One of the criticisms thrown at people who find themselves affected by Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), is ‘why get a pit bull dog if you weren’t looking for trouble?’ Only bad people, the thinking goes – would ever own one of ‘these’ dogs.
In stark contrast to this platitude, last February Jennifer and her family did exactly what we ask people to do – they adopted a family pet from an animal shelter.
They visited the Lost Dogs Home Brisbane and chose a pup named Zeus.
Zeus lived with his new family, registered with the city as the same breed he was adopted as – a Labrador/Staffy cross.
Seven months later, he escaped his yard with the family’s other dog Aliyah. She returned, but he did not. After a week Zeus appeared on the Brisbane City Council lost pets pages as being back at the Lost Dogs Home.
Jennifer tried to reclaim Zeus, but was told that now he was grown, Council believed he met the criteria for a restricted breed dog. Zeus would be killed for being a ‘pit bull’;
“I found myself face to face with their manager pleading with them to let him come home as only the past February we had taken him home as a puppy from the same shelter. But they dismissed me and their mistake, and pursued him as a ‘pit bull type’ dog now that he had grown up.”
A destruction order was issued, but Jennifer was given the right to an appeal. She did – but remarkabky lost the case.
Determined not to abandon her pet, and with the assistance of the Barristers Animal Welfare Panel, a second appeal was lodged. The case has now been adjourned, and Zeus is able to be released. But he can’t go home – he must be moved out of the city.
A rescued pup and his young family have been thrown into months of turmoil – and he has lost his home – not because Zeus is a problem dog, or an aggressive dog. But because someone in a pound felt Zeus didn’t look like a restricted breed – and someone else in a pound, on a different day, felt that he did.
The system of visually identifying dog’s breeds is just that faulty.
Arrangements are being made to secure Zeus’ release. There is the matter of the $3,000 bill for impoundment charges – yup, the family is being charged for every day the council incarcerate their dog. And coordination for a rescue group to take Zeus is underway. He’s back to looking for a home, even though he has a family who loves him.
BSL destroys families. It doesn’t discern between ‘dog fighters’ or ‘thugs’ and the nice people and nice dogs. And in this case, it has even a targeted a rescue pup and his loving family.
Please show your support for Zeus at the ‘Save Zeus’ Facebook Page.
So, so terrible. That poor family. I hope Zeus finds a home in the ACT or NT where he can live a full and happy life from from this godawful legislation.
I hope he can find solace here or NT.
BSL is disgusting and should be abolished immediately. I have read so many heartbreaking stories about BSL and feel so much for the families who experience this heartbreak. This really makes me lose faith in humanity.
I think the BSL laws are rediculous people are the problem not the animals I also think that BCC needs to review how the decisions about the dog breeds are defined Zeus is clearly not a pitbull Perhaps there should be DNA testing at the very least
So many families are being punished by stupid laws made by stupid people
well ive never heard of anything so stupid in all my life!!!!! he came from a shelter and was adopted to a family that love him but wait……….now they cant have him!!!!!!! WTF!!! I feel so sorry for the family and I just hope there is a way to get your boy back!!!!! GOODLUCK!
It is so stupid that they are asking for Zeus to be sent possibly to Victoria. If anyone knows anything about BSL, then they know Victoria has horrific BSL laws! Why would you send a dog from one BSL state to another. It just doesn’t make any sense!
Zeus has a family who wants him so why can’t he go home? It;s just so frustrating & so ridiculous & so heart breaking for all involved.
The money for the kennel fees has been raised. That is not an issue. Having Zeus leave his family well that is a huge problem!
There is a month until the hearing is adjourned & something has to happen before then. BSL has to go. This law KILLS innocent dogs who have done nothing wrong except look a certain way :(
When is sanity going to prevail and they realise that it is NOT the breed of the dog that is dangerous and need restricting but the lousy owners that need restricting who make a dog dangerous with the wrong treatment and that can be any breed of dog from a so called pit bull to a chihuahua
Zeus and family; I am sorry the system is treating you so badly!
