Staffordshire terrier who killed its owners to be saved from execution thanks to public petition A dog that killed its two owners has been given a stay of execution calling for it to be saved […]

A dog that killed its two owners has been given a stay of execution calling for it to be saved after a petition garnered 250,000 signatures.

Chico, a Staffordshire terrier which mauled the woman and her son in Hanover, Germany, was initially ordered to be put down but the petition entitled “Let Chico Live” has caused authorities to offer him a reprieve.

Mistakes

Firefighters broke into the flat of Lezime K, 52, and her son Liridon, 27. They had bled to death after being attacked by the dog.

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German authorities have admitted mistakes were made in the handling of the case.

According to local newspaper reports, Lezime K bought Chico eight years ago, shortly before the early release from prison of her ex-husband, who attacked her with an axe in 2005.

Fear

The injuries she sustained meant she had to use a wheelchair. She told neighbours she had bought the dog, which was reportedly kept in a cage in the family flat, out of fear for her life and that of her four children.

In 2011 authorities recognised that the family was unable to cope with the dog’s “permanent aggression” and that it had been “trained to be a fighting machine”. Despite this, there were no follow-ups with the family.

Heiko Schwarzfeld, managing director of the Hanover animal welfare association, said they had received hundred of offers to rehome Chico.

The dog’s fate was expected to be decided this week.