No Sign of Wayward Pet on Doggie Death Row

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Probably another abused dog GRR!

No Sign of Wayward Pet on Doggie Death Row

Zippy the pit bull is on the run. At least, that's according to animal control officers who must find the dog and its owner, Austin Zipp, after a judge ordered the animal destroyed on Friday after months of legal wrangling, dog-nappings, and other intrigue, The Enterprise of Brockton reported.

"Zipp has again skipped town," said Timothy Houlihan, the animal control officer in Sandwich where Zippy and Zipp last lived. "We will find that dog if it takes several years. We won't give up and we'll bring Zipp to justice."

On May 4, Zippy attacked Middleboro Animal Control Officer William Wyatt as he was writing out a leash law citation. Wyatt had spotted Zippy and another dog running loose outside Zipp's used car dealership, and was bitten as he was writing the ticket.

Both dogs were taken to the shelter and quarantined. Three weeks later, selectmen approved Wyatt's recommendation that the dog be destroyed. Zipp appealed, claiming the dog would never bite anyone.

Before Zip's fate could be sorted out in court, thieves broke into the pound and stole Zippy _ twice. Zippy turned up after both times, the first time on a doorstep and the second time injured and chained to a tree.

When the appeal was heard in September, Wareham District Court Judge H. Gregory Williams spared the dog on the condition that Zippy leave Middleboro, always be leashed and take obedience classes.

But in October, Zipp was called back to court after he failed to prove that the dog had been in obedience school. Then, in November, Zippy bit a 70-year-old woman walking at a Sandwich beach parking lot. Judge Williams ordered the dog to be put down on Friday.

But Zippy hasn't been spotted since the beach attack.

"I hope to God the dog is either surrendered or turned in before it hurts someone else," Wyatt said.