However, the Gomes family, who won the support of thousands of Islanders during their battle to have the animal – Mr Bronx – returned to them, have been told they must observe ‘strict conditions’ and accept ‘full responsibility for the dog’s behaviour’. The JEP was told, however, that those conditions are confidential.
Following a decision by the Petty Debts Court that Mr Bronx was a pitbull-type, which are illegal to import into the Island, Assistant Home Affairs Minister Deidre Mezbourian had been left to decide whether to grant the family such a licence or order that the dog be destroyed.
The dog, then nine months old, had been seized by Customs in February at the Harbour when the family returned from holiday and officers suspected that he might be a pitbull. He had been in the Island since he was seven-and-a-half-weeks old without issue.
Mrs Mezbourian has now confirmed that Mr Bronx has been returned to his owners.
She also spoke out in support of the Customs officers who seized the dog, saying they had received unwarranted public criticism for just doing their job.
