PANEL INTERVENES TO SAVE BAM BAM

On 12 May 2014 a 5 month old puppy was impounded by Sydney City Council as a stray and taken to Sutherland Animal Shelter. His owner found him at the Shelter on 14 July 2014 and provided photographs to prove she owned him. Shelter staff were satisfied Bam Bam was her dog. However, instead of…

Panel intervenes to stop Brisbane City Council wrongly declaring “Tez” a Pit Bull Terrier

On 2 December 2014 Tez escaped from his owners’ backyard. Despite returning home, Brisbane City Council issued an infringement notice for “wandering.” Then, and on the basis of photographs alone, Council alleged that Tez was a Pit Bull Terrier and requested that he be handed over for a ‘22 point check’ to determine his breed. Tez’s owner provided a veterinary certificate pursuant to s 63 of the…

PANEL INTERVENES TO SAVE BOSS

Labrador cross Kelpie ‘Boss’ has been saved from death. Boss had been declared a dangerous dog by Knox City Council but Boss’s owner was unable to comply with the housing requirements for a dangerous dog within the prescribed time period. He was also unable to afford the thousands of dollars in pound fees incurred as…

IZZY WINS

The High Court of Australia has granted Izzy’s owner special leave to appeal. The High Court appeal will likely be heard in April. The Panel extends its grateful thanks to Panel counsel Richard Kendall QC and Andrew Felkel, instructed by Daniel Beecher of Phoenix Legal Solutions.

PANEL INTERVENES TO SAVE LAURA

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…

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KERSER WINS

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…

Panel intervenes to save Seth and Jaxon

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…

MYLO: THE MOMENT OF REUNION

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…

MYLO WINS: GOING HOME

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…

Senate Passes Cross-Party Motion to End Animal Testing for Cosmetics

Earlier this week brought good news from the Australian Senate for animals involved in cosmetics testing. On 27 November 2014, the Senate has passed a cross-party motion in support of ending animal testing for cosmetics: http://www.humaneresearch.org.au/interview/australian-senate-motion-against-cosmetics-animal-testing-welcomed-by-becrueltyfree-campaigners Earlier this year, the Panel made verbal and written submissions to the national ALP Cosmetics & Animal Testing Policy Consultation,…

Panel intervenes for Queensland’s Seth and Jaxon

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,…

Victoria’s Labor Opposition promises Inquiry into BSL

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…

Melbourne Cup deaths

An autopsy has revealed that Melbourne Cup favourite Admire Rakti died of acute heart failure. Last night, ABC’s Lateline covered the story with an interview of Elio Celotto of Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses. The story includes footage of Admire Rakti immediately after the race, showing the seven-year-old stallion collapsing in his stall. Click…

Panel Intervenes to Save Sonny

Earlier this month in Wodonga, Victoria American Staffordshire Sonny was impounded by Wodonga City Council and declared a restricted breed. The Panel has intervened to appeal the declaration, which is due to be filed in VCAT by 16 October. The Panel extends it’s grateful thanks to Daniel Beecher of Phoenix Legal Solutions and barrister Simone Bailey for their assistance in preparing the VCAT appeal application.

COMPANY FINED FOR MISLEADING, DECEIVING CUSTOMERS OVER FREE-RANGE EGGS CLAIM

The Federal Court this week fined Pirovic Enterprises Pty Ltd $300,000 for misleading consumers that their eggs were free-range.  The decision was reported in various media outlets, including ABC News. The ACCC believes this decision will set a precedent for future cases as the court has effectively defined what constitutes a free-range claim, being that…

Mylo files fresh VCAT Application

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…