Castle Hill dog owner fights “dangerous dog” label on Jet

JET the Labrador — Great Dane cross from Castle Hill has been declared a “dangerous dog” by the Hills Shire Council. It’s a label his owner is fighting.

• Dogs maul tradie at Kenthurst
• Meet Australia’s biggest dog
• Cats prove to be good therapy

BOB Hearn says he will take Hills Shire Council to court over a “dangerous dog” declaration handed down to his family’s pet, Jet.

The Castle Hill father of two has already spent close to $2000 in his bid to have the declaration reconsidered, saying Jet the “gentle giant” has been unfairly labelled.

On Friday Jet was assessed by two animal behavioural specialists who are compiling a report which Mr Hearn says will state that Jet is not an aggressive dog.

The declaration was issued on September 12 by council rangers following a dogfight at a nearby park in August after Jet, and the family’s other dog Allie escaped from the back garden of their Castle Hill home.

A woman who spotted both dogs at Coolong Reserve locked both dogs into the leash free area of the park and called Mr Hearn’s number on the dog tag.

Bob Hearn with Jet.

Mr Hearn said the dogs were collected and bought home by one of his daughters as soon as she could there, 20 minutes after the call. He later learnt that Jet had been involved in a fight with another dog at the park.

Council issued a “notice of intention” to declare Jet dangerous on August 18, saying the other dog had to undergo surgery.

Mr Hearn insists he contacted council and told a staff member he would take Jet to a dog behavourilist but a council spokeswoman said no further contact was received and council issued Jet with a Declaration of Dangerous Dog.

Mr Hearn said he was working at Broken Hill and by the time he read the notification he had missed the deadline to appeal the notice.

“The scope of the definition of a dangerous dog is ridiculous,” he said. “The whole family is heartbroken. I hope they change their mind.”

Council says it is the second time that Jet has injured a dog at Coolong Reserve, the first occasion was in January 2015. Mr Hearn said it was brawl between about five dogs which Jet did not instigate and joined in.

WHAT THE DECLARATION MEANS

The dog has to be kept in a fenced off prescribed enclosure.

If it goes out it has to be on a leash at all time and wear a muzzle.

It must wear a red and yellow striped collar.

There has to be a dangerous dog warning sign on the property

The maximum fine for noncompliance is $16,500.

Bob Hearn with the family’s labrador — great dane cross Jet at their Castle Hill home. Photograph: Justin Sansom