Sussex woman saves 'dangerous' dog from being put to sleep

Toby, a pit bull terrier, was rehomed just three days before he was due to be put to sleep after Allie Green, from Horsham, found him a new owner.

The 11-year-old pooch is now “living his best life” with a new family in Oxfordshire.

Toby was rehomed with a family in Oxfordshire. Photographer: Gareth Millson

Toby arrived at a London rescue centre in June 2015 as a stray and staff soon established that he was registered Section One dog, identified by police as a pit bull terrier type.

His previous owner was traced and could no longer take care of him due to poor health.

Allie, who runs Draconian Dogs Act - a group that supports owners and keepers of prohibited types of dogs - arranged for Toby to be collected.

She said: “I would legally have 30 days to try and place him in a new home.

Toby after he was attacked

“If I wasn't successful, on the 31st day, Toby would have to be destroyed as the law only allows 30 days away from the registered owner. It was a real long shot to find a suitable home.

“Toby’s owner loved him but she was very poorly and was struggling to take care of him.

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“She explained that he was incredibly friendly but, due to her health, she couldn’t take good care of him and she was happy for me to try to find him a new keeper.”

Toby went to live temporarily in Horsham with Allie and her five other dogs - including two registered exempted pit bull terrier types - and her four children.

Toby has settled in with his her owner in Oxfordshire

She then found Toby a new home, however on the first night, he was attacked by his new owner’s older dog and was taken back to Horsham.

Allie said: “Toby's face was covered in deep gashes on both sides of his muzzle and around his eyes and it was clear he urgently needed a vet.

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“As a registered pit bull terrier type, Toby had to be muzzled at all times in public, including in the car. There are no exemptions to this so even though he was badly hurt we had to muzzle him.

“To try and protect his face we stuck sanitary towels around his bloodied muzzle. He was badly hurt, he had been through a lot that day and now we had to put a muzzle on him.

Toby and Gareth

“Despite the pain, he didn’t react once. He licked us as we covered his wounds. He’s such a gentle soul.”

Toby needed 15 stitches, while the dog that attacked him – a legal breed – was unharmed.

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Allie was running out of time and even made a call to the vet for Toby to be euthanised.

However, Allie then received a phone call from Gareth Millson, from Oxfordshire, who said he wanted to give Toby a home.

Toby was just three days away from being put down

Gareth said: “After hearing Toby’s story it didn’t take long for me to make the decision to take him; there was no way I could allow him to be put to sleep.

“I went to meet him, and he came home with me pending a decision from the magistrates’ court about whether a transfer of keepership would be possible.

“He was such a sweet dog, a little shy but he loved a cuddle. From day one he was a lapdog and would be as close to me as possible at all times.”

A transfer of keepership was approved in court and Gareth became Toby’s legal keeper.

Prior to March 2015, the ability to change keepership was far less restricted but a change in the law now means that you can only apply for a change of keepership for an exempted dog if the keeper dies, or is seriously ill.

Allie says the “ridiculous rule” means that “many good dogs” will have to be euthanised.

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