Vicki
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This article posted on August 11, 2009 at 11:30 am
An illegal Japanese fighting dog found by police at a Black Country home is believed to be the first of its kind seized in Britain for nearly 20 years.
Qamar Shamim stuck two fingers up outside court after admitting possession of the banned Japanese Tosa, described by police dog handlers as the strongest dog they had ever had on a lead. Shamim also pleaded guilty to keeping two more banned breeds, both pitbull type dogs, following a raid at his home in Edgbaston Road, Smethwick.
Officers seized 13 animals from back garden kennels at the property last December, three of which were found to be prohibited breeds, while the rest were all legal dogs including bulldogs, Rhodesian ridgebacks and Staffordshire bull terriers.
It is thought the Japanese Tosa, which was kept in a smaller kennel away from the other dogs, was imported from a breeder in Tennessee, USA, Warley Magistrates Court heard.
Shamim, aged 31, had pleaded not guilty to the charges but changed his plea yesterday after independent reports commissioned by his own legal team confirmed the three animals were all illegal breeds.
Mr Peter Love, prosecuting, said it was believed the Japanese Tosa was the first of its breed identified in the UK since they were outlawed under the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991.
He said police dog handlers were used to identify the three illegal dogs, with one of the officers describing the Tosa as the strongest dog he had ever had on a lead. “It was described as a well-muscled dog, extremely powerful, with strength that belies even a dog of its size,†he said.
Mr Shabeer Qureshi , defending, said the Tosa was good natured and placid and the police looking after it had developed “an affection†for the animal.
“This isn’t a case where my client is guilty of having banned breeds that are dangerously out of control,†he said. Shamim was due to be sentenced today. It has not yet been decided what will happen to the dogs.
http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/08/11/man-admits-keeping-banned-tosa/
An illegal Japanese fighting dog found by police at a Black Country home is believed to be the first of its kind seized in Britain for nearly 20 years.
Qamar Shamim stuck two fingers up outside court after admitting possession of the banned Japanese Tosa, described by police dog handlers as the strongest dog they had ever had on a lead. Shamim also pleaded guilty to keeping two more banned breeds, both pitbull type dogs, following a raid at his home in Edgbaston Road, Smethwick.
Officers seized 13 animals from back garden kennels at the property last December, three of which were found to be prohibited breeds, while the rest were all legal dogs including bulldogs, Rhodesian ridgebacks and Staffordshire bull terriers.
It is thought the Japanese Tosa, which was kept in a smaller kennel away from the other dogs, was imported from a breeder in Tennessee, USA, Warley Magistrates Court heard.
Shamim, aged 31, had pleaded not guilty to the charges but changed his plea yesterday after independent reports commissioned by his own legal team confirmed the three animals were all illegal breeds.
Mr Peter Love, prosecuting, said it was believed the Japanese Tosa was the first of its breed identified in the UK since they were outlawed under the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991.
He said police dog handlers were used to identify the three illegal dogs, with one of the officers describing the Tosa as the strongest dog he had ever had on a lead. “It was described as a well-muscled dog, extremely powerful, with strength that belies even a dog of its size,†he said.
Mr Shabeer Qureshi , defending, said the Tosa was good natured and placid and the police looking after it had developed “an affection†for the animal.
“This isn’t a case where my client is guilty of having banned breeds that are dangerously out of control,†he said. Shamim was due to be sentenced today. It has not yet been decided what will happen to the dogs.
http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/08/11/man-admits-keeping-banned-tosa/