I know this is another expense for the family, but DNA testing should reveal his breeding?
From what I have been told, DNA will not be admissable in court. The powers that be want it all their own way and totally go out of their way to do everything they can to destroy these dogs.
this is absolutely disgusting! and its extortion making the family pay while the dog is in the pound, i hope you get your dog back. xx
There is no DNA marker for ‘Pit Bull’ breed to test for, a DNA test can neither prove or disprove that a dog is a Pit Bull. The BSL laws are absolutely atrocious and have been proven ineffective and been revoked in dozens of countries. If a Veterinarian with years of experience and study cannot determine definitively the breed of a dog by visual appraisal alone who the hell do these council workers think they are? Judge the dog by its actions not by it’s looks, and trace the dogs actions back to the owner’s treatment of the dog and then you will find the issue. Ironically numerous studies have found the most aggressive dog breeds are the Dachshund, Chihuahua and Jack Russell terrier, 1 in 5 having bitten a stranger and 1 in 3 having bitten another dog, with Pit Bulls scoring average or below average levels of aggression (obviously this does not include fighting dogs, any dog that has been raised in that environment and trained to fight or die will be aggressive regardless of breed).
The Australian Veterinary Association’s extensive report on dog biting incidents, BSL and advice to governments:
http://www.ava.com.au/sites/default/files/AVA_website/pdfs/Dangerous%20dogs%20-%20a%20sensible%20solution%20FINAL.pdf
This is really sad…this puppy in a big body needs to be back with his family NOW….you should not make this judgement…and keep them apart all this time….they MISS each other. No evidence….he’s sweet…and the longer you separate this family…..he becomes afraid. Please do not do this.
ONCE AGAIN THE BIGOTTED ILL INFORMED ‘POWERS THAT BE’ FOCUS THEIR CRUSHING MIGHT ON AN INNOCENT FAMILY PET BECAUSE, AND ONLY BECAUSE, OF HOW HE LOOKS!!!!!
ZEUS LIKE MANY THOUSANDS OF DOGS BEFORE HIM HAS BEEN VILLIFIED BECAUSE HIS BUILD FITS A SPECIFIC BREED CRITERIA ALLEGEDLY, AS THERE IS NO HARD AND FAST LEGISLATION WHICH CAN IDENTIFY A TYPE!!!!!
WHEN WILL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY LOOK AT THE REALITY AND SEE THAT BSL DOES NOT AND NEVER WILL WORK;!!!!!
PUNISH THE DEED AND NOT THE BREED; IT’S THAT SIMPLE!!!!!!!
To judge a dog by its breed is like judging a parent by its kids, I luv my pit she is the biggest baby I’ve ever had I can’t see life without her she was a rescue dog of a pit bull fighting ring
is this a state or federal government law, doesn’t make difference really, each and every politician state or federal dictators anyhow, take napthine for example he used to be a vet, ha ha ha these faceless pricks are not in power to represent people, biggest fear we may not even be a democracy, as we believe, whole way they do things irony they actually think they are intelligent, and superior to us, evil abbotts ways already filtering down to state governments, ONLY GOOD POLITICIAN IS A DEAD ONE
How can I help Zeus
I’m disgusted with the way Zuess had been condemned purely for his looks. The BLS law is outrageously cruel on animals and emotionally cruel to the family whom owns the animals that have been chosen as not acceptable because of there looks. With Zuess’s family adopting Zuess from the LDH and now to go through this and costing them a fortune is unbelievable and so so wrong. Let Zuess go home with his family, he had no aggression, no history of aggression, and stop destroying peoples lives and faith in humanity.
The World has gone Mad .senseless to say the least .good Luck Zeus x
Disgusting, I am appalled that this can even be possible, that he was rescued as a pup and sold to these people and then months later declared a dangerous breed where has common sense gone these days ?Please save this poor dog and return him to his owners who obviously love him and waive the council expenses when it is not their fault that some idiot can’t get past their own importance and retract their assesment that he is a pitbull when originally he was not classed as such and really should be responsible for any expenses incurred to house and feed this poor boy while his owners fight to save him and just get their dog back. Build a bridge and get over yourself whoever is making this poor decision.
