Humdrum isn't dangerous says distraught owner

Graham Sheather made an impassioned plea to council on Wednesday night to overturn their decision deeming his six-year-old greyhound, Humdrum, dangerous.

It comes almost three months after the champion greyhound killed the cat after escaping the family home in Edwards Street early one Saturday morning.

Graham told the meeting how council’s handling of the matter had caused him heartache and many sleepless nights.

“On that day the dog got out, my fault,” he said.

“We admitted from the word go that our dog killed that cat… [but] we believe the dog was provoked.

“We went and seen the owners of the cat - they were crying, we were crying – we told them we were sorry.”

The greyhound breeder of 30 years said he watched his dog, excited to go for a walk, escape out the open garage door with their whippet (miniature greyhound) Reg on March 8.

Reg returned home not long afterwards but Graham and several others were still searching for Humdrum 90 minutes later, calling the radio and local ranger in the process.

When Graham heard the ranger had his dog, he headed straight to the Young Pound but was told Humdrum wouldn’t be released because he killed a cat at a Lynch Street residence.

He rang 14 times, concerned for the dog’s welfare after being made aware he suffered scratches, punctures and swelling from the altercation.

Humdrum wasn’t released until 5.45pm that evening. By 6pm he was admitted to the vet clinic where he remained for three days on a drip.

Graham met with council’s general manager Peter Vlatko and planning, environment and strategic services director Craig Filmer that Monday morning. 

The Sheather family later received a letter from council declaring Humdrum dangerous and imposing a $770 fine. Shortly after Graham set up a petition.

Following two months of correspondence between the Sheathers and council, and attempts to overturn the decision, Graham was told council had no choice but to declare the dog dangerous.

Under the Dangerous Dog Act, a dog can be declared dangerous by an authorised council officer or a local court if it has, without provocation, attacked or killed a person or animal (not including vermin).

Once a dog is declared dangerous, owners must ensure their dog is microchipped and lifetime registered, desexed, is not left in the sole charge of a person under 18 years, contained in an enclosure that meets regulation requirements,  wears a prescribed collar at all times, wears a muzzle and is securely leashed at all times when outside the enclosure.

Owners must also display dangerous dog warning signs and notify council if they are entering/leaving an area.

Graham said at the meeting since the altercation he’s received no reports from council to prove the dog was dangerous.

“How do we know the dog wasn’t provoked?” He said.

“Where’s the evidence? How can they deem this dog dangerous when they weren’t there and didn’t see it?

“I’ve had this dog since he was three months old. I can’t get my head around why.

“I’m going to court to fight the matter… I just want an answer… I’m not going away from this.”

Mr Vlatko told Graham at the meeting that the only way for the declaration to be revoked was to go to court.

“Under the Act we have to deem that dog dangerous,” he said.