Death row B.C. pit bulls get stay of execution
Updated: Thu Aug. 28 2008 18:10:46

ctvbc.ca

Three pit bulls, which are literally sitting on death row in Surrey, B.C., have been granted a reprieve, after a group of dog lovers hired a lawyer in the hope that the dogs will be spared.

Having recently seized the dogs following a string of recent attacks in Surrey, and on Vancouver Island, the SPCA was in Surrey Provincial court Thursday trying to have the dogs destroyed. But the case was put over until next spring after the dog lovers intervened.

"Our hope is we can get an expert in to look at the dogs, and if they can be rehabilitated, place them in good homes so that they don't have to be killed,'' said Kirk Tousaw, the lawyer acting for the dog lovers.

Meanwhile, Hal Harris, the owner of the pit bulls, is facing 24 bylaw charges, relating to the three dog attacks in Surrey. In one of the attcks, a white poodle was ripped apart and died.

If he is convicted of the bylaw infractions, Harris faces fines of up to $5,000 per dog.

Harris was in court Thursday to try to prevent his pit bulls from being put down.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Carrie Stefanson.