I live in Ipswich Queensland (Australia)and this is how Buddy's story starts, on the 5th of August 2004. I arrived home from a doctors appointment to find a note stating the Ipswich City Council had siezed my family pet on the grounds that he was of a restricted breed. When Ipswich city council are to seize a dog they are to be accompanied by Ipswich police officers who are to intervene only when animal control officers are under direct threat from animal owners. On the said day my home was un-occupied so there was no threat but police Constables Campbell and Foresithe Capsicum sprayed Buddy in order for council to obtain him.
Buddy was not a dangerous dog and had never hurt any-one so I fail to see how the use of Capsicum spray was necessary. I was permited to visit Buddy at the Ipswich pound via appointment which was given from C.E.O Jamie Quinn for 4:00pm the same after noon. Upon arriving I asked if my two year old son could come with me to see our pet and was told no I would need to make another appointment to include him so as more officers could accompiny us in. There was already four council officers present so why would they need additions for a two year old boy? Due to my need to see my poor boy I went alone and was led to a cage where Buddy was pacing and coughing as if he'd had some-thing stuck in his throat. I stood at the cage and was taken back when Buddy charged the cage with such force he smashed his face up on the cage which leads me to beleive he could not see me. When he heard my voice I could tell he was happy I was there and asked to be let in to his cage where I sat on the cement floor to cuddle and pat him. It was then I Realised Buddy had been sitting there for the past six hours with no vet attention or so much as a hose down in agony, he was still covered in the O.C spray.
I could do nothing but cry and when I asked why he was left in this state I was asked to leave, it broke my heart to walk away and leave Buddy there like that, I was approached upon leaving to sign my permission for Buddy to be terminated that day and did so in fear of the treatment he would get was told I would'nt get him back any-way, he would be put down two weeks from the 5th.
I got in touch with the RSPCA and was ignored for two months until I contacted RSPCA director Mark Towend who told me when they investigated my complaint they were told by Graham Shultz C.E.O of pound and John Maddigon, Manager, that staff had irrigated Buddy's head for twenty minutes after he was sprayed.
THIS IS A LIE!!!and never happened, council has NO record of this being done and as I seen Buddy's condition first hand and was affected by the spray personaly from having contact with my boy I know this to be a lie. I also have kept Buddy's collar which I removed from around his neck for evidence on this and hope to have it anylised to prove who we have to deal with as a community.
Two months later I come to find that Natural Justice provides a 21 day period for owners of restricted breeds to move their animals out of state which I was not granted, also council is to provide a 14 day notice of seizure which I never got and according to an Australian referendum to establish Local government held 3rd September 1988 all Local Government are recognised under the Australian constitution since so why are council and council officers enforceing bylaws for the purpose of conducting Local Government. The legislative proposal was '119A-Each State shall provide Local Government' The people of Australia voted NO! But yet they are here destroying familys by robbing us of our right to own and care for any breed of dog we choose to own.
These facts will not change what happened to Buddy nor bring him back but I wish I knew my rights when he was living so his injustice could have been avoided.
This is for you Bud, you will never be forgotten and will live on in my heart and memories Love aways Mum. Also a big thank-you to the few people around who helped me along this long and bumpy road. Lets stop the slaughter of innocent pets who have no control over their breed.
Recently I have received F.O.I documentation that states Buddy was shot with a bullet to destroy him by council while in his holding cage as they deemed it necessary due to his agression. They also stated via stat deck that they hosed Buddy's face off for twenty minutes in the pound yard after he was sprayed so which am I meant to beleive. That he was placid enough to allow them to hose him off or that he was too agressive to be put down humainly.
I have put in a request to RSPCA director Mark Towend to re-open Buddy's case based on these facts and am hoping for a thorough investergation as this is not acceptable and I wont accept this is a viable means of treatment on an animal.
