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.
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 Home”. 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 Bruce”.
For Further Information – Please Contact:
DDA Watch
Email: mail@dangerousdogsact.co.uk
Tel: 0844 844 2900
Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue
Highly Recommended: What dog owner wouldn’t want a piece of THIS action? -- Get FREE dog food!
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This has to be stopped and Bruce must be allowed to go home and regain his dignity and life. It’s not just horrific but totally
unrealistic. Apart from anything else, the suffering he has endured whilst maintaining such a kind and peaceful nature surely must prove to anyone that he isn’t a danger. I really hope that he gets his freedom back and soon too!!!
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NJ Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
The leglisation needs changed in NI. Reading the leglisation there is an excemption but what appears to be the problem is no one can obtain insurance and this is one of the conditons that will be put on by the courts and this includes England, need insurance.
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Bruce belongs to his family!
Send him home please!
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Please Save Bruce, let him go home to his owners. He ahs never hurt anyone! Thousands of people around the world want Bruce to be saved…Please let him go home; his release will show your compassion for his long stay, caged. If you kill him now after what he has been through, I think, would make Ireland look not very credible nor a caring compassionate place.
Let Bruce go home….he and his family have waited long enough.
Thank you being considerate of how many people want him to be saved, Let him go home.
Thank you.
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If anyone else had treated a dog in this way I am sure they would have been prosecuted.. yet Bruce has not only been betrayed by the law , he has also been physically abused which you can see from the videos, He is emancipated has injuries .. How on earth can this be allowed to continue. Bruce is an innocent animal , he doesnt understand what is going on , All he wants is to go home , back to the family that so obviously love him . Anyone who denies him of this right is doing him a great injustice.
Set Bruse Free now !!
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Shocking to see that such draconian rubbish is still evident in the world today, this dog is clearly suffering away from its owner and has been quoted by members of the staff looking after him on death row as not having a bad bone in his body nor a danger to society.
Two different dog recognition experts have stated that he is NOT “of pit bull type” yet a court having heard this from experts in their respected fields still imposes a pointless sentence, shame that judge wasn’t involved in the Watergate case Nixon may still have been in office!
N.I. you come under British govern yet you dont pick up on the laws, nor have you picked up on that dogs are trained by the owner so if it was a young lad wearing a baseball cap smoking whilst in your court room then yes the dog is highly likely to be dangerous, however a young woman who clearly loves her dog and obviously proven by her struggle to get the dog back and numerous appeals and petitions is hardly likely to be a danger to society.
Give the dog and the owner a break, free BRUCE!
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Please save bruce! he is such a beautiful sweet dog and does not deserve all the suffering he has had to endure! It’s bad neough when owners leave their dogs in kennels for holidays or when people even abandon thier pets…just think of the heartbreak of having your dog taken away….bruce must be missing them just as much!
SAVE THIS WONDERFUL DOG! LET HIM GO HOME!
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The people responsible for Bruce’s condition should be prosecuted for animal cruelty. Hasn’t he and his family, suffered enough already. He’s done nothing wrong and should be back with his family, where he belongs.
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Bruce is an innocent soul and should be allowed to go home. He has suffered more than one can imagine and should be set free to live his life with those that love him dearly. It is very cruel, inhumane, and immoral to keep him a prisoner when in fact he has done no wrong.
He has proven that he is not dangerous. Please release him, please set him free! Thank you!
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Melissa Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 7:20 am
As a Stafford owner myself who is sick of people accusing her sweat lil innocent Stafford pup of being a pit bull, I am very sad to hear of poor Bruce. I could not imagine what it would be like to be in his families situation. STOP this all now and return him to his home – if he has done no wrong then sentencing him to death is animal cruelty!!! SET BRUCE FREE.
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What possible good is being served in making this poor dog to suffer in custody and eventually killing him? How is society benefited by this? I would not be surprised to hear of something like this happening in the Third World, but in Ireland?
Please do the humane thing–have mercy and let Bruce go back home to the family that loves him!
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MaggieBe Reply:
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:35 am
NORTHERN Ireland, not the Republic. Please stop lumping us in with them.
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I am disgusted to say the least, please send this baby home to his family. I am a proud pitbull owner and I hate that these beautiful loving creatures are treated like such monsters. My heart goes out to his family and I pray for his safe return.
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I truly believe that when dogs misbehave, the punishment must be on owners. Irresponsible owners.
Here is the case when nice dog who never did anything wrong is being punished for all those who ever did something wrong.
