By CHERIE DONNELLAN
A CHARITY hopes to save two Geelong stray dogs from death row in a legal precedent.
The charity has retained a lawyer to argue in the Supreme Court that Geelong’s council incorrectly identified the dogs as a restricted breed.
Williamstown-based Michael Faltermaier Lawyers has lodged a Supreme Court application on behalf of Fordogssake Australia to remove the canines from restricted-breed classification.
The court granted an injunction last week, saving American Staffordshire cross dogs Zeus and Knuckles from being destroyed.
Geelong Animal Welfare Society is holding both dogs until the case is heard.
Lawyer Michael Faltermaier was still trying to find Zeus’s owner on Wednesday before the injunction expired this Friday.
Fordogssake Australia requested Geelong veterinarian Dr John Ayerbe to reassess the dogs against council’s 21-point criteria for identifying restricted breeds.
Mr Ayerbe determined that both dogs met less than a third of the criteria, Mr Faltermaier said.
“A Labrador could comply with six or seven [of the 21] criteria.”
Mr Faltermaier said his firm had successfully represented many owners whose dogs were facing destruction under restricted-breed laws.
But the Geelong case was the first time anyone had appealed on behalf of dogs with unknown owners.
“We’d be setting a precedents if we were to successfully appeal,” Mr Faltermaier said.
City of Greater Geelong health and local laws manager Steve Sodomaco confirmed council would also be represented at Friday’s hearing in Melbourne.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage”, he said.
The Independent was unable to obtain comment from Geelong Animal Welfare Society before going to press on Wednesday.
