A six-month-old puppy who was seized by dog wardens on Friday is to be flown off the Island by its owners to ensure it isn’t put down.

Owner Kim Mello posted a message on Facebook, accompanied by a photograph of her pet Isis, saying the dog was taken that day by officers from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Ms Mello wrote that she and husband Gerald had been given ten working days to get the unlicensed female pup off the Island — or it would face the same fate as confiscated pit bull puppy Hershey, who was controversially destroyed last month.

“They say we have ten working days to get her off the Island so that she doesn’t meet Hershey’s end,” Ms Mello posted. “Right now, we’re concentrating on getting our beautiful girl off the Island.

“Any suggestions on carriers to the east coast (or west) of the United States will be appreciated. Thank you!”

The post prompted hundreds of responses from Facebook users, sparking a debate on the breed of the dog, where it came from and whether it should have been confiscated at all.

The Royal Gazette understands that Isis’s breed has not been formally determined but wardens suspect it is part pit bull — a prohibited breed in Bermuda.

The animal is currently being kept at a kennel in Southampton until the Government vet gives the go-ahead for it to be flown to the US. It is understood that Ms Mello’s brother has agreed to take in Isis.

Ms Mello wrote on Facebook: “We took in a beautiful, loving puppy. Love at first sight. We were NOT looking to have any kind of pit like dog. In fact, we had our hearts set on getting a Bouvier des Flandres. This little girl almost literally fell into our laps. Our FIRST instinct was to love and protect her.

“It was pure fear (the dreaded thing) that kept us from taking her to be licensed or for vet care. Not fear for our pocket books or from our own possible prosecution. It was fear for her safety.

“I displayed ignorance on this matter. Why punish my dog? Where is the logic in that?”

Former One Bermuda Alliance parliamentary candidate and dog lover Ray Charlton told this newspaper he helped the Mellos after reading about Isis on Facebook.

“I contacted the Immigration and Border Control at the airport to confirm that the dog would not need the rabies shot, as Bermuda is rabies-free,” he said. “Other than that, I was in touch with the dog wardens and informed them that they are planning to take the dog off the Island.

“I had confirmation from the dog wardens that the Government vet would examine and issue a health certificate as to the dog’s health and would assist in delivering the dog to the airport on the date they decided to fly out.”

He said he was a proponent for a change in the law regarding prohibited and restricted breeds of dog in Bermuda and planned to discuss the issue with the Health Minister.

The plight of Hershey hit the headlines in December after it was stolen from its owners and recovered by police. A petition to save the male pup from being destroyed attracted more than 2,000 signatures — but it was ultimately put down.

Owner Gina Davis said she would have sent her pet overseas had the Ministry of Health and Environment suggested that.

The Department of Environmental Protection has yet to respond to questions about Isis from this newspaper. Mr and Mrs Mello declined to comment.