Manatee Dogs: Stay of Execution?

The scheduled euthanasia of two Australian shepherds this week has been delayed by the emergency appeal of a legal project.

The Bradenton Herald reports that the Lexus Project filed the appeal Wednesday in Manatee County, on behalf of the shepherds, named Buck and Bill.

The two Australian shepherds bit a boy several times on Christmas Eve, while he was standing outside in the Panther Ridge subdivision in East Manatee. His injuries exposed a nerve on his leg and required surgery.

The dogs reportedly escaped through a window of the home where they lived.

The motion is part of an ongoing legal effort to save the lives of the two dogs. But previous motions have been met with denials, according to the Bradenton Herald

"I don't know what jurisdictional basis they have for the motion to appeal," said Chief Deputy County Attorney Jim Minix. "We have suspended the euthanasia until the appeal is disposed of."

The dogs are being kept at Manatee County Animal Services in Palmetto.

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