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A STAFFORDSHIRE BULL Terrier crossbred may be registered as a pit bull ‘type’ by its owner in order to secure its release, after the dog was seized by council officials under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

As reported previously, Staffordshire Bull terrier/Rhodesian Ridgeback cross ‘Al’, owned by Eileen Thornhill, 23 has never been in any kind of trouble before. The dog escaped, along with Miss Thornhill’s other dog during an attempted break-in two weeks ago when neighbours smashed a lock on the garden gate, unaware that the two dogs were on the other side. The burglars escaped and a neighbour, hearing he commotion, managed to grab the other dog, but Al, who was not wearing a collar escaped, and was later captured by a Nottingham City Council dog warden.

The dog warden decided that Al was an unregistered, illegal pit bull ‘type’ dog and refused to release him to Miss Thornhill. The dog is being held at council kennels until a determination on his type has been made and whether or not charges may be brought against Miss Thornhill under Section One of the DDA.

Vet Alison Jane Morris Robson, who regularly appears for the prosecution in DDA cases, has already examined Al and pronounced him to be a pit bull type. Miss Morris Robson was recently featured in a BBC documentary on dangerous dogs, bemoaning the fact that the police make very few DDA prosecutions nowadays due to lack of resources.

Tired of waiting

Miss Thornhill is seeking help via the Fury Defence Fund to have Al examined by her own expert witness.

As yet, she has not been allowed to see her dog, although she was offered the chance to sit in a car and watch the dog be walked past her.

Miss Thornhill has indicated that she is tired of waiting for a report on whether or not Al is of ‘the type’ and whether of not he will be charged under the DDA. She is prepared to have Al neutered, tattooed, microchipped and insured in order to secure his early release, even though he does not believe him to be a pit bull ‘type’ dog.

"He is a fantastic dog and has never hurt anyone. His temperament is tremendous, considering the fact that he was ill-treated by his original owner before I rescued him," said Miss Thornhill.

"I’m just fed of waiting and want to know what’s going to happen and when I can get my dog back home."