Animal lovers from across the world are backing a campaign to save a “soft and friendly” dog that faces a death sentence - because it keeps escaping from its owner's garden.

Nearly 600 people have already signed an online petition to save Kizzie, whose Houdini efforts condemned her.

Her owner Jason O'Neil, 26, is legally obliged to keep Kizzie on a lead in public at all times, because the nine-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Labrador cross is legally classified as a dangerous dog.

But his adventure-loving pet has repeatedly clambered over Mr O'Neil's six-feet high garden fence and gone walkabout on Carlisle's Raffles estate.

Last week that led to Jason's mother Ann Richardson, 52, being prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act because she was in charge of Kizzie at the time of his latest great escape in July.

Magistrates fined her and then ruled that Kizzie must be destroyed, saying they had no choice but to make the order.

That was despite even the police officers who handled Kizzie confirming that she has a “soft and friendly” nature.

Mr O'Neil had earlier told the court he had done everything he could to contain his dog, but Kizzie's escapology skills were too good.

The law gives dog owners 21 days to lodge an appeal against a destruction order. But Mr O'Neil – who recently became a dad – said he just can't afford it.

However he and Kizzie have been given fresh hope after a well-wisher launched an online petition, which was signed by more than 560 people in a few days, including dog lovers in the USA and Australia.

Mr O'Neil said: “I was over the moon when I saw how many people were supporting Kizzie.

“She's not dangerous - and everybody round here knows that.

"So many people have been in touch – people from Australia, from America, from all over the place. I've had four lawyers get in touch to say they'll help me save Kizzie.

“I did everything I could to keep her in the garden, but she's a clever dog.

"The fence is six feet high, but Kizzie jumps off things, and once she gets her paws on the top of the fence there's no stopping her.

“She's never been in a dog fight, or bitten anybody.

“The only person she barks at is the postman, and when he tells her to get away, she just turns round and trots off with her tail between her legs.

"I'd love to have her back but if she has to go to somebody else to save her then I'd accept that.

“I just want her to be saved.”

Mr O'Neil's mum, of Raffles Avenue, Raffles, said: “We've had Kizzie since she was eight-weeks-old.

“She thinks she's one of the girls. She's gentle and the thing she loves best is having cuddles. It would be wrong to kill her.

“A lot of the children who live round here are saying they miss her. They miss giving her cuddles.”

The Change.org petition organiser Kylie Robinson states: “This soft and friendly family dog is to be destroyed because of her breed and her adventurous nature.

"Yet she has been deemed safe and friendly by the authorities yet they still want to put her down.

"This petition has been started as there has been numerous requests to rehome her. Please sign if you would like to see Kizzy rehomed.”

To sign, visit www.change.org/p/kylie-save-soft-and-friendly-kizzie