Trevor the dog is back behind bars after breaching the terms of his court order.
The Rottweiler-shepherd cross was found Friday afternoon tethered to a tree on Quartz Road without a muzzle, in violation of one of many conditions laid out by the Yukon Supreme Court in July.
The abused dog was rescued by bylaw officers and, because of his friendly nature, was given to the Mae Bachur animal shelter. But after being adopted, the animal bit several people. The city impounded the animal and he was to be euthanized.
But animal-rights activists lobbied to save the animal, and took the city to court to prevent Trevor’s death.
Trevor was assessed by Shelley Breadner, an animal behaviour specialist fromSaanichton, British Columbia.
With the right care, the dog’s behaviour could be managed, said Breadner.
Trevor was transferred to the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter and put on a rehabilitation plan that demanded specific restrictions, such as posting warning signs where the dog was kept, not allowing the dog to be fostered and ensuring Trevor wore a muzzle whenever outside his cage.
On November 16, Breadner decided the shelter could let Trevor be adopted to a suitable owner.
Friday, he was apprehended by bylaw.
Trevor was being walked by his regular volunteer when he was found outside Yukon Brewing Company without a muzzle on, said animal shelter board member Rachel Westfall.
Senior bylaw constable Dave Pruden drove past the dog, saw it wasn’t muzzled and investigated, she said.
He discovered someone had petted the dog while the muzzle was off, according to a news release issued by John Taylor, manager of bylaw services.
Within an hour of seeing the dog without a muzzle, Pruden drove to the shelter, apprehended the dog and put it in the pound.
“We have serious concerns about the legality of his seizure,” said Westfall. “The city should have contacted us before apprehending the dog.”
Because Trevor was never specifically deemed dangerous, there was no bylaw infraction, she said.
This weekend, Westfall and the society’s lawyer, Carrie Burbidge, tried to spring Trevor from the pound, without any success.
“Now we’re waiting to go to court to see what the proper lines of communication should have been,” she said.
“There’s nothing in the bylaws that gave them that right to take the dog.”
The city has already spent $25,000 in legal fees fighting the case in court.
“Trevor was only released by the city to the humane society based on the understanding that these conditions would be followed,” said Taylor in the release.
“It’s unfortunate that it has come to this as the city has been working very hard to accommodate all parties in this situation, but public safety must come first.”
Taylor could not be reached for comment before press time.
Contact Vivian Belik at
vivianb@yukon-news.com