It is not right to put this sweet dog through the suffering just because he *may* be potentially dangerous. If, when he was seized, he was off of the leash, his owners have to be fined as i do think such dogs should be leashed. But there’s no dog’s fault in his breed. He should be allowed to go home.
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Its outragous the way Bruce has been treated-when his only “crime” is to be born the wrong breed-send him home to his family immediately!!
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Bruce has done nothing wrong-the law needs changing-so this doesn’t happen again!
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Enough is enough now!
How much more is this innocent, dear little dog supposed to endure. His treatment has been criminal and needs investigating.
Time he was free.
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happy 18th birthday to the dangerous dog law that kills defencless dogs
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There is an excellent video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uclac1BcFYY
18 years of the Dangerous Dogs Act
also
18 years of the Dangerous Dogs Act-
http://dangerousdogsact.blogspot.com/2009/08/18-years-ago-today-dangerous-dogs-act.html
Happy 18th Birthday-
http://www.endangereddogs.com/DDAHappy18thBirthday.htm
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8209106.stm
Bruce’s story has now broke out into mainstream media-BBC, today it has been confirmed that the court hearing is set to take place on 14th September.
Please cross post this information.
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This family and their Bruce needs our help! Please everyone, send this link to as many people as you can. Power in numbers!!!!
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Please let Bruce go home to his family, even Michael Vick in the US got a second chance and he was a dog murderer. He fought them for profit and he was already rich. He is a memeber of the NFL, served a very short time in jail and now is out free. The dogs never got a second chance. Please start some compassion here, Bruce has served more then his time, for doing nothing wrong. Please help him.
You will be blessed.
What comes around goes around!
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Free Bruce, Please
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Bruce’s court case is up before the court of Monday 14th september, please send him positive thoughts and your prayers.
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The gov should be ashamed and needs to do the right thing for once! Send this dog home and stop torturing him!!
Phil
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Does anyone have an update on this? Did it go to court yesterday and what was the result?
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i hate to see dogs(of any breed) mistreated, whoever, has treat the dog bruce so badly should be charged with animal cruelty. the before & after pictures are so upsetting to see. why has this dog been on “death row” so long & why is he there at all? he,s done no wrong afterall. i,m sure he could be released to his owners, who know his nature better than anyone, with strict guidelines in place if need be, always on lead etc. whilst out. come on powers to be in northern ireland do the right thing & release this gentle boy back to his family, his return is long overdue
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Oh my god! i cant believe the NI government!! its absolutley heartbreaking to see a dog sentanced to death just for how he looks!! i have a 5 year old border collie and i cant imagine her being sentanced to death just for how she looks, i mean they wouldnt sentance her to death for how she looks so why should he be? he looks like such a lovely animal, im a great dog lover and its so cruel how dogs get treated in this day and age. bruce looks like a loving family dog and deserves to be in a place that is familiar to him and where he is surrounded by the ones he loves, not kept somewhere where he is badly treated and just left in pain. its so sad.
i hope you get bruce back, truly i do, if he dies the NI government will have a big storm coming and they wont know whats hit them, will be thinking about bruce and his family and hoping that the freedom he deserves is granted and that he returns to his family where he belongs…
beth xx |^-^| ears
|0 0| eyes == my attempt at a dog, sorry its so rubbish!
| A | nose
|–¬| mouth
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the dog thing looked better when i was writing the last message sorry!!!
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This is heartbreaking. I thought a country like Ireland would be more ‘first wold’ than to allow such an atrocity to continue. The way we treat our animals is indicative of the type of people we are. The only crime here is the way in which this dog is being treated … it’s criminal and the decision makers should be ashamed that this is allowed to continue.
This article brought me to tears. I live thousands of miles away from Ireland and i stumbled upon this page purely by accident and as i read it, i find myself in tears for the pain that those who love him are surely feeling.
I pray to God that if this dog cannot find his way home, that he should find his way out of this world quickly as he is truly being tortured in this establishment.
The world sometimes or more accurately, Man … is sometimes truly unkind.
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MaggieBe Reply:
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
It’s not Ireland! It’s Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. We in Ireland do not have a stupid law like that, thank god. Northern Ireland is under British rule, the Irish have no say in this matter, apart from the fantastic shelters offering him a place.
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Who the hell do us humans think we are?
What right do we have to say that 1 breed of dog should be able to live while another is denied that right??
Why don’t we BAN certain human races that are violent & cause pain & trouble??
