A petition urging Government to reconsider dangerous dog legislation and return a pit bull puppy to its owners has continued to garner support.

As of yesterday afternoon, the change.org petition had more than 1,600 signatures.

The issue was highlighted this week by the story of Hershey, a pit bull puppy who was stolen from his owners in October. While the owners were told on Tuesday that the animal had been recovered by police, they were heartbroken to learn the animal was set to be euthanised because it was an illegal dog.

A second petition online, urging an end to breed-specific legislation, had garnered more than 180 signatures.

The creator of that petition wrote: “Our aim is not to lose control over the dog breeds of Bermuda but rather to eliminate government-appointed discrimination placed onto specific dogs.

“A revision of the legislation could benefit society by setting effective and realistic standards and regulations for all dog owners to abide by. Rather than hold innocent dogs accountable, we urge Government to focus on owners and their roles in the upbringing of their pets.”

The Dog Act 1978 states that any dogs that are the product of unlawful breeding or that are not licenced are to be forfeited and the Director of the Department can have the animal destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

Several individuals who have signed the petition have urged Government to send puppy Hershey overseas rather than putting him down.