Potentially killer Pit Bulls spared death by Wolverhampton court

Police seized Pit Bull Terriers Tyra and Rico from the Bilston home of Johdie Harris on February 17, Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard.

Officers took the animals as they suspected they may be subject to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which prohibits people from owning dogs bred for fighting and those that are considered specifically dangerous breeds.

But although owning Pit Bull Terriers is banned under the legislation, Deputy District Judge Derek French ruled the dogs could be exempted from the Act on the grounds that they are no threat to public safety.

The court was told that Mr Harris, aged 42, had owned and bred Pit Bull Terriers since he was a teenager and looked after Tyra and Rico with his 16-year-old son Ethan.

Mrs Kate Somerfield, a dog legislation officer for West Midlands Police, told the court: "The dogs are considered part of the family and since they were seized the owner has been in regular contact with us to check on their welfare.

"He informs me he plans to install a designated dog enclosure at his property, the materials for which were on site when we last visited.

"This is an unusual case in that as much as we are presented with two dogs that could be considered dangerous, I am of the opinion that both owners are very responsible and that the dogs do not pose any danger to the public."

Deputy District Judge Derek French placed both dogs on the Index of Exempted Dogs, meaning their owners are allowed to keep the dogs provided they are neutered, micro-chipped, kept on a lead at all times when in public and kept in a secure place.

Addressing the judge, Mr Harris said: "The dogs am well looked after, mate. They ay no danger to anyone. I am a responsible owner."

If the dogs had been ruled as dangerous they could both have been destroyed.

The owners of dogs on the banned list, which also includes the Japanese Tosa and the Fila Brasiliero breeds, can be fined up to £5,000 and handed a six month jail term.