Is it all just a case of mistaken identity?
A dog owner in Metro Detroit says city officials are threatening to take away his newly adopted dog, all because the dog’s breed was misidentified in a photo that swept the internet by storm.
“Sir Wiggleton” sat in a shelter for almost 100 days waiting for someone, anyone to make him a part of their family. On Monday, his dreams came true when local musician Dan Tillery made it official and adopted the dog, now named Diggy.
When the two met, they instantly became best friends. Staff at Detroit Dog Rescue knew this was a match made in heaven, so they snapped a photo of the grinning best friends and posted it to Facebook, saying “We know this photo is going to break the internet and we apologize, but we had to share.”
And were they ever right. The photo quickly went viral, spreading across the internet and reaching a national television audience.
But it also drew the eyes of officials in Waterford Township, where Tillery lives. The township has an ordinance banning pit bull breed dogs and when officials saw the photo, they apparently assumed Diggy was a pit bull.
On Thursday afternoon, just days after Diggy moved in, police reportedly showed up on Tillery’s doorstep and asked to see the dog. The officers allegedly told Tillery they had received multiple phone calls alleging the dog was a pit bull, therefore violating the city ordinance.
“Based on their visual inspection” alone, two officers concluded Diggy was a pit bull, according to the Detroit Dog Rescue, and told Tillery he would have to get rid of the dog.
The dog rescue is standing behind Tillery, who registered and obtained a proper license for Diggy shortly after he was adopted. The rescue and Tillery say Diggy is an American Bulldog, not a pit bull, and they have supporting adoption papers from the City of Detroit Animal Control and Welfare and their veterinarian who all confirm the dog’s breed.
The group is holding a news conference Friday afternoon to prove Diggy’s breed by showing his paperwork.
Waterford Township police could not immediately be contacted for comment.
The fact is the onus of proof is on the accuser please leave "Diggy" in his new loving home, please sign and share our petition!
