A 10-year-old German boy has been in a coma since birth and for years has had a trusty and loyal American Staffordshire terrier by his side, guarding over him and giving him love. Now authorities want to take her away from him.
While the boy, Dylan, sometimes opens his eyes, doctors say that he is only partially conscious. He has been in a persistent vegetative state since birth, but that is no problem for the loyal Tascha, she stays right there by his side.
The bad news is that authorities, using the excuse of breed specific legislation, now want to take the dog away from Dylan. They say that she is dangerous. The family is seeking support to keep her and apparently around 213,000 people have signed up for a campaign to keep the dog right where she is.
In the video above you can see images of six-year-old Tascha licking Dylan's hand, resting her head on his arm. But still authorities try to say that she is dangerous.
"When Tascha lies by him, the boy becomes much calmer and his pulse and breathing relax," said his father Eckhard Gerzmehle.
The family lives in Schönwalde-Glien in Brandenburg, Germany. They first bought Tascha as a puppy when they lived in Berlin, and initially they didn't know what breed she was. It only became clear that she was an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier when they applied for her dog license.
© YouTubeDylan has been in a coma since birth and for the last few years has been guarded and watched over by the faithful Tascha.
On moving from Berlin to Brandenburg two years ago, things went wrong, as Tascha apparently attacked and injured another dog, and she is now considered dangerous by the local authorities. According to the Dog Owners' Act, she must now be removed from the family and, if necessary, impounded.
However, since a story appeared earlier this month in the
BZ newspaper, opposition to the removal of Tascha as grown and there is now hope that she may be able to remain with Dylan.
A Berlin fireman, Jürgen Töpfer, read the story, and instantly launched a
Facebook campaign to stop the dog's removal. The page has since been translated into English and is receiving support from all over the world.
The above video was also uploaded to YouTube in support of Tascha and Dylan.
Bodo Oehme, mayor of Schönewalde-Glien seems to be standing firm however, saying that there is no room for negotiation when it comes to the Dog Owners' Act. He did say that occasionally exceptions are made, for example in the case of dogs assisting blind or disabled people.
Oehme is now apparently in contact with the family and he hopes that "The decision over Tascha's future will then soon be reached."
Eisenhard von Löper, chairman of the Erna Graf Institute for Animal Protection is offering his support, in the hope that the authorities will finally see some sense. He said, "The boy needs Tascha."
It can only be hoped that sense will prevail and the two friends will be able to stay together.
... is all I can say about the "authorities". To deprive that young man of his loving dog would be an unspeakable act of cruelty.
Shorty Dawkins