PLEASE FREE BRUCE!!!! No animal deserves this treatment….
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Sarah Noseda-Lewis Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 12:39 am
HEAR HEAR. And erm, are you my long lost Rebecca from when we were 5???? x
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Rebecca Wooller Reply:
October 17th, 2009 at 4:09 am
ummm I have no idea lol… Where r u from??
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Any updates on the situation?
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Please free this gentle boy.
He has done nothing wrong and neither has his family!
God bless you bruce i think of you daily being a staffy owner myself
i cannot believe N.I are treating you so badly. I hope they let you go home for christmas. My fingers are crossed for you and your owners. xxxxx
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THIS IS BEYOND DISCUSTING, YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES, THIS DOG HAS NOT DONE ANY HARM TO ANYONE! WHATS NEXT KILLING ALL WHITE PEOPLE OR MULTI CULTERAL PEOPLE OR GINGER HAIR OR BLONDE HAIR ETC!
LET THIS POOR DOG GO HOME AND END WHAT HAS CAUSED AN ALMIGHTY UPROAR GLOBALLY!!!!!!!!!
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What is being done to Bruce is the same idea behind what Hitler did to the Jews. Bruce has done nothing wrong yet he is caged, malnourished, and mistreated. To what purpose? Please find it in you hearts and to what you know to be right and let him go home or at least to the rescue in SI.
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Oh my God. How cruel. My heart goes out to Bruce n his family. What are the USPCA doing about the condition of the poor dog. If it were Joe Public who kept a dog in such a state they would be banging the door down with cruelty charges and taking the dog away. Let the dog go to southern Ireland where he will be treated with respect and dignity he so deserves.
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hi,i have 2 staffies.they are a bit pit looking too.the origanal staffies are.the interbred are smaller.the smaller ones ionterbred are the ones people have messed the breed up with,a true staff in nature is the most loving of all dogs,happy friendly and pose no danger.my 2 would welcome a house theif in the nite.they wouldnt bite they love people.so it sounds like bruce is an origanal if he has that look.wich makes the story sadder.that poor dog i cry everytime i see his ads.what lovely loyal doting family he has.my heart goes out to you all.and i admire you so much for your fite for him ,good look i hope he comes home to you xxxkim
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If the facts in this story are accurate and not misleading, then I believe the courts in NI are wrong! Bruce needs to be set free, he has rights to live..just because a dog looks like what someone THINKS is a danger, does not mean that the dog is..
As a teen, I use to think Doberman’s were the evilest dog ever. They looked mad every time I seen them and egar to bark the throats off at strangers. But as an adult with knowledge of all dog breeds. I have realized that dogs are suppose to alert their owners of strangers nearing and protect their owners if a threat is present.
I am a pit owner. I started with one beautiful blue nose, then two, had a litter of 9, kept 3 pups.. These dogs are the most friendliest, loyal and loving breed I have yet to see, with the exception of our Rottie (RIP), who we lost about 4 yrs ago, she was 14yrs old. Our pits, like our rottie, sleeps with everyone in the house from adults, teenagers, to our youngests who are 6 and 8. They have even been known to jump into a bubble bath with the boys now and then
what everyone needs to wash their paws…lol
Let Bruce go home where he can be loved and cared for. He has not hurt anyone. Discrimination is a crime!!!!!
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PLEASE PLEASE SET THIS POOR DOG FREE. I USED TO LIVE IN ENGLAND AND MOVED TO CANADA. I HAVE A SIMILAR DOG AND HE IS OUR WORLD. I WOULD KILL MYSELF IF MY DOG WAS TAKEN AWAY – IF RAISED IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT AS IS BRUCE THEY ARE LIKE LITTLE PUPPIES AND ARE SO LOVING AS IS MY DOGGY.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I BEG YOU GIVE HIM A CHANCE. I AM IN TEARS AS I CANNOT IMAGINE THE PAIN THE FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH. HE IS NOT GETTING TREATED RIGHT WHERE HE IS AT ACCORDING TO THE VIDEOS…
PLEASE SPARE THIS DOG.
THANK YOU.
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I will try to be niice, really, although it will be difficult. This business of destroying all bully type dogs is ridiculous. First I would like to ask a question, “How many terrible bull or bull tpe crosses that have comitted a major offense have you had in proportion to the entire population?” How many incidents of bad behavior of other breeds have there been among the general populationn such as listed abve. Are you going to destroy all dogs of a certsin breed because of certain incidents, if not don’t you think you are making a great mistake for destroying this particular breed. Could destroying bully or “dogs that look like bully crosses” be looking for a law suit?
