Royce Back Home Wasn't A Pitbull.

[tarope]

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BY RODERICK SHAW

13 Apr, 2010 09:09 AM

ROYCE the dog has come home to his Blacktown owner, Jock Coulter, seven weeks after his removal by Blacktown pound.

``I'm ecstatic; I just felt elation when told I could take him home,'' Mr Coulter said.

``He's my best friend; the only one happy to see me every day.''

Royce, a 13-year-old mastiff-cross, was seized by Blacktown pound officers who said he was a pit bull and therefore a dangerous dog.

However, Mr Coulter said Royce was not a pit bull, nor had he ever attacked anyone or another animal.

Blacktown councillor and veterinarian, Russ Dickens, said he had treated the dog for years and had never heard any complaints about him.

Mr Coulter also said he was told he had to build a backyard enclosure for Royce, which he said cost him a great deal of money.

But last week he had his dog professionally assessed for its breed.

``She [the assessor] said Royce was half mastiff and half ridgeback,'' he said.

He said the pound then allowed him to take Royce home and wished them well.

Mr Coulter said he was happy to have his dog home, but unhappy about what had happened to him.

``Look at the costs I've incurred building that cage in my backyard,'' he said.

``I still don't know what Royce is supposed to have done.

``It's ground me down; I can't say what it's done to me.''

Mr Coulter said he was worried the same thing could happen to another dog owner.

Cr Dickens has asked Blacktown Council officers for an explanation of the affair.

The Sun contacted Blacktown Council for comment, but it could not reply in time for publication.

In the meantime, Mr Coulter is dismantling the cage once meant for Royce.

``I'll keep a bit of it for a garden shed,'' he said.

What a great end to this story, Blacktown council left with egg on their faces again. :D

[sas]

It's just so dangerous isn't it...guess the breed....no idea...must be a pitt bull!

[juice]

i believe his return had alot to do with a doler, who got involved and spoke to council about their action

so glad the old chook is back where he belongs

its a very scary situation with all bull breeds owners if you fall out with a neighbour who wants to get back at you :D

Edited April 16, 2010 by juice

[Zhou Xuanyao]

The blind leading the blind, first the ranger, then the (presumably) show judge .... and dogs and their owners are at the mercy of these buffoons and the convoluted system they operate under.

The breed assessor could have just as easily turned around and said it was infact a Pitbull, as often happens, and then thats it, you have a "dangerous dog".

[poodlefan]

The blind leading the blind, first the ranger, then the (presumably) show judge .... and dogs and their owners are at the mercy of these buffoons and the convoluted system they operate under.

The breed assessor could have just as easily turned around and said it was infact a Pitbull, as often happens, and then thats it, you have a "dangerous dog".

Seems to me the breed assesor got the dog OUT of the pound Lo Pan.

[Zhou Xuanyao]

In this fortunate case she did. I am commenting on the process of identifying the dog.

[tarope]

Royce back with his owner how wrong is BSL.

I wonder if Mr Coulter will be speaking to a lawyer given what Blacktown council has put him through, might make council think twice about doing this again.

[justin19801]

The biggest danger is that a breed assessment can't be challenged in court. This infringes all our rights and makes the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan seem a bigger farce than they already are. ANKC should be challenging this, not training assessors for a breed they claim doesn't exist.

[Erny]

...

Was going to say something else, but the hopelessness the Government and Councils cause a person just take the wind right out of my sails.

So glad for this guy that he got his dog back.

And in the interim of that, the dog's in the pound system stressing.

Yeah .... that's really great for animal welfare.

And not to even mention the stress and impact on the owner's health the whole fiasco would have caused him.

Nice looking dog ;)

i believe his return had alot to do with a doler, who got involved and spoke to council about their action

Whoever that was, good on 'em :D and well done :cool: .

Edited April 16, 2010 by Erny

[GeckoTree]

He's in bloody good nick for 13! I hope my dog is in such great shape at that age.

I'm glad he is home, I found the whole thing outrageous and absurd.