Man Takes Selfie With His Newly Adopted Dog, Is Suprised When Authorities Appear At His Door
Certain dog breeds, especially pit bulls, often endure unfair stereotypes. Once affectionately called "nanny dogs" for their gentle nature around children, pit bulls remain widely misunderstood. Veterinarians and devoted owners strive to change these perceptions, but altering public opinion remains a challenge. The true issue isn't the breed itself but how each dog is raised and treated.
Despite the negative reputation, these dogs are known for their loyalty and affectionate temperament—something Dan Tillery and his girlfriend Megan discovered when they adopted Sir Wiggleton, an American bulldog. What they didn’t anticipate was that a few simple photos of their new companion would draw police attention and eventually lead to a court case.
Something Was Missing
Dan Tillery, a musician from Waterford Township, Michigan, had just moved in with his girlfriend, Megan, and the couple was eager to start this new chapter together. Yet, despite settling into their new home, they felt something was missing.
It didn't take long for them to identify the gap—a furry companion to round out their little family. So, they headed to a nearby shelter with the intention of adopting a dog.
A White American Bulldog Grabbed Their Attention
Before long, they put unpacking on hold and made their way to Detroit Dog Rescue, eager to meet their future furry family member.
While exploring the shelter, a white American bulldog stood out to them. He had been there for 100 days—over three months without a forever home. Dan and Megan couldn't help but feel this might be the dog they were meant to rescue.
His Name Was Sir Wiggleton
The moment Dan and Megan saw the dog's smiling photo taped to his cage, a connection sparked instantly. Right then, it was clear Sir Wiggleton was destined to become part of their family. From that day forward, he would know love and care in a forever home.
Thrilled to welcome their new friend, they took him home and quickly started snapping adorable photos. Sharing those images on social media felt only right—after all, Sir Wiggleton deserved to be known and loved by everyone.
Sir Wiggleton Got A New Name And Parents
Anyone who saw the pictures could instantly see the joy radiating from the trio. The dog was grinning proudly beside his new family! In just a few hours, Sir Wiggleton—now lovingly renamed Diggy—already appeared completely relaxed and comfortable in his new surroundings.
Dan and Megan were convinced they'd made the right decision adopting him. Since coming home, Diggy seemed transformed. The shelter recognized this beautiful turnaround and shared the photos once more to celebrate his newfound happiness.
Detroit Dog Rescue Wanted To Help Promote Dog Adoptions
When Detroit Dog Rescue came across the photo of Diggy and Dan online, they couldn't resist sharing it on their page to highlight the joy of adoption day. Their caption read, "We know this photo is going to break the internet, but we had to share!
After nearly 100 days at the shelter, Sir Wiggleton has finally found his forever home. He and his new dad are glowing as they celebrate this unforgettable moment together!"
The Re-Share Gained A Lot Of Attention
Not only did Dan respond to the re-share, saying how much he and Megan loved their new pooch, but so did random strangers. Joy Williams Brosious said, "That is the biggest smile of any dog I have ever seen. I bet these two will be good buddies and hope they do lots of stuff together!"
That one comment garnered 45 likes! It was apparent people couldn't help but love the blooming friendship between Dan and Diggy.
The Picture Brought Unwanted Attention, Too
Obviously, Dan was happy that so many people were supporting his and Megan's choice to adopt Diggy. The goofy picture probably didn't hurt matters! Who wouldn't fall in love with that big smile and relaxed face? It was obvious that Diggy was very content in his new home.
Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased with their decision to adopt Diggy. And, before long, the Waterford Township police were driving down their street, parking, and knocking on their front door.
Someone Thought Diggy Was A Pit Bull Mix
Dan was confused as to why there were officers at his front door. He didn't do anything wrong. Was someone hurt or in trouble? As it turned out, it wasn't that simple. The officers were there for a very specific reason, and it had nothing to do with a person.
Truth be told, they were there for Diggy. It turned out that one of Dan's Facebook friends contacted the authorities after seeing the photo he posted online. The friend believed Diggy to be a pit bull mix, a breed that was banned in Waterford Township.
The Adoption Papers Said Diggy Was A Bulldog
Waterford Township had voted to ban pit bulls and any mix because they believed the breed was dangerous. The thing is, Diggy's adoption papers clearly stated that he was an American bulldog. So what was the issue? Dan was very confused and wasn't sure what the officers were talking about.
Dan realized that he only had Diggy for a few days, so he couldn't be 100 percent sure he wasn't dangerous. But in his heart, he knew his new friend was a good boy and wouldn't hurt a fly. Diggy even ran up to the officers to lick their faces when they came to the gate!
