Bruce Appeal - Eleventh Hour Plea for Death Row Dog-Template letters & Contacts

Information, Education & Advice - Helping Dogs In Need

Bruce Appeal - Letters:

Template Letters to send :

Please use the templates below in full or for guidance to help with writing your own letter, make sure you include your name and full address for your reply - Thank You

Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly:

I am writing to you regarding your constituent Shannon-Leah Brown and her pet dog ‘Bruce’ an innocent dog who has been sentenced to die and was due to be destroyed on Monday 6th July, until a last minute stay of execution was granted as legal proceedings are ongoing.

Bruce, a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was living happily with his family in Bangor, when on September 19th 2007 he was seized by council officials as an alleged “pit bull type” and taken to secluded kennels whilst his owner was taken to court for owning a banned type of dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act (Order) 1991. A trial was heard at Bangor Magistrates' Court on 27th August 2008 and the court determined that Bruce was “of type” despite the evidence from two expert identification witnesses who said he was not. Judgement was given two weeks later on the 12th September and Bruce was ordered destroyed devastating his family and supporters. He remains on ‘canine death row’.

Whilst incarcerated in kennels his family were allowed to visit Bruce in October 2007, Bruce had lost weight, muscle tone and had a cut to his muzzle. Five months later Bruce was allowed a second visit from his family in March 2008, they were shocked with what they found: The wound on Bruce's muzzle was larger and had become infected, he had to have his tail amputated, had open sores, was underweight and looked totally rejected, yet despite the clear pain he was in, is described by experts as being a friendly dog that poses no danger to the public. (Video evidence here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRJYVszJ7tE&feature=fvsr )

Bruce has been offered a place of safety with a dedicated rescue and sanctuary in Southern Ireland where he could legally live out the rest of his life but this offer has not so far been accepted by the court.

Bruce hasn't actually ever put a paw wrong; he is sentenced to death due to the way he looks and the fact that Northern Ireland has breed specific legislation for dogs found to resemble ‘pit bull types’. Law which has been widely criticised by all the leading animal welfare groups across the UK as being unworkable and pointless in that it does not actually 'protect the public'.

In a desperate attempt to save Bruce, owner Shannon Brown, supporters and neighbours have created petitions and videos resulting in support from Northern Ireland and worldwide to “Bring Bruce Home”. Dogs are part of our families as much as children. Please support your constituent - Bruce’s owner and add your voice to help defend Bruce.

As the plight of Bruce’s story travels, support for him and horror, disgust and anger against a law which permits the killing of an innocent dog based on its appearance is flooding in (for example please see http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/3045/eleventh-hour-mercy-plea-to-save-death-row-dog-bruce/ ) the world is now watching Northern Ireland and following the case.

I look forward to your view on the legislation and plea that you please support Bruce and bring this matter to the urgent attention of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Lady Sylvia Hermon MP
House of Commons, London SW1A OAA

Dear Lady Hermon MP

I am writing to you regarding your constituent Shannon-Leah Brown and her pet dog ‘Bruce’ who has been held in kennels for nearly two years as an alleged ‘pit bull type’.

The case is currently under appeal and Bruce has been ordered destroyed even though he has never harmed anyone or committed any crime.

I feel that a law which promotes the destruction of a friendly pet dog based on its appearance does not belong in a civilised country and should be repealed.

Laws should target irresponsible owners and breeders, not dogs. Breed specific law like that in the UK has been widely criticised and is known to be a complete waste of time and public funds, it does nothing to protect the public and is unworkable.

Please bring this issue up in Westminster as I feel it is of great interest to people across the world, thousands have been following the plight of Bruce and will continue to do so, all eyes are watching Northern Ireland and hoping that this terrible injustice against innocent dog Bruce as well as others just like him can be put right.

Dear Lady Hermon MP

I am writing to you regarding your constituent Shannon-Leah Brown and her pet dog ‘Bruce’ an innocent dog who has been sentenced to die and was due to be destroyed on Monday 6th July, until a last minute stay of execution was granted as legal proceedings are ongoing.

Bruce, a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was living happily with his family in Bangor, when on September 19th 2007 he was seized by council officials as an alleged “pit bull type” and taken to secluded kennels whilst his owner was taken to court for owning a banned type of dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act (Order) 1991. A trial was heard at Bangor Magistrates' Court on 27th August 2008 and the court determined that Bruce was “of type” despite the evidence from two expert identification witnesses who said he was not. Bruce was ordered destroyed devastating his family and supporters. He remains on ‘canine death row’.

Whilst incarcerated in kennels his family were allowed to visit Bruce in October 2007, Bruce had lost weight, muscle tone and had a cut to his muzzle. Five months later Bruce was allowed a second visit from his family in March 2008, they were shocked with what they found: The wound on Bruce's muzzle was larger and had become infected, he had to have his tail amputated, had open sores, was underweight and looked totally rejected, yet despite the clear pain he was in, is described by experts as being a friendly dog that poses no danger to the public.

Bruce has been offered a place of safety with a dedicated rescue and sanctuary in Southern Ireland where he could legally live out the rest of his life but this offer has not so far been accepted by the court.

Bruce hasn't actually ever put a paw wrong; he is sentenced to death due to the way he looks and I feel this is totally unacceptable. I would like to see the current breed specific legislation repealed.

In a desperate attempt to save Bruce, owner Shannon Brown, supporters and neighbours have created petitions and videos resulting in support from Northern Ireland and worldwide to “Bring Bruce Home”. Dogs are part of our families as much as children. Please support your constituent - Bruce’s owner and add your voice to help defend Bruce. (‘Saving Bruce’ video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aQLog460Io )

As the plight of Bruce’s story travels, support for him and horror, disgust and anger against a law which permits the killing of an innocent dog based on its appearance is flooding in (for example please see http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/3045/eleventh-hour-mercy-plea-to-save-death-row-dog-bruce/ ) the world is now watching Northern Ireland and following the case.

I look forward to your view on the legislation and plea that you please support Bruce and his owner and raise this issue in Westminster.

Yours sincerely

Please go to each one separately as the contact details will differ - Thank You!

1) Urgent Please for a Pardon/Intervention to Allow Export of Bruce to Eire - Template Here

3) Asking other organisations to call for a reprieve for Bruce & for him to be moved to the waiting rescue space in Southern Ireland - Template Here

Bruce Appeal - Letters:

Template Letters to send :

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