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| Amnesty nets 86 'dangerous' dogs | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| More than 80 illegally-held dogs have been taken in by Merseyside Police during a dangerous dogs amnesty. | |
| Nine of the 86 animals will be subject to a court decision on their future. In all police received 603 inquiries during the week-long initiative. | |
| It was launched to give owners of illegal dog breeds the opportunity to hand in their pets without being prosecuted. | It was launched to give owners of illegal dog breeds the opportunity to hand in their pets without being prosecuted. |
| Owners of banned dogs have until midnight to hand them over. | Owners of banned dogs have until midnight to hand them over. |
| The amnesty covers pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brazileiro breeds, which are banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. | The amnesty covers pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brazileiro breeds, which are banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. |
| If owners choose not to hand them over voluntarily by the time the amnesty ends they will have their animals seized and could also face a £5,000 fine and six months imprisonment. | If owners choose not to hand them over voluntarily by the time the amnesty ends they will have their animals seized and could also face a £5,000 fine and six months imprisonment. |
| 'Safety first' | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Helen King, of Merseyside Police, said: "We understand that it has been a very difficult decision for many people to part with their animals. | |
| "We are grateful to all of you for putting the safety of your children and the people of Merseyside ahead of the affection for your dog. | |
| "Our dog handlers and dog identification officers have spent a lot of time with owners and approached each visit with great sensitivity." | |
| Anyone calling Merseyside Police after the amnesty will be assessed on a case to case basis. | |
| The amnesty follows the death of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was fatally mauled by a dog on New Year's Day. | The amnesty follows the death of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was fatally mauled by a dog on New Year's Day. |
| Ellie was killed by her uncle's pit bull terrier at her grandmother's house in St Helens. He was questioned over the attack but not arrested. | Ellie was killed by her uncle's pit bull terrier at her grandmother's house in St Helens. He was questioned over the attack but not arrested. |