Chow-chow Bungle faces being held for up to nine months in secret kennels after the incident near Towcester, Northants.
8Bungle the puppy has been caged by police over a minor nip
His devastated owners called the move “draconian” and “callous”.
Thousands of furious dog lovers backed a campaign to free fluffy puppy Bungle from police custody.
Incredibly, the cute chow- chow has been detained under the Dangerous Dogs Act for giving a cop a minor nip after running loose.
His devastated owners, millionaire bankers David and Susan Hayes, have appointed lawyers to fight for the pet’s release.
8Bungle with loving owner Susan who is devastated over their family pet being kept from them
8Adorable Bungle chills out on tiled floor
8The Sun has backed the campaignCredit: The Sun
Thousands have backed a “Free Bungle” campaign on Facebook while Northamptonshire Police have been flooded with demands to let him go.
A change.org petition calling on police to release him has also been set up with more than 500 signing.
The puppy — a ringer for bear Bungle from legendary kids’ TV show Rainbow — is being held at secret kennels and the couple have no idea how he is coping.
David said: “We were informed that based on current case loads we would not likely see Bungle again until New Year and potentially up to nine months.”
David, 46, and Susan, 51, said it was “callous” to keep the pet from their son at Christmas.
8The chow-chow puppy was named after lookalike character Bungle the bear from TV series RainbowCredit: Press Association
Joseph, 15, broke down at school on hearing the news.
The £2,000 pup rushed out of the drive to the family’s £2million home on Saturday before the electric gates could shut.
Bungle was found nearby cowering under a lorry on the A508 near Towcester, Northants.
The pup twice nipped a cop who stopped to grab him — on the hand and arm.
8The family have launched a Facebook campaign to bring Bungle home
The couple believe the pet was frightened and were “so sorry for any injuries caused”.
The cop had not suffered serious injuries and went to hospital as a precaution while Bungle was taken away as “evidence”.
Police are investigating whether to bring charges against the owners under the Act. If convicted, they could be fined or jailed and Bungle could be put down.
The couple said: “We feel hugely comforted that it is not just us that feels the outcome of this accident is grossly draconian and disproportionate.”
8Police are considering whether to bring charges over the Dangerous Dogs Act
Nine-month ‘nightmare’
POLICE risk turning Bungle into a nervous wreck by locking him up for months, an expert says.
They could send the puppy into shutdown mode or make it miserable and anxious, according to dog behaviourist Louise Glazebrook, 37.
She said: “Potentially you could create a more nervous, scared and worried dog if it’s held for nine months in a kennel set-up.
“Shutdown mode is when a dog doesn’t function. They do the bare minimum, just existing rather than partaking in life.”
8Dog behaviourist Louise Glazebrook says caging up Bungle at such a young age could send him into shutdown modeThis is the internet’s cutest new viral craze, the ‘snoot dog challenge’
