McKamey Center Executive Director Karen Walsh said Thursday that the bulldog who munched the tires and ate the front bumper of a city police cruiser last weekend "is not on death row."

Ms. Walsh said since the story of Winston the bulldog went worldwide, she has been besieged with calls both for and against him.

She said many callers had the idea that Winston faces possible execution as the outcome of a hearing set next Thursday morning before City Judge Sherry Paty.

Ms. Walsh said the McKamey Center is only asking at the hearing that Winston be declared a "potentially dangerous dog."

She said if that happens, then it starts a process in which the owner has an 18-month period in which the dog must be securely kept on the property and the dog must undergo obedience school and good citizenship classes.

The dog must also wear a PDD (potentially dangerous dog) tag.

Ms. Walsh said some callers don't want anything to happen and others are concerned about what might happen if he goes on a tear again.

The incident over the weekend was on Workman Road where a city officer was running radar. The officer along with backup couldn't halt Winston despite using pepper spray and a taser. Finally, he retreated back inside the gate of a welding shop operated by the Emerling family. He was found cowering under a table and was eventually captured by a McKamey officer.

Ms. Walsh said she does not believe it was high-pitched radar sounds that set Winston off. "There's absolutely no evidence of that," she said.

She said Winston has been behaving himself at the McKamey Center. "He doesn't hit the cage when you walk by like some aggressive dogs do," she said.

He is kept in a Safe Harbor section where aggressive dogs are placed. It is designed so that center employees can feed the dogs and clean their quarters without ever coming into direct contact with them.

She said center workers have not tried to pet Winston, though he seems calm down. She said if a dog bit one of the workers, then that could be used in court against the owner - so employees keep their distance.

Nancy Emerling, Winston's owner, said because of the incident that she does not plan to keep the bulldog, who came to the shop as a stray puppy.

She said she has found someone with a large farm outside the city who wants him.

Ms. Walsh said it is very unusual for someone to volunteer to take a "potentially dangerous dog."

She said it may not be advisable for a dog with Winston's history "to be transferred to another community."