Izzy’s appeal to the High Court of Australia is to be heard in Canberra tomorrow, 14 April 2015. It will be recalled from previous posts that Izzy’s owner was unsuccessful at first instance in the Supreme Court of Victoria on complaints of procedural fairness about the City of Knox Panel hearing convened to determine whether Izzy…
It may be recalled from our posts of 10 & 15 September 2014 that Izzy’s owner filed an application for Special Leave (permission) to appeal to the High Court of Australia. On 10 September 2014 the Victorian Court of Appeal upheld a decision of the Supreme Court Judge at first instance, the effect of which…
The Panel is pleased to report that rottweiler ‘Laura‘, a declared dangerous dog in the jurisdiction of Greater Dandenong City Council, has been saved from euthanasia. Laura‘s owner is currently homeless, and therefore unable to comply with the housing requirements for a dangerous dog. Accordingly, the Council formed a preliminary view that Laura must be destroyed. In order…
In a judgement published at 11.30am, VCAT President, Garde J, found that Kerser is not a restricted breed dog. And Panel counsel appeared in all the different proceedings for owner Jade Applebee without any personal cost to her whatsoever. In brief summary, on 4 December 2012 the City of Monash seized and impounded Kerser. On…
In our post of 18 November 2014 we reported that American Staffordshire Terriers, Seth (13 years) and Jaxon (10 months) were both on death row following allegations in August of an attack involving two persons, and a Pomeranian dog and a cat. Both animals were killed and one person received minor injuries. But the owner…
Further to our report of 11 October 2014 that American Staffordshire ‘Sonny’ had been impounded by Wodonga City Council and declared a restricted breed, the Panel then intervened to challenge the declaration in VCAT. It was fixed for hearing this last Thursday, 11 December 2014. At the hearing that day, Wodonga CC capitulated and agreed…
The last video depicts Mylo in the car ready to go home. All media were present. Channels 7, 9 and 10 all captured the moment of reunion, which will be screened in their news bulletins tonight (Ch. 10, 5pm and Chs. 7 and 9, 6pm). Fairfax Media (The Age) and News Limited (Brimbank Leader and Herald…
In a judgement published at 9.30am, VCAT President, Garde J, found that Mylo is not a restricted breed dog. Mylo needs to be desexed before he can be released. It is anticipated this will be done quickly and that hopefully he will go home Friday. Mylo has been incarcerated for some 2 years and 7…
American Staffordshire Terriers, Seth (13 years) and Jaxon (10 months) are both on death row following allegations in August of an attack involving two persons, and a Pomeranian dog and a cat. Both animals were killed and one person received minor injuries. But the owner advised Sunshine City Council that it was her other dog,…
With an election a fortnight away in Victoria, the Labor Opposition has promised if elected it will subject breed specific legislation (‘BSL’) to a parliamentary inquiry. Further, during the inquiry there will be a prohibition on killing any dogs detained under BSL. The announcement comes just over a year after BAWP brought Bill Bruce to…
Further to our post of 29 August 2014, yesterday death row dog “Sadie” was released into the care of Brightside Farm Sanctuary in Tasmania. Sadie is a Council declared dangerous dog subject to a destruction order. Since August, the Panel has been working to appeal the declaration, stay her destruction, and have Sadie released from…
Today VCAT President, Garde J, granted leave to the owner of Mylo to file a fresh application out of time challenging the City of Brimbank’s declaration on 17 May 2012 that he is a restricted breed dog. The fresh application was directed to be filed by 29 July: it was in fact filed today soon…
The Panel intervened this week to arrange for RSPCA (SA) to offer to take the dogs Charlie and Sharni from the Frankston City Council. The Frankston City Council has resolved that the dogs be put down for killing a cat or cats. RSCPA (SA) made the offer in writing but it was rejected by the Council…
Further to our FB posts of 18 April and 12 May 2014 where we reported on the plight of Brutus, Coco and 9 puppies seized on 23 August 2013 by Hume City Council, Brutus went home to his owner on 10 June. Brutus’ owner had lost at VCAT, Judge Harbison affirming on 11 May the…
By a Supreme Court injunction to stop Knuckles (and Zeus) being killed on the day he was scheduled to be put down last year by Geelong City Council, and subsequently by consent orders of VCAT revoking the Council’s declaration that he was a restricted breed dog, the Panel intervened to save Knuckles’ life: view our…
“In Victoria, some dogs are more equal than others. Depending on a dog’s postcode and the tenacity of its owner, a dog that bites might get off scot-free or it might be put down. Meanwhile, it can spend months in a pound awaiting its fate, with its owners barred from visiting. Most of the media…
Coco was seized on 23 August 2013, along with a male dog, Brutus, and their 9 puppies then aged 2 weeks’ old. Coco and Brutus were declared to be restricted breed dogs. The puppies were not declared. Following intervention by the Panel and Dogs on Trial, on 13 January 2014 the Council agreed to release…
For the past six months or so the Panel has been battling to save Brisbane dog Zeus from a destruction order. Today Zeus was finally released (pictured). Zeus was found “wandering at large” by the Brisbane City Council in August 2013 and classified as “substantially fitting the description of an American Pit Bull Terrier”,…
In a judgment handed down this morning, Rush J of the Supreme Court of Victoria ordered, amongst other things, that the appeal be allowed; the VCAT order be set aside; the matter be remitted to the Tribunal, differently constituted, to be heard and decided afresh; and that the City of Brimbank pay Mylo’s owner’s costs.…
In debate in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, shadow minister for agriculture John Lenders moved a motion yesterday calling for a parliamentary review of breed specific legislation and whether there are more cost effective means of preventing and reducing dog attacks. In this last respect, Mr Lenders mentioned the Calgary model a number of times. This…