Dog saved from a death sentence (Dangerous Dogs Act)

Tyson, an American pit bulldog, was ordered to be smashed by West London Magistrates Court in 2004 - even though he had done not anything immoral.

Tyson's owner, Faye Ashman, was found guilty on three counts of allowing a dog to be in a open place without a silence or lead, contrary to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Before departure court Mrs. Ashman, from Hammersmith in west London, told senior judges: "You have condemned my dog to death - my innocent dog. You let paedophiles go free, but not my innocent dog."

An appeal against the sentence, which was described as "unnecessary euthanasia" by the RSPCA, failed in 2004 - leaving Tyson facing a death sentence. But a second appeal was heard at Black friars Crown Court last October and a case of "ruff justice" was overturned when Tyson was reprieved.

Tyson's ownership now transfers to Juliet Glass, who runs a helpline for dog owners who fall foul of the Dangerous Dogs Act, and she will collect the dog today."Mrs. Ashman's barrister contacted us four years ago and we agreed to take on Tyson," Mrs. Glass said."We also wrote to the court asking him to spare his life. We presented references from three veterinarians, the RSPCA and a Member of Parliament."We have insured and registered the dog, and we finally got the OK from the police to collect him last week.

"He'll be home in time for Christmas so it is a very happy ending. He's going to have a wonderful life down in Devon by the seaside. "But we're changing his name to Larry. We think it is a bit more subtle than Tyson, which kind of sends out the wrong signal about the dog. "He's a fat old boy now, with bad teeth, but we're looking forward to seeing him."