Those of you who don't know about this please read below...this is from a newpaper in NJ......

PRINCETON TWP. — Hundreds of protesters are expected to rally here Tuesday in a last-ditch campaign to save Congo, the German shepherd sentenced to death in local court last June for defending his family.

“He was nicknamed by everyone as the ‘Happy Dog,’ ” said Kat McAlfee, a local animal rights activist. “We want to put pressure on the judge to change his decision.”

The rally will be staged at 10 a.m. outside the Princeton Township municipal court, 400 Witherspoon St., where Judge Russell Annich is expected to officially record the death sentence he handed down Oct. 31.

Congo’s owners, Guy and Elizabeth James, acknowledge the 18-month-old shepherd, as well as his mate Lucia and their four puppies, attacked two panicky gardeners June 5 at the James’ 4-acre property here on the 1700 block of Stuart Road West.

But James, a 46-year-old businessman, says his dogs attacked only because one gardener gouged Congo’s puppies with a rake, while the other gardener “manhandled” Elizabeth James to the ground.

“We’re going to fight to the end to save Congo’s life,” said James, a father of four.


‘All lies’

Local Animal Warden Mark Johnson says that story has too many bite marks to hold water. Johnson insists Congo was wild and vicious, inflicting multiple bites on illegal immigrant Giovanni Rivera, one of the gardeners. He said the other dogs are dangerous but can live if they remain muzzled.

“Congo happy? It’s all lies,” Johnson said. “This dog attacked for no apparent reason. He’s dangerous.”

The gardener, Johnson said, “was severely mauled, receiving bite wounds to the head and all over his back and legs.”

For his part, James remains irate and has vowed to appeal Annich’s decision in Superior Court. “Rivera manhandled my wife, Elizabeth. And now my son, Benjamin, has nightmares and cries every single day,” James said.

And so, more drama may unfold in a saga that has drawn widespread attention on TV and radio. “A radio show on 101.5 FM has been running a poll that has 35,000 in favor of Congo, and only 1,000 against him,” said James, who was interviewed by Philadelphia TV’s Action News yesterday afternoon.


Bizarre twists

The case has included bizarre twists and developments, such as a stray dog eating defense witnesses’ statements, an expert medical witness, and private investigators interrogating pound workers.

Attorneys have already arranged an insurance settlement of $250,000 for Rivera, who has since recovered from his bite wounds and now lives in upscale Hamilton Township.


Puppy strayed

Rivera and his four-member crew created problems from the start that June morning when they arrived at 7 a.m., an hour earlier than expected, according to James.

James, who speaks Spanish, sa