Appeal Update 1st May 2007:

Our special thanks to everyone who donated to this Appeal. Enough funds were raised to provide legal representaion at Magistrates Court on the 20th April. To find out what happened on the big day-please read the press release issued which has all the information.

The Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) is a draconian piece of legislation which has been widely criticised and is in desperate need of change.
Pet dogs are persecuted on account of their appearance alone, many dogs are currently held in Police appointed kennels awaiting their fate as they are the ‘wrong’ shape and size according to law.
Accused of owning a ‘prohibited type’, using a very broad criteria, their owners have to go through the court system, once found guilty, the court can either order destruction or registration of the dog. Section 4b of the DDA is civil action and owners are unlikely to obtain legal aid.
The vast majority of solicitors have never encountered the legislation and when in court trying to defend a pet dog, failure to provide an adequate case will place the dog at a disadvantage, a disadvantage which can result in a destruction order rather than a registration order.

Fifteen lives were recently spared at Magistrates Court, some of these dogs have now been returned registered to their owners, dogs like Dizzy who is pictured here and very happy to be back home in her favourite spot!
The Merseyside Police have confirmed that approximately 100 dogs are currently held, under the DDA.
Dates for court hearings are yet to be confirmed, a court day for the end of April is expected and it is hoped that many owners will be able to appear before the Magistrates court on one day and plead their case for their dog’s life.

DeedNOTBreed (DNB) working alongside EDDR are raising funds to help provide legal representation, for a day in court, for pet dogs, representation so that dogs, once shown to be responsibly owned and of no threat to the public, can be placed onto the Index of Exempted Dogs (neutered, ID Chipped, Tattooed, Insured and muzzled/leashed in public) as an alternative to death.

Pet dogs, currently held in kennels, without any contact from their families, have one chance to try and get onto the Index as registered and hence ‘legal’ dogs. 
Some are known not be coping in a kennel, as some dogs find it very difficult to adjust from a home environment, four held have died from infectious disease before cases came to court.

The whole process from start to finish is extremely frustrating and difficult for distraught owners who once forcibily separated from their pet, spend most of their day thinking and worrying about their best friend.

Pictured on the left are Elsie and Dizzy who have been through the process and saved by being registered, now sound asleep following 78 days confinement prior to release.

These dogs need your support - There are several ways to help:

• Please make a donation to directly help provide legal representation.
• Please purchase a virtual dog tag, engraved with your details, or a short message from DNB
• Donate an item which can be sold to raise funds.
• If you are able to help fundraise in any way at all, please contact us for further details.

How to make a donation:

• A cheque or postal order can be made payable to ‘Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue’ and posted to - Post Office Box 1544, London W7 2ZB. Please write ‘EDDR Legal Fund’ on the back of your cheque.
• A cheque or postal order can be made payable to ‘Deed Not Breed DDA’ and posted to - 35 Albert Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1JZ.

If you include you name/address, we will be able to forward you a receipt & acknowledgement.

• You can also make a donation online using the PayPal facility – Full details are on web sites www.endangereddogs.com and www.deednotbreed.org.uk

Donations received will be held and then paid out to the canine specialist solicitor Trevor Cooper of Cooper & Co.

Any amount will be gratefully received by the dogs