Newport Magistrates' Court (Image: Shibin Shaji)
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An XL Bully has been ordered to be put down after magistrates ruled its owner was not a fit and proper person to be in charge of the animal.
The application
Gwent Police brought the case to Newport Magistrates’ Court seeking the destruction of the dog, named Nova, owned by 36-year-old Dean O’Keefe, of no fixed abode.
The force argued that Nova is an XL Bully falling under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and that the dog would pose a danger to the public.
The ruling
Magistrates were satisfied on all three grounds put forward by the prosecution – that Nova is a banned breed, that the dog represented a public safety risk, and that O’Keefe was not a fit and proper person to have charge of the animal.
The court granted the destruction order and ruled that O’Keefe must pay Gwent Police £3,762.50 in costs.
Nova will be destroyed unless an appeal is lodged within 21 days.
