Bruce is a young Staffy taken from his family in Northern Ireland in September 2007, after being deemed to be of "Pitbull type". In spite of all his owner's efforts Bruce is to be destroyed because, earlier this year, despite not contending that Bruce was of type, the judge said that as Bruce was of sound temperament, he would be allowed home and be placed on the exempt register upon his owner fulfilling the following criteria:
Keeping Bruce muzzled and on a lead in public,
Containing him behind 6' fences at home
gaining Public Liability insurance.
His owner had agreed only to find she had been set up to fail as the 1997 ammendment adopted in England and Wales, which would have allowed Bruce home under those conditions, had not been adopted in Northern Ireland - making Bruce an illegal dog which no insurance provider will cover. In his first kennels Bruce was woefully treated, suffering cuts to his muzzle which became infected and an injury to his tail which required a vet to have to amputate part of his tail. Although we are assured that Bruce has been moved to new kennels and is being better treated, his owners have been denied contact with their pet and have not seen Bruce since March 2008. They have not even been sent photos as proof that he is still well.
A rescue in Southern Ireland, where there are no banned breeds, made an offer to home Bruce for the rest of his life. The judge dismissed it as she had "no jurisdiction in that area".
I am calling on everyone who reads this blog to join the fight to save Bruce, have him reunited with his family or given safe passage to the rescue in Southern Ireland.
To sign the petition to Bring Bruce Home:
Petition
For more information see the link below:
Bruce