The Victorian duck shooting season commences this weekend, Saturday 21 March 2015. Most shooting is carried out on the opening weekend. South Australia, the only other state that permits duck shooting, commenced its season in February. Studies estimate that up to one third of birds hunted by shotgun are wounded rather than killed, resulting in…
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…
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…
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…
The Panel has called for the greyhound racing industry to be shut down in light of the Four Corners program “Making a Killing”. Panel Chair, Joana Fuller, was interviewed by the 7.30 program. The story can be seen here: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4182750.htm
Learning late last year that South Australia’s Wildlife Ethics Committee of the Department of Environment , Water and Natural Resources had approved a project to excavate active wombat burrows in the Murray Darling Basin, the Panel immediately brought this to the notice of RSPCA SA and assisted RSPCA SA in lodging its appeal (under sec…
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.
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…
A formal investigation into housing conditions and the euthanasia rate at the North Melbourne Lost Dogs’ Home has been launched by the Victorian Government. The move comes after social media campaigns, including a petition started on January 16, which has almost 10,000 signatures, as well as plans for a rally by animal rescue groups. Click…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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.
Live export cruelty has again been revealed at a time when preparations for religious festivals are occurring. 174 Australian sheep meant for Korban ritual did not survive their flight to Singapore. Read more at http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/174-australian-sheep-meant-korban-ritual-did-not-survive For the fifth time, Animals Australia has provided the Department of Agriculture with evidence of recurring live export breaches at the…
On 11 August 2014 the Panel intervened on behalf of the Australian Society for Kangaroos to prepare and file on its behalf an application in the Supreme Court of Queensland to review decisions by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to grant damage mitigation permits for the taking of Agile Wallabies in the Mission Beach area…
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…
Founder and inaugural Chair (2006 to 2014), Graeme McEwen, has stepped down as Panel Chair so that he may focus on Counsel for Animals International, a new group with lawyer support in 17 countries. A CAI website is under construction: counselforanimalsinternational.org. Graeme remains as a director of the Panel board and will still act as…