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  • "This story upsets my family, I say my family because Michelle is my sister. Before all of you narrow minded people who have nothing better to do than slag people off, start your cyber bullying rant on a story that you know nothing about let me educate you.... Firstly everyone is intitled to their own opinion, once they know the facts...the facts are my sister 'the chav' as you so put it, comes from a £25,000 a term private boarding school, paid for my my mother, she went onto further her private education at college studing and passing animal welfare courses and trained to be a vetinarys assistant, because of her deafness she couldnt qualify to be a vet, only an assistant. her looking abit rough might have something to do with the fact see gave birth to my beautiful nephew two days before this picture was taken, at home, on her own, whilst the midwife took 45 minutes to get there..AFTER the baby was born! Debo is a much loved family pet, as the title states Debo is not a dangerous dog, there is no mention here as to why there were 11 court appearances, there were 11 because my sister was fighting to get Debo back...I would be the first person to stop my sister if she had a dangeous dog, no court in this land can take away from her how much she adores animals or how much she adores her two children... just like there would be no court in the land that would GIVE BACK a dangeous dog and to someone that apparantly used them for fighting??? are you kidding me...likkie thank u for your support, maybe you were there? maybe you know the truth? James Pepper, that isnt your real name we all know that, you were in court, print the truth not what you think will sell stories, unfortunately this story of Debo being a dangeous dog came from a neighbour who did not like the fact that Debo barked, Debo barked because my sister cant here the door go, just like a blind person uses a guide dog to see, Debo was/is Michelles ears when Don isnt home, our four year old neice missed him like crazy.... feet, coat, eyes and tail made up the 60 odd percent...but a blood test RULED otherwise!!! and Debos coming home.......I rest my case!"
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Couple convicted despite pitbull 'not being a pitbull'

8:34am Wednesday 14th March 2012 in News By James Pepper

Couple convicted despite pitbull 'not being a pitbull' Couple convicted despite pitbull 'not being a pitbull'

What makes a "dangerous dog" dangerous?

The ambiguity surrounding the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was highlighted this week when a couple were found guilty of possessing a fighting dog.

Despite a vet who has examined "thousands" of pitbull terriers telling Croydon Magistrates the dog in question was "not a pitbull", Donald Brooker and Michelle Bignall were sentenced on March 8.

Brooker and his hard of hearing partner Michelle Bignall, were making their eleventh appearance in court following their arrest on October 22 2010.

The couple, of Hulverstone Close, Sutton, heard defence witness Duncan Davidson tell the court their dog, Debo, achieved "one of the lowest scores I have ever seen for a section 1 dangerous dog."

Against the American Dog Breeders Association standard, a way of identifying a dangerous dog, Debo scored only 63 out of 100, 100 being pure pitbull but a score of 85 is a "good pitbull", according to Mr Davidson.

Mr Davidson, a veterinary surgeon of nearly 40 years, and an expert in pitbull identification after the influx of the dogs into the country in the late 1970's, said he was not surprised when the dog achieved such a low score.

He told the court how Debo was "basically a nice dog". He said: "This is not a section 1 dog in my view. This is probably the lowest scoring dog which has been seized for a very long time."

Prosecutor John Gardner argued the dog, although its muzzle was less than half the length expected of a dog its size, was indeed a pitbull terrier.

He told magistrates it was a pitbull because its feet, coat, eyes and tail were similar to that of a pitbull and was critical of Mr Davidson's marking system.

The couple were told that within two months Debo must be neutered, tattooed, micro chipped and have 3rd party insurance.

Donald Brooker was ordered to pay £100 and given a conditional discharge for 12 months, Bignall was ordered to pay £200 and also given a conditional discharge for 12 months.

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