A sample of Letters and Comments
Dear EDDR:

Cassie: 10yr old GSD prosecuted under DDA (Sec 3)

Thank you for all your help and support in our fight to save Cassie our GSD. If it wasn’t for you she would not be here with us now. A special thank you must go to Trevor Cooper our solicitor, who travelled all the way to Rotherham for the Court appearance.

Thanks also to Nick Mays, a local canine journalist for travelling from Doncaster to support us.

Dave, Carole, John, Nadia
& Cassie our dog.
Rotherham

My dog was taken when he was 3 years old; he was seized by eight police men in riot gear. He did what he usually does – he licked them.

We didn’t know what to do; the lawyers in Edinburgh didn’t really know what to do, with no knowledge of the DDA.

We managed to get the EDDR helpline number, they were great and put us in touch with lawyers and breed experts. They always gave us hope and told us not to give up.

In the beginning we thought we would never see our dog again.

We went to trial and there were two veterinary surgeons for the prosecution. They had invented a scoring system which they claimed conformed to the standards of the ‘pit bull’ breed.

Our expert witness for the defence was Danny Gilmore, he was brilliant, his world wide expertise was very impressive and was the key factor in our dog’s release, the court began to cheep up when they heard his evidence, the press were even laughing at some of his comments.

Meanwhile Lennie our dog was held at a local dogs home.

It was an immense relief to be acquitted and win Lennie his freedom. It took five days (in Court) to get Lennie back, the police refused to give him back, they asked about an Appeal but he was released the very next day.

Lennie is back to his usual self and he is fit and well.

We owe a great deal to Amanda and the EDDR for their help and support. We would never have coped.

Don’t give up for your dog’s life depends on you, be strong, as long as there is the EDDR there is a chance.

Thank you all

Darren, Lennie & his family
Scotland

At 1.50pm on Monday 19th January, a white station wagon parked in Hodges Bay and two men got out. It was a legalised killing by order of the Chief Vet.

The victim was our pet, not yet two years old, named Badger by our children and the pride and joy of my son Guy.

You couldn’t help but like him – once you got over his formidable appearance. He hadn’t grown up, he loved to frisk around and play. For anyone who approached him he would roll on his back to have his tummy scratched, his paws crooked in anticipation, his tongue lolling out.

These were not his only unusual qualities as he slept with our black cat, who must have been a parrot in a previous life as he loved to climb up and perch on your shoulder as he was carried around. Anyway they slept curled up together in the corner, or if Badger slept early, the cat, returning from its late prowls, would stretch out on his back.

Just six days previously our two year old granddaughter arrived from New York. She was not used to house pets and for the first couple of days made sure that she stayed beyond the reach of Badger as he was nearly as tall as her and he wanted to nuzzle and lick her. This didn’t stop her from asking repeatedly every day to visit Badger.

She was so fascinated by him and by the fifth day her Mum reported her riding him!

It was on this fateful sixth day, six hours before his death, that after breakfast with much cajoling from her, I took my granddaughter around to see Badger.

After some reticence she approached, patted and kissed him on the cheek. He blinked and shook himself and after my cheering and clapping she kissed him again. So what was the problem, what was his crime, why did he have to die?

His genes were his crime and under section 3(1) and (2) of the Dogs Act, Cap 140, all Pit Bull and Rottweilers also I am told, are to be exterminated. We pleaded suggesting alternatives, but no and no again the law had to be executed – literally. So with a lump in my throat, causing breaks in my voice, desperately trying to think of what I could do to save him, I untied Badger and put on his leash. Joy, my granddaughter was there to wave bye0byes as I walked him to the car, the officers having agreed not to shoot him on the premises.

So in the cassi, beside the dumped building debris and garbage, as I stroked him, keeping his head turned away from the Inspector with his rifle, Badger was shot through the top of his head, blowing his left eye out of its socket, blood poured as Badger sank slowly down, crumpling as I in my shock and deafness from the bang kept repeating “You’re free Badger – You’re free”.

There was a fractional calm, or was it emptiness as I felt for a pulse and finding none took off the lead. Then a wave of anger rose, bitter tears and I was stifling sobs, wanting to scream and lash out in my anguish at this obscene senselessness. Why does a fine animal have to be slaughtered – why? Who reported him and with what motives or reasons?

So I am writing this account hoping that others may be spared our sadness through ignorance of the law. Do be careful, if your neighbour bears a grudge, so they do not see your pet, as a Pit Bull or Rottweiler on Antiguan or Barbudan soil can be reported and shot on sight.

