Animal rights group calls Don Cherry a hero for supporting efforts to save dogs

An animal rights group trying to save 21 alleged fighting dogsthat could be euthanized says Don Cherry's public support for theircause has led to a bump in donations.

Camille Labchuk of Animal Justice is calling the TV personality ahero for using his voice to fight for the animals all pit bullsseized from an alleged dogfighting ring near Chatham, Ont., lastOctober.

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(OSPCA) has filed an application in court to have the dogsdestroyed, arguing they pose a danger to the public.

Animal Justice says the dogs are innocent victims that can berehabilitated, and is considering a legal intervention in the case.

Cherry took to Twitter on Thursday to praise Animal Justice andcalled on anyone who wants to be "a part of helping these dogs" todonate to the group.

Pit bulls are banned in Ontario and can be euthanized simplybecause of their breed.

"I feel for the innocent beautiful dogs caught in this mess andthey might pay for it with their lives," the veteran host of Hockey Night In Canada'sCoach'sCornertweeted.

"If you want to be a part of helping these dogs, please donateto http://animaljustice.ca/donate."

An investigation last October by police and the OSPCA in Tilbury,Ont., led to more than 300 charges being laid against four people.

Chatham-Kent police say charges were laid against a fifth personthis week after searches of two properties resulted in the seizureof another seven pit bull-type dogs.

Labchuk said her organization plans to file its motion in thecase next week and will be at the next court appearance slated forMarch 10 to argue for their intervention.

In the meantime, she's thankful for Cherry's support.

"I think he's a tremendous voice for the animals," she said.

"He's a perfect example of somebody who uses his position forthe right reasons."

Meanwhile, another lawyer representing a rescue group based inOttawa filed a motion in a Chatham, Ont., court Thursday tointervene as well.

21 dogs at undisclosed locations

"The hope is to get a re-assessment done on the dogs," saidElizabeth Quinto, who filed the motion on behalf of Bullies in Need,a rescue organization that focuses its efforts on pit bulls.

Last fall, the OSPCA and Chatham-Kent police raided a ruralproperty in Tilbury, Ont., and seized 31 dogs. Three of thoseanimals were euthanized for medical and behavioural reasons.

Afteran assessment by two people from the American SPCA, the organizationdecided to apply for the court's permission to euthanize 21 otherdogs. The rest of the animals were deemed healthy and safe.

The 21 dogs remain at an undisclosed location in separate penssomewhere in Ontario pending the court's decision.

The OSPCA says it's not asking the court to destroy the dogsbecause of their breed, but due to their behaviour that they saypresents a menace to people and other animals. In the past, theOSPCA has transferred healthy pit bulls to organizations in otherprovinces where pit bulls are not banned to avoid destroyingthem.