Police take pet away but online petition started for popular hound

A dog owner faces a court battle today to keep his beloved pooch alive after police confiscated the “friendly” hound.

Harry, a two-year-old staff/ridge-back/labrador cross was taken away in December over fears he was a dangerous breed.

Kyriacos Kyriacou, 59, says Harry is chipped, neutered, insured and registered at his home in Charteris Road, Finsbury Park – and that he and his other dogs Duchess and Boomboom are missing Harry like crazy while police run tests.

Mr Kyriacou, who is due at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court this morning, said: “I miss him very much, but Duchess is going spare. They have been playmates for her whole life, they sleep together, mess around together, everything.

“Harry’s so passive, everybody loves him. He’s such a friendly little sod.

“Of course I’m worried they might put him down. If they say he is an illegal breed who knows what they’ll do.

“And I’m worried about him being locked up in a strange place far away from home. He doesn’t know what a cage is.”

Other fans of the “fun-loving” dog have launched online petition calling on police to “Get Harry Home”.

One supporter, Amy Headley, said: “I am a pet lover and this type of dog is not a dangerous dog. Is there any evidence he is one of the dogs banned by the act?“

Mr Kyriacou, who rescued Harry from the streets as a puppy, said: “My cousin was taking him and Duchess to the park.

“At the bottom of the road a copper stopped him.

“I came down and asked what the problem was and the officer said ‘I’ve got no problem with the dog, he’s lovely. It’s just the breed’.”

“The took me to the police station and charged me with having a fighting dog. Harry’s registered to my own address, why would he be a fighting dog?

“Now he’s in a kennel and I have to go to court.”