Tears all round as another London DDA dog is returned home:
A north London Police station was recently the scene for an emotional reunion between dog owners Ana Quesada and Neil Macey who were reunited with their pet dog Coco on Monday 14th April.
Coco, a 6yr old family pet had been seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) legislation and held as a suspected unregistered pit bull type. Coco was later breed identified by the Metropolitan Police and her case was put before Thames Magistrates Court under section 4b of the Act. Following a brief hearing the court decided that Coco didn’t represent a danger to the public and ordered she be registered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs and allowed home.
Neil and Ana had first met Coco on the 4th November 2007 at their home when Neil was putting rubbish bags outside one Sunday morning and she ran into the house through an open front door. They reported her as found, taking her to Hackney Central Police Station where she was logged down as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, she was scanned for a microchip but one wasn’t present. Neil and Ana decided to register themselves as finders and waited to see if an owner came forward. A previous owner later made contact but he himself had only had Coco for a limited time having taken her in from another owner who had bred numerous litters of puppies from her and no longer wanted her. After further discussions, Neil and Ana were asked if they could care for Coco and they jumped at the chance to become Coco’s new owners as both were besotted by her gentle nature.
All was well until Coco was seized on the 11th February 2008 from her owner; Ana had taken Coco on the train to Hampstead Heath for a walk, both were on their way home after an enjoyable day out. Local Police were carrying out an anti-knife operation at the London train station with a temporary metal detector set up, as Ana walked through the barriers she was called back by a Police dog handler who was part of the operation. He questioned what type of dog Coco was, Ana became upset as she didn’t understand what was going on and telephoned her partner Neil who arrived at the train station, they were told that Coco was a ‘lovely dog’ but that she may be a prohibited type and that a court would decide her fate.
After waiting for an hour on the pavement, with passers-by looking on and the police making a fuss of Coco and feeding her biscuits, Coco was placed in the back of a van and taken away. Neil and Ana made their way home distraught and not knowing if they would ever again see their special girl Coco. A few days later they contacted the Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue and Deed Not Breed who both gave assistance and support.
It would be an emotional sixty three days before they would be back together and tears all round, yet again, as another London DDA dog was returned home. Coco came home with some scarring on her muzzle, her owners received no ‘aftercare’ sheet and are asking for her health records, she enjoyed a bath and Ana has stayed with her to help settle her in.
Information provided by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), in February this year, in reply to a Freedom of Information request, stated that the Met. Police were holding 119 dogs under Section One of the DDA.
On February 18th west London dog owner John Roggers had his four year old pet dog Tye returned exempted. Tye was seized from his home on the 26th November 2007 when police arrived at his door at 7am in the morning. Three other dogs were left but Tye was removed as a suspected pit bull type causing great distress to the family including the children who couldn’t understand why their Tye had been taken away and were screaming that he should stay with them. John Roggers telephoned one of the EDDR help-lines and was given advice and support throughout; he telephoned the police almost every day at one point as he couldn’t bear to think of his dog, who he had owned from a puppy, in a kennel situation, he also contacted Superintendent Simon Ovens of the Met. Police who monitors the welfare of seized dogs and gained an update regarding his dog’s condition which helped put his mind at rest for a limited time.
Appearing before Ealing Magistrates Court charged under Section One of the DDA, John Roggers pleaded guilty to owning an un-registered dog, his family collected statements from neighbours and their vet, a petition was signed by locals who know Tye, the local MP raised questions and the young children sent in their own letters asking for their dog ‘to be allowed to come home as he is a good boy’. Met. Police Breed Identification expert Sgt. McPharland gave evidence at the hearing and explained to the court that Tye is of good temperament, the court was leaning towards destruction, just to be safe, but after a vigorous nerve wracking debate, with desperate owner John on the edge of his seat, the court decided, with the help of evidence given by Sgt. McPharland, to spare the life of Tye and ordered him registered. It was a great relief for all concerned. Tye was later returned home fully exempted ending eighty five days of incarceration which had been an absolute nightmare for his family.
London dog owner Richard Webb had his dog Gem, seized from him whilst out exercising in a Camden park with his two other dogs on 29th November 2007. Held as a prohibited type, a Metropolitan Police expert described Gem as ‘placid and gentle’ before Uxbridge Magistrates Court who ordered her registered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs. The Police expert agreed to visit the kennels on the afternoon of the court hearing to personally relay information on Gem’s condition and provide a photograph for her owner. Gem was returned on the 7th February ending an upsetting 71 days enforced separation from her anguished family.
In answer to a Parliamentary Question on 22nd January 2008, the Government provided information showing that in the Greater London area, a total of 71 dogs were added to the Index of Exempted Dogs in 2007.
Information provided by the MPS in reply to a Freedom of Information request revealed between 1st November 2006 and 1st November 2007, the Met. Police seized 270 dogs under Section One of the DDA.
written by danny