December 19, 2007

NEW YORK – It took a lot of fighting but a Hauppauge family couldn’t be any happier to get their dog back – after he spent fours years on death row.

Their 6-year-old pit bull terrier, Duke was put on death row for the allegedly mauling a neighbor’s dog in 2003. A few months earlier, Duke had been confined to his home after the same neighbor, Dominick Motta said that Duke and another dog chased his horse.

Owner Denise Menendez fought for her dog – she and others protested the court ordered euthanization of Duke since 2003, when he was incarcerated.

Attorney Amy Chaitoff represented the Menendez family telling the courts that state law did not allow euthanization in dog-on-dog attacks at the time of the second incident. They agreed.

Owner Denise Menendez said Duke will be confined to a crate indoors and an outdoor pen to comply with the 2003 court orders.

Menendez said her king of the castle will enjoy a steak dinner for his return home.

For more information regarding the dangerous dog law in New York, visit their Web site,public.leginfo.state.ny.us

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