Pensioner fears beloved pet dog may be put down after council takes action on alleged attacks

AN ELDERLY Caulfield man is fighting in court to save his “only companion” from being put down, after council local laws officers declared his pet dog menacing.

Caulfield's Boro Wonger, 86, with his beloved pet dingo Linda. Picture: Josie Hayden

AN ELDERLY Caulfield man is fighting in court to save his “only companion” from being put down, after council local laws officers declared his pet dog menacing.

Boro Wonger said he was fearful his two-year-old kelpie cross Linda would be put down, after multiple alleged incidents involving the dog.

Glen Eira Council has now referred the matter to court, and Mr Wonger said he now feared his beloved pet would be destroyed, and then his “life would probably be over” too.

The council has declared Linda “menacing”, after several incidents with neighbours, including an alleged attack on a cat.

The council also seized Linda in March last year after she bolted at a horse at Caulfield Racecourse.

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But Mr Wonger is adamant Linda is a good dog, and did not attack the cat but only chased it up a tree.

He said Linda had undergone training, he kept her under control, and he felt safer having her around so people did not break into his home.

“This animal is very dear to me and I would not let it go harming people in the street,” he said.

“I pay my rates every year and am entitled to have an animal at home, especially at my age.

“I live on my own and she is my only companion. She comes to my bed every morning and makes sure I’m going to get up.

“Without her, my life would probably be over.”

Planning director Ron Torres said Linda had a history of wandering away from Mr Wonger’s property, to the point where the council had to take action.

“All dog attacks are referred to court and...are assessed by the magistrate,” he said.

“Upon the finding, (the) council will determine what to do to prevent Linda escaping from the property.”

Mr Wonger has previously claimed people living in Caulfield were badly affected by a lack of open space.

“From time to time they try to impose a ban on dog owners (from coming into the racecourse) because they could frighten horses but there is nowhere else to go,” he said.

“The track is supposed to be for the community too.”

A scathing Victorian Auditor-General report in 2014 found decisions about the use of the 54 ha site had “disproportionately favoured racing interests with insufficient attention paid to fulfilling the community-related purposes of the reserve”.