NONE of the dogs seized at a Huddersfield man's home were banned pit bull terriers, a court heard yesterday.
Vet William Turner told District Judge Jonathan Bennett he thought all three dogs seized at the home of Anthony Green were mongrels.
His comments came on the third day of the trial in Huddersfield Magistrates' Court of Green, 28, of Riddings Road, Deighton.
He is accused of keeping dogs banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act without exemption certificates.
The charges came after police and the RSPCA raided Green's home in December, 2003, and seized what they believed were three pit bull terriers.
Green has denied all three charges, saying the dogs are of a different breed.
The court heard earlier how a suture kit - including veterinary needles and antiseptic fluid - was also recovered at the scene.
Green said he used the kit to stitch wounds on prey caught by a Harris hawk he used to own. A breaking stick was also found. Green said he used it to stop the dogs fighting outside.
Yesterday Mr Turner - who independently examined all three dogs - told the court: "I am totally unequivocal that these three dogs are, in my view, mongrels.
"Although they may have some American pit bull terrier breeding they are not substantially of that type."
He believed the characteristics of all three dogs were more closely associated with Staffordshire bull terrier and labrador breeds.
When questioned by the prosecution, Mr Turner said: "I am content there is no mistake."
Defence barrister James Littlehales urged Judge Bennett to consider whether the dogs were substantially of the pit bull terrier type.
He added: "You are here to decide if they are pit bull dogs, not whether he was involved in fighting and not whether he was treating his animals cruelly."
The verdict was postponed until September 14 and Green was remanded on unconditional bail until then.
