Home   Weald   News   Article

Cranbrook tattoo artist Zakh Green faces fight to save dog after Kent Police declare he’s an XL bully

A devastated dog owner is disputing police tests that have ruled his pet to be an XL bully after it was seized amid fears it was "dangerous".

More than 1,000 people are backing Zakh Green's fight to have 18-month-old Tevon returned.

Tevon has been seized by the police
Tevon has been seized by the police

Officers visited Mr Green, who runs the Body Art tattoo parlour in Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, on Tuesday last week and took his dog away.

Mr Green was told when he adopted the animal that he was an American bulldog/mastiff cross.

But an assessment carried out on behalf of Kent Police has branded him an XL bully.

Tevon is well-known to customers at Mr Green’s tattoo parlour and an online petition started by him on Change.org calling for Tevon’s return has already been signed by nearly 1,200 people.

The petition is filled with comments in support of Mr Green and Tevon.

Scarlett Brittain said: "This dog is one of the sweetest dogs I know. I've watched him grow from a small puppy, he's well behaved and well looked after."

Tevon has been seized by the police
Tevon has been seized by the police

Michelle Heap said: "Tevon is so loved and Zakh is a responsible owner. Don't punish him, or Zakh, by separating them. The result will be devastating. Think with your heart, not your head."

Mr Green said: “He is a shop dog and greets everyone. He is more gentle with our healing clients and more playful with tattoo and piercing clients.

“My shop has been running for 16 months and the build took seven months, so I have been here two years. The town has really accepted me and love my dog.

“The officers said they were acting on an anonymous tip that my dog, Tevon, was a banned breed. He is not.

“He’s a mastiff cross. I was very careful to check with the adoption centre where I got him that he was not a banned breed.

“The officers were here a couple of hours while they waited for a dog handler to arrive and they ended up playing with him.

“He’s very passive. While the officers were here, Sophie, my apprentice, arrived, took a bone out of Tevon’s mouth, ruffled him up a bit and put the bone back - which I think is pretty convincing proof he’s not dangerous.

“Nevertheless, the police took Tevon away.”

Mr Green has now been told he may be prosecuted for having a banned breed without a valid certificate of exemption.

He said: “It just doesn’t seem right. They are going by appearance, not DNA.”

Zakh Green outside his shop in Cranbrook
Zakh Green outside his shop in Cranbrook

Mr Green has a certificate, seen by KentOnline, from the dog rescue centre where he adopted Tevon that says the dog is an American bulldog/mastiff cross.

He said: “I will have to fight this.”

Police do not use DNA tests to assess whether a dog is an XL bully. Instead, they use a dog's physical characteristics.

According to the animal welfare charity Blue Cross: “XL bullies are crossbreeds and Kennel Club breed standards do not exist. The government has therefore created its own specifications for the breed, which includes the size of their head and muzzle, their build, and the height and length of their body. Breed name, genetics and parentage are not considered.”

Mr Green has not been allowed to see Tevon since he was taken into custody and the only way to get the dog back is through a court order.

He said: “The police won’t even tell me where he is exactly - which is probably a good thing because I would be tempted to break him out.

Tevon has been seized by the police
Tevon has been seized by the police

“I don’t care what happens to me, but Tevon must be going crazy. He must think I have abandoned him.”

He added: “This law is upside down. It’s vague at best.”

XL bullies have been banned in England and Wales since December 31, 2023, unless the owner has a certificate of exemption.

The law was brought in because of a “disproportionate” number of attacks on people by XL bullies, a number of which have proved fatal.

The most recent attack came this month, when an 18-month-old baby girl was savaged by an XL bully in her home in Hawkinge, near Folkestone.

Arabella spent three weeks in hospital but is now recovering at home. The family pet, Hunter, was put down. He had been registered by his owners.

Hunter, an 18-month-old XL Bully, was seized and destroyed after attacking a baby girl in a house in Hawkinge, near Folkestone
Hunter, an 18-month-old XL Bully, was seized and destroyed after attacking a baby girl in a house in Hawkinge, near Folkestone

However, Mr Green insisted: “It just doesn’t seem right that they can take Tevon from me just on the strength of one anonymous report.

“I mean, that could have been from anyone, a jealous ex-girlfriend or someone who just doesn’t like the look of me.

”It’s not like I’m a crack dealer with six XL bullies to guard my stash - he’s my only dog and I’m a businessman for goodness sake.

“Tevon must be so anxious - he’s never been apart from me since I got him 13 months ago.

“He is only 18 months old - he is still a baby.

“I’m very anxious myself. He’s my therapy dog - he calms me down. And he’s been impeccably trained.”

Tevon has been seized by the police
Tevon has been seized by the police

A Kent Police spokesperson said: “On Tuesday, January 14, officers seized a suspected dangerous animal from an address in Cranbrook. The dog was sent to an assessment centre which confirmed it to be an XL bully.

“The owner has been notified of the results, and will be interviewed before being passed to the courts.”

The government’s XL bully exemption scheme closed last year so the only way to get one is through a court where owners must prove the dog is not a danger to the public, or it will be destroyed.

The court process involves a thorough assessment of the dog’s past behaviour and temperament, and the owner is also assessed to decide if they are a “fit and proper person” to keep the dog.

According to the animal welfare charity Blue Cross: “You can choose to defend your dog on the basis that you believe they are not an XL bully type. The court will then consider expert evidence. If the court finds that your dog is an XL bully type, you may have to pay for the police’s legal and kennelling fees as well as your own.

Tevon has been seized by the police
Tevon has been seized by the police

“The police have been given guidance and some officers have been trained in the specifications for an XL bully type dog, but the description is broad and could include crossbreeds with similar physical features.”

As at July 31, last year, there were 1,958 XL bullies registered in Kent.

If an exemption certificate is granted, the owner must keep the dog at a registered address, must take out third-party liability, have the animal microchipped and must keep the dog muzzled and on a lead in a public place.

Owners of unregistered XL bullies face up to six months in jail and/or an unlimited fine.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More