This is disturbing. And don’t think this won’t happen to you. BCC should be ashamed of themselves.
I’m sure there is better things they could be doing with their time.. Like maybe investigating the dog fighting rings happening. This story has made me feel sick… Good luck to Zuess and his family
One word “SHOCKING”!!
This is a joke ! I currently have 2 pitbulls being held at a pound and they keep lieing to me about staff being on holidays and every other excuse . It’s been dragging on for nearly 2 weeks my 2 poor dogs have been caged up the whole time and the only reason they got caught by the pound was because I have just moved from NSW to QLD and they were in a unfamiliar back yard and a big storm hit so they must of been scared and somehow escaped my mates backyard . I can’t believe Zeus’s story !! These pitbull story’s are getting more and more ridiculous !
I wish we could get rid of councils if an animal is neglected they won’t do anything about it, won’t check on animals in pet shops, but go out of their way to harm a beloved family pet, go figure????
Heartless money hungry councils, they use there powers to a point I don’t think they are humans, you disgust me that a family not only have Zeus home but charge them kennel charges because you have the say about their baby. You will all meet your maker, in hell ????????
Give Zeus, back to his loving family, how would you like it if someone came and said your child should be taken from you through No fault of their own! The rules today need to be tightened up were people abuse animals, animals need people to back them up Not take them and destroy them when it’s Not needed! Wake up and give the dog back to his loving family. have a heart!!!
Beaurocracy gone horribly wrong. My heart goes out to this poor family. Surely someone can do something!!
Thank God this BSL (bloody stupid law) hasn’t reached South Australia. I have never known anything as pathetic as banning a whole breed. Ban the idiots that use these dogs for bad, not the good owners with wonderfully behaved dogs. If Zeus has to be sent interstate (and why is this anyway?) send him to SA… Least then he will not be discrimiated because of how he looks…
you guys are crazy your system sucks you need to look into other ways to fix your problem !!!! its not pitties its the system !!!!! to many chiefs not enough Indians !!!!!
There is nothing that I can add…..speechless and at a loss for words…
It’s all about IGNORANCE. The person who ‘deemed’ Zeus to be a pitbull must really enjoy the power they have over people’s lives. I’d love to meet him/her. The entire situation smacks of one long power trip by people who really shouldn’t be working with animals at all. My heart goes out to the family and to poor Zeus having to endure this torment because of some pig ignorant ****.
This story is beyond belief, a family took this dog and gave it a home and love Zeus, Visual identification of a dogs breeding is ludicrous .
This is absurd, it’s the deed not the breed. Come on all those who were instrumental in coming to this decision, it’s noble to admit you have made a mistake.
The evidence is subjective, how could it be conclusive?
Swear over your child’s/partner’s life that you made no mistake in breaking up a family and its pet because you had evidence that this dog was a danger to the world.
There are so many wrongs in that I wouldn’t know where to start. How dare they make you pay and how dare they change the breed of Dog that was sold to you in the first place. It is you who should be charging them. If they got it right in the first place they would have destroyed him as a Pup instead you were told he was a X breed and then you fell in love with him. Sorry to hear the they are wankers there. Hope you get him back
Bsl is a g ouvernment sanctioned animal cruelty act.spca is not in favour of bel why are they not stepping In to help abolish this legislation.bsl legislation condemns a breed or breeds based on alledging dangerous or may be dangerous ??? Do they really think when one is newborn it is a dangerous dog sheesh its the guardian and who they want the dog to be not the dogs fault period.Responsable ownership is being condemned due to fight rings and media injecting fear into public.bsl is a sanctioned animal cruelty act and spca must step forward and abolish this act of cruelty to dog and guardian.
