CTV News at Six
June 16, 2004

CTV:Bill Good: From a kidnapped whale to a kidnapped dog. His name is Cheech. He's a young Rottweiller -- Black Labrador mix. And tonight a plan to put him down is causing a dogfight between staff and management at an SPCA shelter in Delta. Renu Bakshi is there live.

CTV:Renu Bakski: It's quite a dogfight. Volunteers and some employees have been suspended over Cheech, but they say it's worth it if they can save him. Cheech is only a few months old but he's lived a lifetime.

SPCA:Amanda Muir: His first home was very abusive.

CTV:Renu Bakshi: The Delta SPCA took from his owner in April. He's been in their custody ever since. Employees and volunteers fell in love with him, but they just found out he was scheduled to be destroyed today. SPCA management says he's vicious.

SPCA:Amanda Muir: He's wonderful with other dogs. He's extremely playful. He loves women and he just has.....he's a very affectionate guy.

CTV:Renu Bakshi: She should know. Amanda Muir almost lost both of her arms when a Rottweiller attacked her last year. The SPCA hailed her for being a hero for saving others. Now she's in a dogfight with the animal shelter.

SPCA:Amanda Muir: He's gone from a dog that was cowering in kennel to this, and if this is what can happen in a shelter in that short period of time just imagine how much more could happen if he went to a home where he was loved and worked with.

SPCA:Bruce (SPCA worker): I've got to take him with me.

CTV:Renu Bakshi: But later this afternoon Cheech's friends refused to give him up to the SPCA. They kidnapped him.

Female Voice: (putting him in the car) I'm trying to save your life here.

CTV:Renu Bakshi: The SPCA has now turned the matter over to Delta police. Ironically, these women came to the shelter to adopt Cheech today.

ADOPTER:Jan: He was not aggressive with us at all. I've been brought up on a farm and animals my whole life and so has my daughter, and we have been training animals our whole lives, all different kinds, and we know the aggression in each animal and Cheech doesn't have that.

CTV:Renu Bakshi: The volunteers who have Cheech right now admit that he does have some insecurities born from his early days when he was abused. They just want a chance to train him to overcome those insecurities and they say after that if that doesn't work they will turn him over to be put down. But until then they say they will keep him. I've just recently heard that Amanda and her friends could possibly be charged for taking this dog.

CTV:Bill Good: So Renu, does the order to destroy Cheech still stands?

CTV:Renu Bakshi: That order still stands, but they'll have to find him first.

CTV:Bill Good: Renu Bakshi reporting tonight from the SPCA shelter in Delta.