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(CBS) RONKONKOMA A small crowd gathered outside the First District Court in Ronkonkoma on Thursday to rally behind a pit bull scheduled to be put down for apparently attacking two dogs and a horse three years ago. Residents are pushing for a stay of execution, asking lawmakers to save the life of "Duke," who has been kept behind bars at a local shelter since the 2003 attacks in which his owners say he's been wrongfully accused.
Denise Menendez, who lives in the Islip Township in Hauppauge, owns
Duke and called upon friends, family, and other citizens to help set
him free. Duke was blamed for the attacks of two dogs in October 2003
and a horse in December 2003, belonging to one of Menendez's bordering
neighbors, but Menendez claims Duke isn't the guilty dog.
They had even built a pen to keep him confined to their home, but
it was too late: A judge ruled that Duke be taken into custody and
later euthanized for the bite incident.
"I don't want him to be killed. I'm just trying to raise public
awareness to try to get a new case opened," Menendez told CBS
2 News.
But those who know Duke the best argue he's far from the typical rap
that pit bulls get as vicious and dangerous canines. Even those at
the town shelter where he remains say he's a model pooch: calm, quiet,
and friendly.
"I have been taking care of Duke the whole two-and-a-half years
he has been here. He's so gentle and so great with the children,"
said Mary Cupp, who works at the shelter.
Duke's advocates are arguing that he was sentenced under an incorrect
application of agricultural law because he allegedly bit a dog, and
not a human.
"I think the dog is being crucified for it's breed," said
Bob Sowers of the Nassau County SPCA. "Unfortunately the American
pit bull has an extremely bad reputation."
Animal trainers have been brought in to evaluate Duke's behavior and
say he passed with flying colors, winning them over with his upbeat
and gentle personality.
In the meantime, the order for Duke to be lethally injected remains
in effect, and until a judge removes the order, Duke's family and
friends will continue to fight for justice and his eventual freedom.
To visit the website supporting Duke, click
here
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