Sutton man with learning difficulties facing losing dog and 'only companion' as he can't afford council release fees

A Sutton man with learning difficulties is facing losing his dog and ‘only companion’ because he cannot afford the fees to pay for his release from Ashfield District Council.
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Cheryl Wood’s brother Tony, 52, who has learning difficulties and has to use a mobility scooter, is fighting for the return of his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tank.

Tony took Tank for a walk through Sutton Lawn on Monday October 19 at around 5.30am, but Tank bolted after a fox and was later picked up by an Ashfield District Council dog warden and taken to kennels in Ilkeston.

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Now Tony can’t afford the release fee to get Tank back and Cheryl fears he will lose his beloved pet and only companion.

Tony Wood is trying to get Tank returned from the kennels.Tony Wood is trying to get Tank returned from the kennels.
Tony Wood is trying to get Tank returned from the kennels.

Tony adopted Tank almost five years ago, and this is the first time the dog has behaved in this way, according to Cheryl.

Cheryl, 53, who also lives in Sutton, said: “My brother Tony is disabled and has learning difficulties.

"He took the dog out on his mobility scooter to Sutton Lawn and it saw a fox and sprinted off after it, so Tony couldn’t find the dog.

Tank, a Staffordshire Bull TerrierTank, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tank, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
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"He found out through social media that the dog warden had picked him up and that’s how he found out it was in compound.

"Tony goes to take him at that time in the morning because there are no other dogs around and he lets him off the lead for a good runabout but he doesn’t leave Tony’s side, but it just went when it saw the fox.”

Now, Ashfield District Council are asking upwards of £100 for the return of the dog – and Cheryl says that Tony ‘cannot afford this kind of money’ and is on benefits.

Cheryl said: "On Monday I found where the dog was, and the council was fobbing me off with everything, they didn’t get back to me until 4pm the next day and said the amount he now has to pay has gone up by another £30.

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“They wanted £95, then left it another day which made it go up to £130 and he hasn’t got that kind of money. They said don’t worry about it we will hang on to the dog for 10 days but I made it clear that 10 days is no good. He can’t afford the dog after two days, so where is he going to get the money for 10 days?

"We are all struggling financially and my brother is on benefits, he can’t afford that kind of money.

"The council even asked me to lend him the money and I was shocked; I said I think that is quite rude, actually, to ask me to lend money.

"Tank is his only companion, that’s all he has got. We lost our dad years ago and he only has me now to rely on."

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Ashfield District Council have now responded, however, saying that that the reason Tony wasn’t contacted before Tank was taken to the kennels was because of the dog being ‘illegally chipped’.

They have also said that they offered for Tony to pay the amount in installments, rather than one lump sum, which they are aware could be quite a lot in one go.

Councillor John Wilmott, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, at the council said: “The council were made aware of a stray dog on Monday, October 19, which was collected and safely taken to a local kennels.

"The dog was illegally chipped with incorrect contact details so the owner could not be found. The owner (from Shirebrook) contacted the council three days later, at which point kennel fees had amounted to £95 – a fee the owner refused to pay.

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"Although an offer was made by the council to break the fee into smaller instalments, an agreement could not be made.

“It is a legal requirement to ensure your pet has up to date information on its microchip.

"It is also a legal requirement (under The Control of Dogs Order 1992) that dogs wear a collar and dog ID tag (with name and address or even an up to date telephone number) even if your dog is microchipped.”

Now Cheryl is worried Tank will be rehomed if Tony does not pay for him to be returned from the kennels in the next 10 days.

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Councillor John Wilmott said: “We do not like to kennel and rehome dogs and reuniting is always a preferable option for the dog and owners. Wardens make every effort to reunite dogs and had the dog had the correct information on its microchip the dog would have been reunited with its owner immediately upon collection.

“Should the fee remain unpaid by the owner, the dog will be rehomed by the kennels.”

Cheryl is concerned, however, that rehoming Tank may be an issue due to the lack of knowledge about his previous circumstances and living conditions.

Cheryl added: "Nobody knows what that dog has done in his life – nobody knows his background.

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"So if he’s going to be rehomed, what if that dog was placed in a family home and then attacked one of the children, who would be to blame for that?

"They have implied that they will rehome him, but whether they do it or not I don’t know.

"Dogs aren’t for Christmas, they are for life and they have taken a dog off my brother who wants it for life."

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.