‘Death Row’ Dog Pardoned, Ending Years of Legal Battles

Gov. Christine Todd Whitman on Friday pardoned New Jersey’s “Death Row” dog, whose ordeal had sparked appeals for clemency from around the world.

Whitman’s action ended more than three years of legal wrangling over the fate of Taro, a 5-year-old Akita that has been held in a special kennel at the Bergen County jail.

“This has gone on long enough,” Whitman told reporters, noting that the case had consumed more than $100,000 in legal fees.

A judge ordered the dog destroyed after ruling that it had attacked a girl who was visiting the Haworth, N.J., home of Lonnie and Sandy Lehrer on Christmas Day, 1990. Taro was committed to the county jail on Feb. 11, 1991.

Whitman faced an unusual legal dilemma since her power to grant clemency applies to people, and not pets. But she said she had found a way out through a law on property forfeiture.

Since pets are property, the executive order says, and the governor has the power to remit forfeitures, she will exercise that power to spare Taro and return the dog to her owners.

The dog must be moved within 30 days, and the owners must accept any liability.

Taro’s saga became an international cause celebre, with dog lovers from around the world offering to take the 100-pound Akita. The Japanese government even expressed interest, since Taro’s breed is native to that land.

Brigitte Bardot, the actress turned animal rights activist, had telegrammed Whitman’s predecessor, James J. Florio, last year in support of the dog. Florio refused to get involved in the case.

Taro was to have been killed under a law that orders dangerous dogs to be destroyed. But the author of that law said he meant it for pit bulls and other dogs bred to be aggressive. The state Legislature is considering revisions to the law to prevent similar disputes.