In the black and white photo provided to the court, dog number nine appears to cower in a metal cage.
You can’t tell if it is male or female, and there is no name that we are aware of.
Dog number nine is one of 21 dogs the Ontario Society for the Protection of Animals has applied to the courts to euthanize.
A Justice of the Peace has ruled he will not allow two animal rights groups to intervene in the case. They wanted to save the dogs.
READ MORE: Protesters rally for intervention in alleged dogfighting euthanasia case in Ontario
“These dogs are on doggie death row right now and what’s very concerning is that there is no one in that courtroom now to speak on their behalves,” said Camille Labchuck, Executive Director of Animal Justice, one of the groups seeking to intervene.
The dogs were seized from an alleged dog fighting ring in Chatham, Ont. in October 2015.
Specialists from the American SPCA, brought in by the OSPCA to assess the dogs, determined they have “severe concerns” for aggression.
The OSPCA says those experts are among the best in the world in assessing aggressive dogs.
READ MORE: Dog rescue in court battle over alleged fighting dogs
But Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary was fighting for an independent assessment by an outside expert.
“We do believe most of these dogs would be amazing candidates for rehabilitation.” said Clare Forndran, a Spokesperson for Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary.
Dog Tales was the second group trying to get involved in the court process.
Months ago, Dog Tales offered to take the canines, train them, pay all the costs and as they have been deemed pit bull-type dogs, they would send them to a partner rescue in Florida.
READ MORE: OSPCA sounds alarm over Ontario dogfighting operations
Additionally, the dogs’ owners, those charged in the case, have volunteered to sign ownership over to Dog Tales.
The OSPCA said in a statement “the Society has no jurisdiction to move the animals or to make a decision on the outcome of the dogs.”
But Dog Tales said there is something the OSPCA could do.
“The OSPCA could independently withdraw their application to euthanize the dogs,” said Forndran.
READ MORE: 2 pit bulls euthanized by OSPCA after seizure from alleged dogfighting ring
The OSPCA has declined an interview, but at the last hearing in November said they stand by the assessments.
“Those experts evaluated the 21 dogs as some of the most aggressive dogs they have ever assessed,” said Jennifer Bluhm, Senior Inspector with the OSPCA.
The courts still have to have a hearing on the OSPCA’s application to euthanize the dogs before it is approved.
The animals rights groups said they are not giving up on the dogs.
READ MORE: Lawyers lining up to fight OSPCA court application to destroy 21 dogs
Forndran said they are exploring their options.
“Our hearts go out to these dogs who have suffered so much for so long at the hands of humans.”
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