The judge spares Prada
Prada, a pit bull mix who landed on death row after terrorizing an upscale Nashville neighborhood, has been spared — thanks to a Tennessee judge and a woman who still believes both humans and dogs can be rehabilitated.
Prada was declared vicious and ordered to be euthanized after escaping from her home and attacking several dogs in January 2011.
In the latest development in the long running story, Tia Torres, director of the Villalobos Rescue Center, which recently relocated from California to New Orleans, offered to keep the dog for the rest of her life. A judge agreed with the terms.
The rescue center is featured in Animal Planet’s reality TV show “Pit Bulls and Parolees,” which puts ex-convicts and abused dogs together so both man and animal can be rehabilitated.
The compromise was a last-ditch effort to keep the four-year-old dog from being euthanized — a campaign that has led thousands to sign petitions, according to the Associated Press. It brings an end to Nicole Andree’s lengthy court battles to save her dog, who she rescued when the dog was 4-weeks-old.
It means, instead of lethal injection, Prada could now end up as a star on Animal Planet.
She was ordered put down by three different courts after attorneys for the city of Nashville said Prada posed a public safety threat and liability concerns.
In addition to launching a social media campaign to save Prada, Andree asked Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to pardon her. The governor, through a spokesman, said it was a local matter and he couldn’t pardon a dog.
Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Joe Binkley Jr. signed the order sparing Prada. City attorneys said they had no objections, provided the rescue center would take ownership of the dog and keep her for the rest of her life.
Andree, who believes her dog was discriminated against because it is part pit bull, said she didn’t mind giving her dog up if it meant Prada would be spared.
“I just wanted her to live.”
(Photo: Nicole Andree’s “Free Prada” Facebook page)
Posted by jwoestendiek April 18th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animal, animal control, animal planet, dangerous, death row, dog, dogs, euthanasia, judge, lethal injection, nashville, new orleans, nicole andree, pet, pit bull, pit bull mix, pit bulls, pit bulls and parolees, pitbull, pitbulls, prada, rehabilitation, rescue, spares, tennessee, tia torres, villalobos
Comments
Comment from jwoestendiek
Time April 18, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Anon, We (almost) always link to one or more news accounts and/or any other source any entry is based on, where there is (almost) always more information. Prada was accused of attacking several dogs in the neighborhood.
john/ohmidog!



























































Comment from anon
Time April 18, 2012 at 11:23 am
Owner adopted Prada at 4 weeks old and believes Prada was discriminated on the basis of her being part pit bull.
Had she ever had prior incidents of real aggression?
Would have liked information on what constituted Prada terrorizing a neighborhood and attacking several dogs.
Was she just barking or was blood flowing in the streets?