A Michigan dog lover was cited by police Monday for allegedly violating his town's ban on keeping pit bulls after he posted a photo of him and the animal on Facebook.
After 100 days in the shelter, Sir Wiggleton got his home. This photo is breaking the Internet! #DetroitDogRescue pic.twitter.com/7H6WuEf704
— Detroit Dog Rescue (@313dogrescue) June 7, 2016
MLive reported that Dan Tillery, of Waterford Township, posted a picture of him and his dog, Diggy, to the Detroit Dog Rescue Facebook page. The photo was shared nearly 5,000 times, but also caused several complaints that Tillery was breaking the local ordinance.
On Thursday, Tillery was visited by township police, who determined that Diggy was in fact a pit bull and not, as Tillery and Detroit Dog Rescue claim, an American bulldog. Detroit Dog Rescue says Diggy has paperwork from a veterinarian and animal control to prove he is not a pit bull.
According to a police report, Tillery told police he'd find a new home for the dog by Monday. However, when police came back, Diggy was still at Tillery's house.
According to MLive, the fine for violating the town's pit bull ban can rise as high as $500. Tillery was given ten days to set a court date and appear. The officers left Diggy in his possession.
Tillery will have an opportunity to present to the court, confirmation from a licensed veterinarian indicating the actual breed of the dog," police wrote in the report. "The court will make a determination regarding the validity of such confirmation.
The animal shelter is asking Waterford Township residents and businesses to urge officials to allow Diggy to stay with Tillery.