Decode whitespace encoded gif

pyteout.py

#!/usr/bin/env python2.7

string = ''

def decodeWhiteChar(char):
  if char == '\t':            # tab
    value = '00'
  elif char == '\r':          # cr
    value = '01'
  elif char == '\n':          # lf
    value = '10'
  elif char == ' ':           # space
    value = '11'
  else:
    print "\n!!!\t!!!\t!!!\n\n\tbad input!\n\n!!!\t!!!\t!!!\n\n"
    sys.exit
  return value

with open('poni', 'rb') as pyte_file:
  count = 0
  t_string = ''
  byte = pyte_file.read(1)
  while byte != "":
    count = (count + 1) % 4
    val = decodeWhiteChar(byte)
    t_string += val

    if count == 0:
      binary = int(t_string, 2)
      string += chr(binary)
      t_string = ''
    byte = pyte_file.read(1)

with open('poni.gif', 'wb') as f:
  f.write(string)