I have no idea if this will work, but it's worth a try...

[wordinista]

I frequent a forum for owners of Australian Shepherds, and lovers of the breed.  It's a really great group of people, and I've learned a lot of helpful things from the board.  Tonight I found a plea that I can't help with, but I'm sending it out there with the hopes that someone might be able to help.

I don't know if anyone on my f-list can do anything, but this story is tearing at my heart.

Comments

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

How stupid! Over a stinking hole in a shirt??? My cats do more damage to me than a little hole in a shirt! It goes to show how stupid some parents are these days, and it goes even further to show how stupid the city is! Any reasonable judge would just laugh in those people's faces! That poor, poor family.

I'm not much closer to Canada than you are so...

[smartycat.livejournal.com]

Some contacts to forward on to the owner...

Keeping in mind that there may be serious liability issues for anyone who takes on the dog (He's still just a puppy though! What do people expect from puppies?), depending on how Canadian law works, the only thing to do is call in the cavalry and network as many people as possible and ask if they or someone they know could take him.

Aussie Breed Rescues
http://www.aussierescuecanada.com/
http://www.staar.org/ (US & Canada)
http://www.aussierescue.org/ (may only be US; I'm not sure)

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD DOG CLUB OF ONTARIO
10801 OLD SIMCOE ROAD
PORT PERRY, ON L9L 1B3
Phone Number (905) 982-0607

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD CLUB OF ALBERTA
BOX 7 SITE 402 RR 4
SHERWOOD PARK, AB T8A 3K4
Phone Number (780) 464-0516

Perhaps some Aussie breeders in the northern states might be wiling to help
http://www.asca.org/Finding+an+Aussie/Breeders+Directory

Then there are also all breed rescue groups and humane societies in Canada.
http://www.petfinder.com/

And perhaps the owner should also talk to the obediance instructors. They might have contacts elsewhere in the country.

[cyperian.livejournal.com]

How LAME!! I mean I understand that they have to cover their asses and be extra vigilant, but there are ways to TEST if a dog is violent! They show it all the time on Animal Planet... Cops seize a dog that has been abused and they give them a medical exam and then send them off to test if they are too aggressive and traumatized for adoption. They use dolls and a manequin hand to 'annoy' the dog and take its food away. They test obedience and for 'alpha' behavior. Honestly, ANY dog thought to be vicious or dangerous should undergo one of these screenings before slapping a label on them.

These people should demand that the dog be given an examination since the eye witness testimony is so solid AND even the girl in question says it was an accident. I don't know if the laws are even remotely the same in Canada as they are in the US, but I'm sure the ASPCA would be happy to send the mounties a pamphlet. ^_~

[haro.livejournal.com]

Oh my god. That pisses me off so much. I just.... WOW.

The Evils of a Litigious Society

[hecallaghan.livejournal.com]

I find it absolutely amazing that you can have your dog labelled dangerous without it displaying dangerous behavior and doing no-one any physical harm. A dangerous dog would not be satisfied with just ripping a shirt.

And it's a *puppy*.

It sounds to me like these people who own the dog are being badly advised. The state has to prove that it is dangerous before it is labelled dangerous. And I don't see how it can.

[vespurtine.livejournal.com]

I'm in Ontario >.>

It really does suck, but I can understand the city's point of view. They are at an extreme risk if that dog ever just bit another person, because a previous incident was reported. It sucks, but that's what the world's like nowadays -- everyone will sue over every little thing if they think they can get money out of it, from the woman who spilled McDonald's coffee on herself while driving to the little prick that sued my old workplace because he was a shitty worker and the manager gave him a bad reference (which is why I can't give that place as a reference. It's really fun when I'm asked about references, seriously)

So it's safest to slap a dangerous dog lable on the puppy. And we've had several fatal dog attacks in the past few years that got a lot of press coverage, which doesn't help.

I'd pin the blame for this one on the stupid parents that phoned animal control. Over a hole in the shirt? Especially if the daughter explained that the dog wasn't trying to bite, like it sounds like she did? They sound like bleeding moronic assholes. They had to know what reporting that as a 'dog attack' would mean. >(

[emrlddragon.livejournal.com]

You may or may not know, but I am a pet sitter by trade. I have dogs jump all over me, cats scratch me, and birds nip me. None of them are dangerous animals, they are just playing or are scared because they don't know me. My work clothes literally look like they came from GoodWill rejection pile.

First off, a girl that age, that lacks the experience she appears to lack, should not be walking that type of breed -- puppy especially. It was her fault for putting the dog in that situation in the first place.

Second, I would suggest filing a counter suit against the "bitten" girl's parents. A different judge could be less of an idiot, and they can tack on pain and suffering as well.