Seized Pit Bulls Saved From Death

RosyTwo dogs in the UK have been saved from an unfortunate fate.

Roxy and Hooch were seized by Belfast City Council last January after someone reported that the dogs were pit-bull type animals and were therefore potentially dangerous.

A two-day hearing was a legal battle over if Roxy and Hooch were pit bull terrier-type animals or not.

Irene Chambers, Roxy and Hooch’s owner, said her two dogs are “house dogs” and one of them is just a puppy and the other one is a “gentle giant.”

The prosecution stated that the dogs could be dangerous because they were pit bulls.

Magistrate Ken Nixon dismissed the charges and said, “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.”

Chambers said, “They weren’t pit pulls and I’m getting them home after a long, long wait. This has broke the mold for others who find themselves in the same situation as myself.”

The Belfast City Council said, “The council remains committed to tackling the issue of dangerous dogs and protecting the public. This case once again highlights the urgent need to review legislation in relation to dangerous dogs and address issues around the identification of breeds.”

Source: BBC News

(Thanks Marie)

11 Responses to “Seized Pit Bulls Saved From Death”

  1. Nancy G. says:

    Breed specific legislation stinks. I believe the AKC says Cocker Spaniels are one of the breeds that has the worst record for biting. Who’s legislating against them? No one, because to do so would be wrong. Ban fighting dogs, ban the culture, ban the deed, but stop trying to say all dogs of a breed are ‘dangerous’ and kill them. Glad cooler heads prevailed here.

  2. shibadiva says:

    One can only hope that a similarly intelligent judge will be in place for Rambo, the pit mix puppy in Mississauga, Ontario, who’s facing euthanasia under BSL.

    Reading the comments posted in the opinions section of an article on Rambo makes me think of the Salem Witch Trials.

    A sample: “Have we forgotten so soon that these dogs routinely maul and kill people and other dogs? All puppies are cute, but in the case of these dogs, they too often grow up to become savage, unpredictable and uncontrollable killers.”


  3. Linda's Cats says:

    It’s an interesting question. My limited understanding (you can tell i’m a cat person), is that some breeds need owners who are trained to work with that breed, cause even though they are “gentle giants” under normal circumstances, are you aware how to work with them if they get agitated? It’s a fact that hunting dogs, fight/kill breed dogs (pit bulls were originally breed to kill off varmint in sheep herding fields, right?), so-called toy dogs all have personalities that are part of the genetics.

    once a dog that is GENETICALLY programmed to attack and not let go, attacks, it can be nearly impossible to keep it from killing.

    So maybe what is needed is not euthanasia, but a breed specific license saying you’ve taken classes on training dogs that have more “dangerous” genetic patterns.

  4. Colby says:

    It’s nice to see that things worked out for Roxy and Hooch, but the end of the article didn’t really sit right with me.

    From the article:
    “This case once again highlights the urgent need to review legislation in relation to dangerous dogs and address issues around the identification of breeds.â€

    One of the breeds banned in Denver is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. How can they say that all dogs from this breed are dangerous. If you research this breed many resources call them the “Nanny Dog” and “The Staffie is renowned for its reliability as a family dog, with special emphasis on their reliability with children.” Yet this is a breed of dog that has been banned in Denver, CO. I have known several people who own this breed and they are well-behaved loving dogs.

  5. Connie says:

    Sadly, Roxy did not survive once she got home. I have the latest article and commentary on my blog: http://mypetstreet.com/content.....no-winners

  6. EmilyS says:

    “(pit bulls were originally breed to kill off varmint in sheep herding fields, right?”

    uh, no.
    The original bulldog part of “bull terrier” was bred to bait bulls (grab and hold the nose). The original terrier part was bred to kill small vermin. The various versions of “bull terrier” including the “American pit bull terrier” and the “Staffordshire Bull Terrier” and indeed the “Bull Terrier” were bred to fight other dogs in formal “sporting” contests… and also to never bite a human (since the fighting dogs’ handlers were in the pit with them).

    But that breeding is 70-100 years past in almost all lines of these breeds.

    While they retain varying degrees of dog aggressiveness, they are NO MORE dangerous than any other breed in the hands of responsible owners. And NO LESS dangerous than any other breed in the hands of irresponsible owners.

    Dogs are dangerous as individuals, not as breeds.

  7. Donna says:

    If you think a pit bull can be dangerous and unpredictable,……….deal with a human ! No dog has killed as many people as humans have. So,…I guess you can say humans are the most dangerous creatures alive.

  8. Charlie says:

    VERY WELL PUT DONNA! I have worked with pitbulls and I find them to be loving, fun and easy to teach.

  9. angela says:

    What a sad story, but I’m glad at least one of these dogs got to go back to living his life. I think this just shows how silly BSL is - how does anyone even define “pit bull type” dogs, especially in a country where Staffordshire bull terriers are extremely popular and legal? As more cases like this come up I hope more people start to realize how irrational these laws are.

  10. The Lioness says:

    Linda’s cat, I think you are somewhat right. I believe that would make a lot more sense.

    When looking at dog breeds, most sources have info on personality type. Why? Because different breeds do, indeed, have different needs, just like with cat breeds.

    I think to have such a license would be a good idea. Or at least some sort of breed-specific certification for trainers/handlers. That way, a pet owner new to a breed could at least take a class or several if needed with such a person and learn how to properly handle the breed, as well as what to expect.

    ~The Lioness

  11. howard margolius says:

    Hello fellow dog lovers,

    Please review this Dog story and repost!


    Thank you,


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