By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
CORNERSTONE Contact Centre is backing a homeless woman’s impassioned plea for Greater Dandenong Council not to “heartlessly” kill her beloved dog.
The dog’s owner Kim Reeves, 26, said her impounded eight-year-old female rottweiller Laura has been unfairly classified as a dangerous dog.
She said she has been told by the council that Laura faces possible and imminent euthanasia.
Ms Reeves was convicted of seven offences in June after Laura and Ms Reeves’ Staffie-cross named Bonnie were blamed for fatally attacking a neighbour’s three chickens in Noble Park.
Ms Reeves vehemently denies the claims – she said the puncture marks in the dead chickens’ necks were too narrow to match her dogs’ bitemarks.
“She’s more of a run-away dog – she’s scared of people,” Ms Reeves said.
“She’s never been one to leave the backyard.”
Ms Reeves and Laura have been drifting between rental homes, boarding houses and sleeping in the car for much of their time together.
She said Laura was “part of the family” and her closest companion. Laura arrived when Ms Reeves was grieving for her still-born daughter.
In September, the council seized Laura while Ms Reeves wasn’t home.
Ms Reeves claims her dogs would have been confined inside the house, accessible to people via an unlocked back door at the time.
The council’s acting city planning, design and amenity director Peter Shelton said the dog was not securely confined as required under the strict dangerous dog regulations.
“Officers became concerned about the potential for it to escape the property and commit further attacks.
“They also had concerns about the dog’s welfare.”
Ms Reeves was subsequently convicted for failing to comply with dangerous dog regulations and keeping Laura in an “unclean and unsanitary area”, Mr Shelton said.
He said Ms Reeves has been given several opportunities to make submissions while the council was “considering options” over Laura’s future.
“(The) council takes its obligations in relation to dangerous dogs very seriously and expects the same of the owners of such dogs.
“Removing dogs from their owners is an action that is only taken when it is clear that community safety is at risk.”
Ms Reeves owes more than $8000 in fines over the matters.
Don Cameron, pastor at Cornerstone, said it would be “heartless” and “tragic” for Ms Reeves to lose Laura – who he described as “a very calm and friendly dog” in his experience.
He said the dog had been Ms Reeves’ “constant companion and first love”.
“I am hoping Kim and Laura can be reunited and Kim’s life can become more stable.”
Her mother Lee Martin last week pleaded for the council to consider allowing Ms Reeves’ sister to keep the dog in Cranbourne.
“The council said we can’t because we’re not prepared to keep her in a 10-foot square cage. Who can install a concrete slab and cage at a rental property?”
She sent an email to Mr Shelton stating Laura was “the only one keeping my daughter alive”.
“Please help me save Laura, so I can save my daughter.”
