Condemned dog’s kennels bill goes through the woof
Animal rights group spends £10k on boarding
Campaigners for a death- row dog have spent more than £10,000 on kennel fees in the past two years.
Bullmastiff Eva was ordered to be destroyed af ter she at tacked a six- month- old Labrador and bit the pup’s owner as she walked her son to nursery.
The animal has been in private boarding in Ayrshire since January 2018, two months after a court ordered her to be put down.
Eight-year-old Eva’s former owner Moira Hunter, who was banned from owning dogs for five years, is allowed to visit her once a week.
The case was taken up and funded by a n ima l r ight s group Fighting
Aga i nst Breed
Specific Legislation, which has lodged a series of legal actions to stop her being put down and paid for Eva’s kennel fees, which are £195 per fortnight.
The legal team acting for the group said a final decision on Eva’s fate has been delayed by last month’s general election and the UK Government’s struggle to finalise Brexit.
Spokeswoman Gill Henderson said: “There’s no cost to the public for looking after Eva – it’s all being paid for privately.
“We bel ieve there were significant errors in the evidence presented against Eva. In our opinion, she wasn’t given a fair trial. We have statements from four animal behaviourists who say Eva is not a danger to the public.”
In Scotland, the power to recommend a royal pardon is devolved to the Scott ish Government.
The dog’s supporters wrote to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf last year, urging him to ask the Queen to pardon Eva.
Law graduate Jacob Cohen, Eva’s legal representative, said: “We’ve been told there has been a delay in reaching a decision over a royal pardon because of the election and Brexit.
“We believe that Eva has suffered an injustice. She is not dangerous to humans.
“The sheriff who sentenced Eva could have considered other options such as retraining, new ownership or preventative measures such as muzzling.”
Hunter, 58, of Kilmarnock, was walking Eva when the dog went out of control in Hurlford,
Ayrshire, in December 2016. Lynsey Beck, 37, needed stitches for bite wounds and her labrador Harley required vet treatment. The incident also traumatised her young son Cody.
The sheriff’s decision to have Eva put down was referred to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which referred the case to the High Court. Appeal judges last year backed the sheriff’s original order.
Eva’s legal team then asked for a pardon. It is believed to be the first time one has been requested for an animal.
MSPs have branded dog control laws as “not f it for purpose” and called for a review.
The Scottish Government said: “We have received a request for a pardon and this is under consideration.”