Trevor the dog’s life now hangs on a conference call.
The Yukon Supreme Court will phone a BC-based dog-behavior specialist at an undetermined date so she can clarify whether Trevor can be rehabilitated, Justice Ron Veale decided Monday.
Dr. Shelly Breadner, who was tasked with determining Trevor’s potential for rehabilitation six weeks ago, was too ambiguous in her report, which was tabled as evidence Monday, said Veale.
Trevor could be euthanized if the court determines he can’t be rehabilitated.
Trevor is a dangerous dog who will have to spend the rest of his life quarantined from normal social situations, said Breadner’s damning report.
Breadner reached her conclusion by putting Trevor through multiple tests involving toys, human interaction and other dogs.
The Rottweiler/shepherd cross became violent three times, the final event being the most serious.
Trevor twice showed his teeth and pushed Breadner’s hand away with a loose bite after she stroked his head at the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter, where Trevor is being kept until the legal saga draws out.
The third event occurred after a visitor, Mike Grieco, entered the room where Trevor was being assessed.
Trevor became dangerously aggressive after Grieco petted him on the head.
Trevor’s pupils dilated, his lips tightened, his glare locked on Grieco and he began tugging on his leash in a forward lunge.
The sudden mood swing means Trevor lacks impulse control, Breadner wrote in her report.
Breadner also found Trevor has “no social manners at present.” His tail didn’t wag and he didn’t have any friendly facial expressions when people were around, unless food was involved.
Trevor should be put into a maintenance plan to ensure the public’s safety, Breadner wrote. If Trevor winds up in the hands of an owner, he should be on a muzzle at all times off the property.
If kept outside, Trevor should only remain within an enclosed gate with human supervision at all times and not be allowed around children.
A lawyer for Whitehorse argued Breadner’s report concluded Trevor cannot be rehabilitated.
But Rachel Westfall, who was representing the animal shelter, felt Breadner only focused on the negative aspects of Trevor’s behaviour and that the language wasn’t clear enough.
Veale sided with Westfall, but a date for a conference call could not be decided during Monday’s proceedings.
Westfall and Mae Bachur want Trevor to be released and given to a new owner.
City officials took possession of Trevor after he reportedly bit two people without provocation in June.
Mae Bachur fought Trevor’s euthanization order because the person who was caring for Trevor at the time of the attacks was not the owner on the adoption papers.
The court agreed to an injunction protecting Trevor in July, which was extended for a second time Monday.
Trevor was adopted from Mae Bachur earlier in May after being rescued from abusive owners who let a undersized leash grow into his neck.
Contact James Munson at jamesm@yukon-news.com