For the last couple of weeks, our home and our hearts have been in turmoil.
Our little boy Django was involved in an incident at the park on Saturday 24th April where he managed to somehow wriggle out of his harness and nip one of the neighbourhood boys. The boys mother visited us, we provided all our details as we were completely sorry about what had happened however we didn’t think it was all that horrific. And then Animal Control turned up. Craig told us we needed to hand him over, that we would be charged and fined and they would take Nixie away. We complied with everything. Since then we have been to see him and taken him his bed and blankets and his chicken. We have asked the Council to release him to us and then contacted a lawyer when they said no. Through the lawyer we submitted requests for his bail, we asked for him to be released into the care of two very very good trainers with their own purpose built facility however the Council Compliance Officer would hear none of it. She would respond a day or so later to all communications and chose not to use any of her discretionary powers. Our options were simple – surrender him for destruction or face prosecution.
We visited him on Friday and he had changed, and not for the better. Our little dude had mange, fleas and lots of bites. He had lost weight and was wary of any and every movement. We had some very hard decisions to make.
We feel the Council and the Compliance Officer have been terribly harsh and completely unfair. Django could have been given a menancing classification. He was a 10 month old puppy and weighed 14 kilograms. When larger dogs with histories of bites are released, our puppy was held in the pound.
If we had gone to the District Court, the charge would be under Section 57 (2) of the Dog Control Act.
The law is very black and white – our lawyer called it a sledgehammer not a scalpel. We would have been found guilty and the Council were going to seek the maximum fine of $3,000 and a ban on owning dogs for 5 years.
Django is our responsibility – just like Nixie is.
His welfare, both mentally and physically, is up to us. He belongs here at home with us and Nixie.
Yesterday we made the heart destroying decision to surrender him. We could not see him get any worse and we could not let him spend any more time in that concrete jail. This morning he was put to sleep and will now be napping forever. He really loves napping.
We picked up Dj Mako and he was finally with us again.
He was no longer shaking, no longer looking over his shoulder and now no one can threaten him any more. He will be with us forever and ever.
We don’t regret adopting him, not one little bit. We all had an amazing 8 months together. His start was rough, his end was rough but the bit in the middle was mostly hilarious, especially the games of chase. And when we had collected Nixie and were on our way home, there was a rainbow over our house. I just hope that means he knows we loved him hard, And will love him forever. Sleep well Bubba – Mommy and Daddy will never ever ever ever forget you.
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