The Dangerous Dogs Act. Yes it’s those three words again and as I type this I wonder if you’re bored yet? Sometimes I worry that maybe, by continually speaking about this it loses the shock factor.

Maybe it becomes the norm to hear the stories of dogs dying in the so-called care of strangers. I wonder if people see the title of “DDA dog returned, cut and bleeding” and think “oh another one of those”. Does it get read? Does reading it make it real? Or do we just accept it more and move on. Nothing to see here.

Then I realised there’s one side of the Dangerous Dogs Act that is rarely seen by many people. The effect the Act has on the families of the dogs involved. The DDA does affect the dogs, all the dogs. The owners however fit into two groups. The lowlife scum who happily sign away there dogs life as it means nothing more than a breeding money making machine and may give them a shorter sentence or the real owners. The you and me of the dog owning world. These are the majority of owners this law affects. And affect them it does.

The Dangerous Dogs Act kills dogs. We all know that. But did you know the Dangerous Dogs Act has also claimed the life of at least one owner? Mark Amston 20, from Caernarfon, Wales, hanged himself the day after his American Pit Bull Terrier was put to sleep. The inquest heard that he failed to get the insurance for his dog as the Dangerous Dogs Act required and hanged himself from an attic door at his home the day after his dog was destroyed. He left a note which simply read;

“Goodbye; Me and Sandy will be together for ever. Me and Sandy will never be parted again.”

Two lives gone in the blink of an eye because of a law that does not work.

The affect of having your friendly family pet ripped out of your life is immense. The owners have only one shot at saving their dogs life and that is by standing in a court of law and literally begging. Recently the story of a “Bobby Ridgewell” was published here. Owners Sylvia Ridgewell and her grandson Kevin stood in a room full of strangers and BEGGED for their dog as the tears streamed down their faces. Sylvia is 71 years old. She has brought her grandchildren up with her husband. Bobby is her life. She paid her taxes, abided by the law and is a respectable elderly lady. Shes lost children and grandchildren and was now in danger of losing her dog.

This is how Sylvia begged a court to spare the life of her dog.

My name is Sylvia Ridgewell grandmother to Kevin and also co owner of ‘Bobby’.

Kevin has lived with me all his life really.

The last time I had a dog was about 30 years ago, he passed away of old age. Kevin has always wanted a dog, so had my husband John. We have had so much stress and sadness last year that I agreed we would have a dog so Kevin got Bobby from a friend. We believed he was a Staff. We took him to the vets and had his injections. It was not until Bobby got spooked and ran a police man called **** found him so I did not phone the police until the next day, he had been taken to ***** kennels as a lost dog. The next we knew the police had been notified that Bobby looked like a banned breed which was found to be true. Bobby is now a pit bull type dog.

Please let me tell you a bit about our Bobby he is the most lovable dog, he is gentle and very friendly, he loves to play football with the children.

My husband John was a double amputee but Bobby use to sit by the side of him so John could pet him. John also used to play ball with him, sadly my John passed away suddenly on 10th December 2007. I miss him so much. We were married for 51 years, even then Bobby sat with me and lick away my tears.

I know Bobby won’t be able to go over the field and play ball with the children but he still can play in his garden with them and with them in their homes.

I will do anything the court say I have to do to have my dog Bobby put on the dog register.

“Please” don’t have my Bobby put to sleep, I love and miss him so much, he don’t know his a ban breed, he has never done anything wrong.

I could talk about Bobby all day, he does not like rain so I take him under a umbrella in the garden because he is so soft and lovely.

I would like to say please, please, I am so lonely without Bobby.

“PLEASE” can we have him back home.

Yours faithfully

Sylvia Ridgewell

Bobby is now back home. The court stated Bobby is not dangerous but Sylvia will never forget how the dog that has comforted her while she grieved for her husband of 51 years was kept from her. She will never forgot what it felt like to stand and beg for her dog knowing that the answer could come back saying Bobby would die.

So look at your dogs now, whatever breed or type they are. Look deep into their eyes and ask yourself this: How would you cope if you had to beg for your dogs life? What on earth do you say knowing if you get it wrong your dog will die? Then ask yourself how would you cope if you lost?

End Bsl.

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Related posts:

1. Joy For Bob! Court Spares the Life of Grandma’s Dog
2. Recognition for Brave Dog Who Laid Down His Life to Save Children
3. Emergency as Experts Rush to Save Life of Eastender Star
4. Bittersweet Victory: Tears Flow as Dog Life is Spared
5. 9 Months Locked up Under Dangerous Dogs Law – Now Duke, the Lurcher Cross, is Back Home