Global Noon News
June 19, 2004

Sophie Lui: A tug-of-war is brewing at the Delta SPCA this weekend over a dog that's been condemned to die. Bryan Grahn joins us from a rally that is just getting underway. What's going on Bryan?

Bryan Grahn: Well, supporters and dogowners have gathered outside the Delta SPCA here and they're rallying for a dog named Cheech who's a Rottweiler cross. He was supposed to be euthanized on Wednesday but supporters actually took him from the SPCA and have him in hiding right now. Now the supporters say that he shouldn't be euthanized because he doesn't pose a risk to the public. But managers here and animal behavior specialists say he is a risk to the public. One of the volunteers fighting to save Cheech is Amanda Muir. You may remember her. She used to be a full-time employee here at Delta SPCA and still is but is on medical leave because she was attacked by an injured guard dog last year. She suffered extensive injuries to her arms and hands and had to undergo multiple surgeries. That hasn't stopped her from continuing her work with injured dogs. Only this time managers here at the SPCA say her battle to save Cheech can't be won.

Nadine Gourkow (not Michelle Rodgers, the graphics were mistaken): The feeling was with Cheech that the rehabilitation he might need had very, very low chances of success, but even the success that might have happened wouldn't have been so he is actually healed. But that perhaps it could be managed, but that would be to a point where he would have to have a lot of restrictions such as being muzzled, being leashed, being things that really would have reduced his welfare.

Michelle Rodgers (not Nadine Gourkow -- the graphics were mistaken): We need to be responsible for the animals that we're rehoming and putting out into the community. We empathize with their stance and their situation however we need to, we need to be reliable when placing animals in the community and we need to ensure that they're safe so we don't have an incident where an animal does bite somebody.

Bryan Grahn: Now Barry McKinnon joins me. He volunteers at the SPCA and the managers obviously think that Cheech can't be rehabilitated. What do you guys think?

Barry McKinnon: This dog has been in the yard. He has never attacked me. I can play with the dog. I can walk him. He doesn't do a thing. I don't know how these people assess, this dog especially, but I have no problems with the dog at all, none at all.

Bryan Grahn: Neither have any of the other employees as well?

Barry McKinnon: No. They say they have a record of this dog nipping at people but he's never nipped me, never had any trouble with this dog at all, none at all.

Bryan: Now Delta Police are actually searching for this dog right now, but he is hiding. And, we'll have to get back to you on the later news for that.

Sophie: Thanks Bryan.