Do the people that pick up this type of dog then have them destroyed have proper training in identifying these dogs, purebred or part bred? I have shown nationnally and internationally, I have shown in the same ring as I was showing terriers I have NEVER seen one of these dogs create a problem. I am not a profesional. I don’t have this type of dog. This law should be reconsiderd. What breed is next? Innocent dogs will be killed because they look a certain way.
I do not have a bully but I feel eradicating an entire breed is criminal.
Delta
Please excuse spelling as I am sick and running a high fever, but I am strongly against this.
Delta
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Shocked is the only word I can use to describe how I feel about this most unfortunate situation. Killing Bruce is completely unjustifiable and heartless. To Bruce’s family…stay strong and DO NOT GIVE UP FOR BRUCE’S SAKE!
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How can the law be as vague as “Pitbull Types”, they need to tell the court its a Staffordshire Bull Terrior not a Pitbull. Compensation should also be given to the owner for harm to the dog and the stress it must be causing.
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quoting Annon:
“they need to tell the court its a Staffordshire Bull Terrior not a Pitbull.”
If it were that simple he would have been released by now, if a SBT is closer to the standards of an APBT then it is deemed, under British law, an ‘illegal pit bull type’.
Section 1 states clearly that, even cross breeds or mongrels could be deemed illegal if they have a number of the psychical characteristics that make up an APBT, regardless of who the parents of said dog were.
and even if he was a pure bred APBT would you see it fit for him to be destroyed?
I certainly wouldn’t.
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This law is way past its sell by and has proven to be a failure on several levels, I hope it gets changed soon, for Bruce’s sake and sorry Annon for the last part of the comment:
“and even if he was a pure bred APBT would you see it fit for him to be destroyed?”
Its just that I feel a dog should be aloud to live if it has done nothing wrong other than looking a certain way.
hope you understand.
~John~
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This is a major travesty. I’m sure others who have seen my posts will realise that I am totally against blaming the dog for its owner’s inability to train.
In this case, Bruce clearly deserves to be repatriated with his loving family.
To have everyone except the judicial minority believe that this dog is not of dangerous type and, in fact, apparently harmless is an indictment of the judicial system seen in our courts on a regular basis.
Send Bruce home and lock up the real dangers to society – those who walk on 2 legs, not 4. Who beat up pensioners rather than lick them and who train dogs to make overuse of a natural aggressive trait to their own ends rather than training it out.
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DO NOT KILL THIS DOG!! DO NOT KILL THIS DOG!! DO NOT KILL THIS POOR LONELY CONFUSED DOG!! HE HAS CLEARLY BEEN INHUMANELY TREATED SINCE BEING REMOVED FROM HIS FAMILY.
SHAME SHAME SHAME ON AUTHORITIES INVOLVED.
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WHAT A WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY. LET BRUCE GO HOME AND FIND SOME OTHER WAY TO THROW PUBLIC MONEY AWAY.IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN PROVEN THAT BRUCE IS A SWEET GENTLE FAMILY DOG,THIS CASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT OF COURT AT THE VERY BEGINING.SET BRUCE FREE.
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Let Bruce go home to be loved. He & the family have been through enough pain
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Let bruce go home!!!!!! He doesnt deserve that he is a family pet!
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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I BEG YOU GIVE HIM A CHANCE. I AM IN TEARS AS I CANNOT IMAGINE THE PAIN THE FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH. HE IS NOT GETTING TREATED RIGHT WHERE HE IS AT ACCORDING TO THE VIDEOS…
Andrew Simpson 【ツ】!!!
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What is wrong with people? Holocaust, witch burning, WW1, WW2, are we not finished killing? No animal deserved to be euthenized just for existing. It’s time this dog goes home. Don’t bend the law, change the law.
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Bruce needs to be back with his family…being or looking like a pitbull type dog does not mean it should be put down! BSL towards this kind of K9 is downright discrimination and incompassionate! We are humans and we are supposed to be better, humane and compassion than these dogs yet we’re the ones thinking and acting like animals! PLEASE FREE BRUCE! PLEASE FREE BRUCE!
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a reply from david brown at north down council today re bruce has said;
‘A further appeal is due to be heard in the County Court on Tuesday 9 March 2010.’
so fingers crossed for bruce
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