It Was Just The Beginning
Dan didn't understand why the cops were at his home. The adoption papers clearly said Diggy was an American Bulldog. Why were they going off of one person's assumption who only saw Diggy online? That wasn't fair.
In an interview, Dan recalled the cops saying, "We're dog lovers, that's cool; he seems like a good boy." They even went as far as taking some pictures of Diggy! Everything seemed like it was smoothed over, and that was the end. Unfortunately, it was just the beginning.
The Cops Did A Visual Inspection
In an encounter that Dan thought was going to be the end of the law questioning, Diggy's breed was only the beginning of a long battle. Even though the two officers were nice, petting Diggy and taking pictures of him, they had another agenda.
While they were at Dan's house, they were doing a visual inspection of the dog. They came to the conclusion that the Facebook friend's tip was solid, and Diggy was, in fact, a pit bull mix, regardless of what his adoption papers said.
They Gave Dan Three Days To Remove Diggy
The entire accusation made no sense to Dan. How could they think Diggy was a pit bull mix solely by looking at him? Was that even legal? His adoption papers, a legal document, said he was an American bulldog! Now, the cops were giving Dan three days to remove Diggy from his house.
Waterford police chief Scott Underwood, said, "From our standpoint, it's a pretty clear case of an ordinance that makes it clear what's permissible and what's not. Our job is to enforce the ordinance."
Diggy Wasn't Going Without A Fight
There was no way Dan was giving Diggy up in three days, not when he just got him! And he wasn't the only one who was outraged. Online fans of Diggy started to rally behind the pooch. They even went as far as creating a petition to ban breed-specific legislation.
People seemed to be ready to fight for Diggy's rights! Everyone's support overjoyed Dan, but he had other matters to attend to. He was in the middle of getting ready for a formal meeting.
Dan Met With His Lawyer
Dan kept the public in the loop via Facebook, posting, "Don't worry, Diggy is safe at home with me and his momma. My lawyer and I are going to do everything possible to make sure Diggy stays in his home with us, his family. Thanks for all your support, guys."
It meant the world to Dan and Megan that so many people were in their circle. Now, they just had to convince a courtroom that Diggy was not dangerous and that they should be allowed to keep him.
They Were In Court For Three Months
Even though Diggy wasn't dangerous and his adoption papers clearly said he was an American bulldog, the court ruled it inconsequential. They believed Diggy was a pit mix, and therefore Dan and Megan were not allowed to own him because it was illegal.
By then, 111,000 people had signed the petition to eradicate the breed-specific legislation in town. To the general public, there was no reason why Dan and Megan should have to give up their sweet pooch. No one could have guessed what happened next.
The "Visual Inspection" Wasn't Legal
But Dan wasn't stopping until the court saw that there was nothing illegal about him owning Diggy. He wasn't giving up his dog; Diggy was part of the family. So, after another long debate, it was ultimately decided that the visual inspection that cops conducted wasn't a legal way to determine a dog's breed.
Therefore, there was nothing illegal about Dan and Megan owning Diggy! They had won, and Diggy was allowed to walk out of the court as a free and legal pooch. Dan and Megan couldn't have been happier with the results.
The Three Of Them Went Home As A Family
They were all thrilled. Dan, Megan, and Diggy walked out of the court with their heads held high, knowing that there was nothing the legal system could do to them now. Diggy was rightfully theirs, and he wasn't going anywhere but home to snuggle with his favorite humans.
Their little family was reunited and moving forward from the ordeal. There was one thing for sure, though, nothing was going to tear them apart, they belonged together.
Diggy Became An Internet Celebrity
Ironically, even though the officers tried to get Diggy away from his family and the public, their intervention only made him that much more loved. He became a bit of an internet celebrity after all of the press about his case. People loved that Dan and Megan were able to come out on top with Diggy.
Soon, the internet sensation was meeting other American bulldogs just like him! After being in the shelter for so long, Diggy only dreamed about having a loving family and dog friends to hang out with. Now it was his reality.
Everything Was Right In The World
Diggy was loving all of the dog friends he was making after being internet famous. It's like he had an extended family of pooches that were just like him. Even so, it's clear to anyone who sees pictures of the two, that Dan will always be Diggy's number one.
Considering how hard Dan fought to keep his dog, it doesn't surprise us that they're best pals. Thankfully, nothing can get in between that friendship now that they won their court case.
Diggy's Story Could Have Ended Differently
Ultimately, it was Dan and Megan's determination to keep their adopted dog that helped win the court case. That being said, they couldn't have done it without the help of all the people who thought taking Diggy away from them was unjust and started up the petition that the court couldn't ignore.
If it wasn't for all of those factors, Diggy's story could have turned out a bit differently. Thankfully, we don't have to think about that because he is safe at home with Dan and Megan, where he belongs.
Follow our brand for more content like this
