DOG lovers have been rallying round to save eight-year-old pit bull type Trigger from a death sentence after he attacked another dog last October.

His victim, a Bichon Frise called Snowy, was left fighting for his life and required 40 stitches after an incident in Wythall.

Redditch magistrates ordered Trigger's destruction following a court found the dog to be dangerous, out of control and causing injury to another person.

But distraught owner Gabrielle Meredith, a 22-year-old single mum from Abbeydale who is on income support, has appealed against the conviction and launched an on-line petition.

Already over 1,000 people have pledged their support.

But Gabrielle now needs to raise a minimum £1,800 to pay for legal fees to fight the conviction as she is not entitled to legal aid.

A desperate Gabrielle, who wasn't present when the attack took place in Wythall while Trigger was out walking with family member Charlotte Carter.

As a result, it was Charlotte who was found guilty of being the person in charge of an out of control dog and ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay a total of £1,410, which included £700 compensation to the attacked dog's owner Stephen Jinks who sustained minor cuts to his hand.

Gabrielle hasn't seen Trigger since the attack as the dog was immediately placed in kennels.

She said: "This has simply been horrible. I feel I'm fighting for my child. Myself and my two-year-old daughter Hope miss Trigger everyday.

"We don't even know where he is. I can never justify Trigger's actions, but he is not an out of control dog and to give him a death sentence is simply not right.

"I've been honest from the start and said he needs to be trained and muzzled - but Trigger is not an aggressive dog."

But Gabrielle faces another dilemma as she need to raise an £800 down payment by the end of this week to pay for Trigger's legal fees.

She said: "I have set up a fund me to help get Trigger home and I've received £70 so far. Every penny will go into the fund.

"People have been amazing and I've been shocked by the amount of support we've received".

Anyone who wants to save Trigger should go to: www.gofundme.com/stop-it-now-trigger-sentenced-to-death

Alternatively they can sign Gabrielle's petition at: www.change.org/p/everyone-save-trigger

Gabrielle added: "Trigger is so much more than a dog, there comes a point when a dog becomes a family member.

"He needs to be home, he isn't dangerous, I can't even begin to think what's going through his mind.

"No day has been the same since and no day will be the same until he is where he belongs.

"My family isn't complete until he is home."