At least Badger is free of this madness that is today’s Antigua - it is we who must act to help reason prevail.

John Jurgensen
Antigua

Digger: Back home with family, saved from death under DDA

Dear Amanda & All at EDDR, Thank you for all your help in saving Digger. We will always think of you. God Bless Chris, Muriel & Digger XXX

I felt that I should write to express my immense gratitude to you and your organisation for your assistance in ensuring the safe return of my dog Barney a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

I can’t thank you enough for introducing me to Trevor Cooper because without him I am positive that the outcome of my case would have been entirely different.

(DDA Section Three later changed to Dogs Act 1871).

The outcome of these proceedings was that Barney was spared and place under a control order. During the afternoon of Friday 28th Jun I collected Barney from the Police Station.

Throughout this highly traumatic harrowing time, Trevor Cooper was a tower of strength offering advice and support. Trevor’s work during the Court proceeding was absolutely brilliant.

Kristyan

I can’t express how much your kind words, advice & support meant to me during our recent ordeal. (10 yr old Springer Spaniel Toby charged under DDA Sec 3, minor incident with Postman.)

Your help brought me back from the verge of panic on more than one occasion and helped me see rays of hope along the way, when the doors of despair seemed to be closing in on me.

I know you join in our happiness and delight at the successful outcome.

Now I am sane again with my lovely dog Toby by my side, I can offer to you and your team my support whenever and however you should need it.

I will keep in touch and let you know how things are and can only say again a big, big THANKS.

Beverley Watkins
Yorkshire

Ria: 6mths when DDA passed - has never really known any freedom.

Thank you for showing concern about Ria, I don’t feel now so alone with my problem (Ria is a registered under DDA & owner being victimised by landlord due to type of dog owned).
She was the runt of the litter and was not expected to survive, I went to see her and fell in love with her straight away. She had to be fed every two hours on a vets advice, this included during the night. She immediately took to the pillow on my bed at night.

Not knowing about the breed and with all the publicity at the time (1991) I did everything to stay within the law.

I realise now the mistake I made, I kept her a total prisoner, I was frightened to take her out for walks, partly because of many stray dogs roaming in my area, she had to be muzzled and would have no chance if another dog attacked her. I trained her which was very easy, she is an intelligent dog.

She became my world, when I wasn’t well on one occasion she did not leave my bed, only to have a drink, when I cried she would lick the tears from my cheeks as if she understood what I was going though. As I was on my own she was my security.

I would not part with her for the world. Dangerous Dogs Act-they must be joking, she has never even showed me her teeth!

I wish I could de-register her then I could do with her what I should have done in the beginning, take her for walks and get her better socialised with the world.

I don’t see why I should have problems from the council after all these years, I will not give her up, I raised her from a tiny pup and she has given me so much in return I don’t want to now let her down. I would be totally lost without her and my entire family think the world of her.

I do appreciate your concern and help, thank you once again.

Mrs Grindle
UK

Quinn: watching TV

Quinn: happy to be back home with his family.

‘Diolch Yn Fawr’ – ‘A Big Thank-You’ in Welsh:

Quinn was operated on (splenectomy) at our local vets.

We asked you to help us and our special dog, no one else would.

We can’t thank you enough for your generous help to pay for Quinn’s veterinary treatment; he has recovered well from his operation.

Thank you, again, for all your help.

Mr & Mrs Thomas
Wales

Thank you for your letter and enclosures. I am sending you a further donation to help with your work I send every encouragement to you in what you are doing and I am very grateful for the help you are giving to me.

Douglas Houghton
(An excerpt from one of several supportive letters received from the Rt. Hon. Lord Houghton of Sowerby CH – prior to him sadly passing away.)



I don’t know how to start to thank you for your support during the past seven weeks.

You were the first people I contacted after ‘Sophie’, my dog, was seized. It was very reassuring to know that you were there to answer my questions I had, or just chat.

Cllr John Branch (Renowned expert) visited and examined Sophie, his report was left that day with the officer, the following day, Sophie was released!

She is in good health but a little confused and I am sure she will soon be back to her old self.

I am one of the lucky ones, Sophie was away for weeks not months or even years, but it was still too long.

Thank you

A. Beecham
Lincolnshire

I can’t begin to thank you for the support, advice and letters and phone calls, the list is endless! (DDA Sec 1 case, ‘Ria’ seized and held for a year before being returned to owner.) If I didn’t speak to you, I wouldn’t have known where to start! When I look back it seems a lifetime ago.