Surely it is upon the council to prove guilt …the dog has done nothing … To be doomed because if one persons uninformed say so is shocking and should be illegal
This is a world gone mad being run by bureaucrats who don’t know their elbow from their other bits of anatomy. It would be nice to actually see anyone who enforces this to get themselves educated so that they are not simply following the blind hysterical orders of idiot politicians. You voted them in people – the only way to stop this is to start voting for people who don’t have this legislation on their agenda and will actively move to abolish it and replace with the correct laws. Targeting the human scum responsible for aggressive dogs.
I can’t believe that after all this, he can’t go back home with his family. This is heartbreaking for all. BSL has to be abolished
Why can they not DNA type him and prove he is or is not a banned breed.
The assessment as written in law is a visual appraisal. It is actually irrelevant what breed a dog is – only what breed it it deemed to ‘look like’.
(Also, there is no DNA marker available for the breed ‘pit bull’ in Australia)
Surely if there is no DNA for a Pitt Bull then a test will tell them what he actually is…has he been for a test…If he was my dog I would be getting it done…time they started worrying about people getting bashed and killed and left a defenceless dog alone….stupid laws….
We in Australia are like sheep we follow the USA like faithful puppies. Well its time we really followed as the USA has finally worked out that BSL does not work and more and more states are repealing this law.
Why when we see it happening over there do we still insist on bringing it in. Eventually the laws will change here we hope but not before both families and animals are destroyed. This is a disgusting law.
In choosing better words than those burning in my mind over these bitterly sad stories, I pray long and hard that all of these dogs will be released and that the legislation will be taken off the books. Stop discriminating based on breed!
I find this incredibly sad. I live in redfern
Nsw and there are several known dogs that
Have bitten people and other dogs that are a
Aggresive and off lead. Not pitbulls either.
Where is the logic education and knowledge
Gone ?
DISGUSTING! Don’t give up hope!
wtf?! how can they do that?what if it was their dog that got taken cos.it ‘looked dangerous’ thats all this is,i had the ranger try and tell me my dog was a pitbull when he is in fact a mastiff x ridgeback…it makes me so mad to think that a dog who has bin raised to b lovibg and afectionate and is totally in love with the owners ,not to mention one of wich is a chid child,may never c them again and is probably confused and missing them dearly,all because a few do gooders want something to bitch about n raise revenue.they have to pay pound bills!!what a load of BS .theyre chargong this poor family to put them and their dog thru hell.all we can do is hope it works out and that the ppl who think hes dangerous can somehow have a heart and give him wat he deserves;which is his family that love him
I cannot believe this. If you need help with pennies to release him, pls contact
Good luck to Zeus & his loving family. The system definitely stinks as I don’t believe the nature of a dog is predetermined by it’s breed, rather by it’s upbringing & it’s own personality traits. However I was wondering if there is DNA testing available to determine what breed Zeus actually is – shouldn’t be relevant but might help with the case although could also be costly I imagine.
Well, another case of cruelty and stupidity. Really, I despair. A lousy policy with no basis. A heart broken family and a sad dog who has done nothing wrong. If we applied the death penalty to unruly children based on parentage or nationality the ridiculousness of this would be instantly apparent.
Good luck, there is no fairness or justice just sheer luck….You certainly should not have to pay for ‘jail time” when no crime has been proved.
i agree with all of the above comments. Its a bloody stupid law! Unfair, inaccurate, a joke…just not a joke to the dogs who are getting put down or taken from their families..
Oh this is just tragic! Considering he was registered as a lab x Staffy, what is there reason behind keeping him away from his family?! Just so sad! I hope they get him back.. I got my baby girl back from the lost dogs home after she got out one day.. They weren’t going to give her back to me because she “looked” like a pitbill (registered American Staff). Took me almost two days to get her out! But I got her! Don’t give up hope!!
The BSL is barbaric, racist profiteering nothing else! These poor pups are ripped from their families and homes, ill treated and in some cases abused, then if they are seen as type they are murdered!
This pup has done nothing, he is loved and loves back, he should be allowed to go his own home to live a free life where he will be loved.
Why can he not go home now he’s been released?
Good luck pup xxxx