Bruno the Great Dane cross not to be returned to rescue group, to stay with new family
It was an epic fight between foster carers and a rescue group over the fate of Bruno the Great Dane amid fears he’d be put down. Now ownership of the giant dog has finally been decided.
QLD News
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THE battle over a Great Dane between foster carers and a rescue group has been settled out of court, with the dog to remain with the carers in a move supported by the dog’s original owner.
A statement posted to the Saving Bruno Facebook page informed its 1400 followers overnight Bruno had “great news” following a scheduled court date on Wednesday morning and that the page would be closed on August 23.
“Bruno wants to give you the great news, he doesn’t have to worry anymore and will live out his days with his family,” the post said.
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A tug of war erupted over Bruno - the then-15-month-old Great Dane cross - in January after the dog’s foster family feared he would be euthanised if he was returned to Adoptadane Rescue Queensland Inc.
Anna, 42, and Melissa, 23, who asked for their surnames to be withheld and declined to comment, have previously told The Courier-Mail their family had fostered Bruno since December 6.
In March, Anna told The Courier-Mail Adoptadane told her Bruno was “unrehomeable.”
Anna said she and Melissa had changed Bruno’s microchip into their name, after they were allegedly told he was to be euthanised due to alleged behavioural and health issues.
Adoptadane denied the claims.
Anna said she was unsure who accepted the microchip name change application.
“We put in an online application to have his chip transferred and someone accepted the chip transfer, but I’m not sure who did it,” Anna said at the time.
The Courier Mail understands the microchip had not yet been transferred over to Adoptadane and was still in the name of the original owner.
An Adoptadane Queensland spokeswoman, who also declined to comment, previously told The Courier-Mail there were no plans to euthanise Bruno, but to instead put him through training. She said changing his microchip was “illegal.”
Neither Anna nor Melissa have been charged with any offence.
In March, the spokeswoman said there were claims Bruno had attacked, bitten and lunged at people.
Bruno’s original owner, Kelly Marsh, said she took in Bruno’s parents and his seven siblings when they were four weeks old, from a friend.
She said they originally intended to keep Bruno, but it did not work out.
Mrs Marsh, 39, of North Maclean, said all she wanted was for Bruno to be loved and returned to her if an appropriate home could not be found.
“All I really wanted was for Bruno to be loved and in a place where everything is provided for him,” she said.
“Melissa did the right thing, she protected him and she’s paid for everything for him as well.”
Court documents sighted by The Courier-Mail show that Bruno had undergone training and was booked in to continue another six months of lessons with a professional trainer.
He had also passed a temperament test by a separate dog behaviourist, according to the court documents.
A statement, posted to both the Adoptadane Queensland and Saving Bruno Facebook pages, said Adoptadane would no longer seek the return of Bruno.
“In the months of December 2019 and January 2020, AdoptADane received information that a Great Dane, Bruno, which it had placed in the hands of AdoptADane foster carer, Anna, had shown potential signs of aggression,” the statement said.
“As AdoptADane takes very seriously the responsibility and safety of its foster carers, it sought to have Bruno returned to them.
“In recent weeks Bruno has been assessed by dog behaviour specialists arranged by Anna and Melissa, who jointly share Bruno’s care, that have determined that Bruno’s wellbeing is well-served by him remaining in their care. … As such, Bruno will remain in the care of Anna and Melissa as his owners.”
Adoptadane agreed to pay $1500 in court costs.