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Protest in Sunbury Over Pit Bull

UPDATE (8/17/16) — On Wednesday, a judge in Northumberland County ordered Tank the pit bull to be placed back in the custody of an animal rescue group. Th...
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UPDATE (8/17/16) -- On Wednesday, a judge in Northumberland County ordered Tank the pit bull to be placed back in the custody of an animal rescue group. This order reversed Tuesday's decision to allow the pit bull's owner to choose a person to take care of the dog. The judge did not give a reason for the change in orders.

(Original story)

SUNBURY -- Close to a dozen protesters stood outside the juvenile probation office in Sunbury and held up signs. They were seeking justice for a dog.

Back in April, a surveillance camera caught two pit bulls attacking a cat in Shamokin. The cat died and the dogs were taken away from their owners, Shatiq Crum and Timothy Tyler. Now, one of those dogs, Tank, is going to a new home.

"It's atrocious. It's horrible. This dog was finally in a good place," Carol Kalinowski said.

Recently a Northumberland County judge ordered Tank to be released to a new owner--an owner picked by Crum's mother.

"Justice was not served for this dog or this cat," Robin Montgomery said.

Tank was brought to the drop off in Sunbury by the rescue group that had been caring for him outside Harrisburg. The group says Tank has made progress over the past few months.

"He did go after the cats. I controlled him. But the second day when we went outside, I was giving him leash corrections and he ignored the cats," Chief Ron Hollister said.

According to Chief Hollister, Tank has heart worms and needs to be under consistent care by a veterinarian.

"I hope that they continue the medication and the vet treatment," Hollister said.

"The dog is supposed to be under low-level activity because if it gets too much activity with this heart worm, it can die," Kalinowski said.

These folks tell Newswatch 16 one of the reasons they held the protest to get the attention of the judge and the Northumberland County District Attorney.

"It's right here in our own backyard. The abuse is here and it needs to stop," Kalinowski said.

As for the other dog involved in this case, there has been no court order filed to release that dog to its owner. That pit bull is still being cared for by the animal rescue group in Carlisle.

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