Hooch and Irene were more than just dogs and owner; they were a family. They were separated due to legislation that had them mistakenly labeled as dangerous and now one has been put to sleep. Permanently.
For information on what you can do visit www.deednotbreed.org.uk.