City of Burnside and SA lawyer Greg Finlayson in legal stoush over allegedly unleashed pet dog Madu

A lawyer has gone to war with Burnside Council over this “unleashed” pup – which may see the animal forever collared in the state’s dog parks.

A suburban council is prosecuting an Adelaide lawyer for letting his unleashed dog roam its streets – but he says bureaucrats are seeking to steal his family’s joy.

Greg Finlayson, of Diaspora Legal, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with one count of being the owner of a dog wandering at large.

In documents filed with the court, the City of Burnside alleges the offence occurred on May 26, 2021 at Vauxhall St, Erindale.

The papers assert Mr Finlayson’s white and tan Tenterfield terrier, Madu, was “at large” while “no person was exercising effective control” of him.

If convicted, Mr Finlayson is liable to a maximum $2500 fine.

The council further asks the court to formally declare Madu “a nuisance dog”, allowing for controls to be placed on his movements.

State legislation provides that a court can order a dog “be controlled in a specified manner”, usually determined by submissions from a council.

Outside court, however, Mr Finlayson told The Advertiser he believed the case was about preventing Madu from “ever being allowed to run” in the council’s dog parks again.

“Being able to take Madu for a run in the park is a joy for me and my teenage children,” he said.

“Burnside Council are seeking an order that Madu cannot be off his leash in a dog park ever again.

“There have been no incidents of any danger to anyone – the order will be opposed.”

City of Burnside chief executive Chris Cowley said the issue was more simple.

“It is not council’s intention to seek an order for the dog to be on lead at all times, simply to stop the dog wandering at large in streets near its home,” he said.

Mr Finlayson works between Adelaide and Bali, and is best known for acting in a dispute over the $30 million estate of a “surf gangster”.

He represented Veny Amelia, widow of Bra Boys member Cade Dallas, and her son Keanu in their bid to control his lucrative overseas clothing empire.

Greg Finlayson outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz.

The Bra Boys surf gang was founded in Maroubra in the 1990s, and their infamy inspired a 2011 storyline in the TV soap opera Home And Away.

Ms Amelia and Keanu were opposed by her former mother-in-law, Kerrie, in a case that centred around Dallas’ handwritten will – which was signed with a smiley face.

The bitter dispute ended in an out-of-court settlement in 2017.

In court on Tuesday, Mr Finlayson said he was waiting for further disclosure from the council before the case against himself and Madu could proceed.

The matter was adjourned until January.