Animals In Need Liverpool

Many of our supporters will remember the story of Rocky, a young X Breed who was seized from charity, Animals In Need (AIN) rescue centre 13 months ago. Rockys crime was that he appeared to the authorities to have substantial characteristics of a pit bull type. Rocky had not hurt anyone nor shown any aggression .

Fran Ellis, founder of Animals in Need, was charged under section one of the Dangerous Dogs Act and Rocky was taken from the rescue kennels to police appointed kennels. For the next 13 months Rocky was held at tax payers expense while AIN prepared to fight for his life. On Tuesday 19th January, Rockys case was heard. The Defence argued that Rocky was not a banned breed but lost and Rocky was deemed a banned breed. However the Judge felt that Rocky posed no danger and has allowed him to go home as a registered pit bull type.

13 months incarcerated, hundreds possibly thousands of tax payers money, time and heartache for all the rescuers hoping to save rockys life...all for a dog who never hurt anyone.

Rocky will now have to live his life out wearing a muzzle and being kept onlead in public but he WILL live. Maybe in his lifetime this ineffective, costly piece of legislation will be repealed and Rocky will finally be allowed to run free again.

The district judge gave all three defendants Fran Ellis, owners Harry & Judy Groves an absolute discharge and told them that they left the court with no stain on their character and would not be made to pay court costs.

Fran and Rocky