My special thanks to Joanna Mason (SBT Rescue & anti- DAA campaigner) who also advised and helped me throughout).

Katrina Smythe
West Sussex

Here is a photo of my two dogs who were both seized under the DDA during a police ‘round-up’, during which 16 dogs were taken from their owners in raids across Scotland.

The Sheriff admitted in Court that ‘Penny’ had been a “well natured dog” and was “well looked after” but he said he was “bound” to order her destruction. That was what the law stated.

Penny was described as “overtly friendly” by the local vet but a vet acting for the prosecution explained how she had devised and used her own score sheet for gauging whether or not a dog was’ of the type’.

Penny had scored 102 points; the minimum to kill a dog was 78.

Penny’s owners
Scotland

Many, many thanks for your rely to my enquiry on your organisation. I was amazed to receive the information you sent. I did not imagine that so many registered ‘pit bull terriers’ have the option of being re-homed. I assumed through legislation the dogs would be destroyed. I was wrong. It was great to see so many faces that remind me of ‘Chester’.

Chester MacSacraggins was, and still is his name. He was the runt of the litter at 8 weeks old. He was the last advertised pup in our area, as animal abuse was so rife, the local press wouldn’t advertise any more. Up to the age of 14 months he cost us about £3,000 in damage. He often enjoyed the taste of our new MG Metro and our inherited furniture from granny. I was a social worker and would often pass my house during the day when out working. On many occasions I would see Chester at the window shaking and tearing my lounge curtains down, or his outward gaze with protruding houseplants from his mouth.

As you have guessed he didn’t like his own company. It got so bad that we contacted a man, a breeder. He said, quite confidently, that in a few more months he would be of an age and the destruction would just stop over night. He reassured us we would be able to leave him alone without it looking like a bombsite when we returned. True to his word and with the beginnings of a kennel framework going up outside; it stopped. The calming of hormones, the comfort of the settee and a ‘Chester sized’ mug of tea had won!

Then came the new legislation and the operation date was imminent. Reluctantly, we took him to our local vets for the snip, the tattoo and the microchip technology.

The days of running free and chasing his Frisbee could only be memories.

The bad press stigmatised us as owners and mums held their kids close when we passed; despite the muzzle.

However, we felt Chester coped quite well with the change. The odd treat of visiting a friend with lots of private land and a few hundred rabbits to chase seemed to cheer him up now and again.

A few years passed and we thought Chester looked a bit fed up. We decided that a little playmate might do the trick. So, Snoop came along, an 8 week old Border Collie pup. Two snorts on Snoops belly from Chester and they were buddies for life. Not once did he turn on Snoop. The little pup run him ragged, hung from his jowls, pinched his bones Chester loved it. 15 months passed and Chester took another 14 months rescue collie ‘Jess’ under his wing, one ‘belly snort’ later and she could stay too. The toleration and patience of this dog had to be seen to be believed.

Then, he began to cough and get out of breath when he chased Snoop up the stairs.

Very confidently, the vet diagnosed Kennel Cough. But, Chester didn’t respond to the treatment. An emergency appointment and X-ray showed he had Congenital Heart Disease. His heart was so big’ it nearly filled his chest. The diagnosis some how fitted his nature. We were told he had bout 2 weeks to live. But, a new type of medication and diet was on the market that gave us hope. One week later, we had a new dog! Chester made leaps and bounds. And guess what? Another knock on our gate 4 months later, yet another abused Border Collie. This time it was ‘Blue’. Chester barged Blue in the chest, this time a new greeting and we guessed that meant he could stay as well.

In total, we had Chester 10 more months. We sold our car and spent our savings to keep him alive. It was nothing special what we did, anyone reading this would have done the same. He finally died in our arms. We kept him in our spare room, with a vigil of flowers, candles and incense burning for 3 days. He was laid in a special bed that we made. We loved, hugged, cried and spoke to him in our last days together, whilst my husband and his friend prepared a grave which was to become our herb garden with a seat close by.

Snoop has never been the same, Jess survived, but Blue became remarkably like Chester in his ways and manner within 5 hours of Chester’s death. So, depending on what your beliefs are, we still think a part of Chester is very much with us.

In memory of Chester and his relationship with Snoop I am hoping to finish my first children’s novel about ‘The Adventures of Chester MacScraginn’s and 2-Snoops McKenzie’, in the near future.

Thank you for listening.

Amanda
Notts.

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