Trevor the dog will live at least another eight days, thanks to a court injunction issued Tuesday morning.
Accused of biting three people, the former Mae Bachur adoptee was set to be destroyed today.
One year ago, Trevor was rescued by bylaw officials from a McIntyre home, where a chain had been allowed to grow into his neck.
After surgery and recuperation, Trevor was adopted in May by Matthew Allaby.
After the dog bit two friends and his landlord, Allaby surrendered Trevor to bylaw services, he said.
Following an investigation, bylaw deemed the dog dangerous and scheduled his destruction.
Matthew Allaby was never the dog’s officials owner, and had no right to give him up to bylaw, alleges the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter. Tamara Allaby, Matthew’s sister, is the adoptee listed on official documents, said an official release by Mae Bachur.
That’s because Matthew had no fixed address at the time of adoption, said Tamara. Still, she said that both her and Matthew’s name are on the documents.
“I’m not saying these people are bad people or anything, but they went about what they did in a very strange way, a very dishonest way,” said Kevin Sinclair, one of a small group of citizens rallying for the dog’s release. Sinclair did not possess, and had never seen, a copy of the animal shelter documents.
“The Humane Society didn’t step up to the plate and was waiting until our group of concerned citizens took action,” wrote Silvia Robertson, a member of the group.
Before his adoption, Trevor never showed any signs of aggression, said officials at the Mae Bachur shelter and bylaw services.
“All of a sudden, he’s adopted, and then he turns into Cujo - I just don’t buy it,” said Sinclair.
Although roughly two dozen dogs are euthanized every year by Whitehorse’s bylaw services, none receive anything close to the attention given to Trevor.
“(Trevor’s) a bit of a martyr, there’s no doubt about it,” said Sinclair.
Part of it may be personal; Trevor’s background is similar to that of Sinclair’s own dog, Harry.
Harry spent five years chained up before being adopted five years ago by Sinclair.
Next week, Sinclair will make a case in court for Trevor’s release.
“I just want ... to get (Trevor) some kind of reprieve, and try and get his day in court,” said Sinclair. (Tristin Hopper)