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.
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