COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A dog scheduled to be put to sleep for biting another dog has been kidnapped from a Danish kennel by a man pretending to be a police officer, officials say.

Thor, a German Shepherd, has been the focus of an online effort by animal lovers to save him, The Copenhagen Post reported Thursday.


The animal was scheduled to be euthanized Wednesday afternoon. A man impersonating a police officer took the dog from a kennel in Hillerod Tuesday night, North Zealand police reported.

Thor and his owner were on a walk in September when a smaller dog jumped out from behind a container. The sudden movement spooked Thor, who bit the smaller dog.

Both owners apologized for the incident and exchanged information. When the smaller dog was taken to the vet, the incident was reported to the police.

Police officers confiscated Thor from the owner 10 weeks later, saying the dog would be put to sleep because his behavior was not "natural."

A Facebook campaign was begun to save the dog's life.

"We are shocked that the police can decide whether a dog is to be put down or not," said Charlotte Andersen, head of Fair Dog, a group that works for the humane treatment of canines. "It is not necessarily a grievous bite if the dog exhibits natural behavior."

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