No More 'Ruff' Justice for Tyson

Pitbull released from 'death row'

A friendly pitbull from Hammersmith has escaped execution and will be home for Christmas after a decision for him to be destroyed under the Dangerous Dogs Act was overturned at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Now Tyson will be home for Christmas with a new name and a new life.

Tyson, an American pit bull, was ordered to be destroyed by West London Magistrates Court in 2004 - even though he had done nothing wrong.

His owner, Faye Ashman, was convicted on three counts of allowing a dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead, contrary to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.

Before leaving court Mrs Ashman, from Hammersmith, 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 Blackfriars Crown Court last October and Tyson was reprieved.

December 20, 2007