DYERSBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Animal lovers are pleading with Dyersburg officials to stop the planned euthanasia of a 2 ½-year-old dog named Beau.

Thousands of people have signed a petition aiming to stop the Nov. 20 euthanasia of the golden retriever-German shepherd mix.

According to the State Gazette (http://bit.ly/1zptCXS), Beau was deemed vicious during a Sept. 26 hearing after the dog allegedly killed a duck owned by a neighbor and attempted to bite an 8-year-old boy.

A judge told the owner, that he can keep Beau if he complies with the city’s vicious dog ordinance, but Higgins said he could not afford the money needed to comply with the ordinance.

The euthanasia had been set for Oct. 21, but it was postponed to allow someone to secure custody of Beau from Higgins.