A dog's owner's battle to keep his pet off death row, has helped clarify a murky law

Open Justice reports Robert Telford's dog Suki was sentenced to death after she bit a small dog while in Auckland's Waterview Park.

He then fought the charge, appealing to the High Court which granted the Staffordshire Terrier amnesty.

The Court of Appeal has now ruled a destruction order can be issued only if the dog's owner is convicted.

Mr Telford believes a broad-brush approach to prosecution is unfair, because they only have one chance.