Seized My American Staffy Info Please

[mizzpiggy]

I have been searching for my dog for over 5 months. Everyday I have searched the websites of impounded animals. Today I received a phone call from the Frankston City Council telling me they have found my American Staffy Aztec. The bad news is that the women who found my dog wondering in Frankston determined by her powers of observation that my dog is an American Pitbull. American Pitbulls are Banned in Victoria and can not be brought. I brought an American Staffy, the vet records from when he was a pup have him recorded as a Staffy, he is registered as a Staffy, However one women from the Frankston City Council has deemed my dog an American Pitbull. This is a ridiculous law, it is very hard to determine a breed of dog if they come from a recent common ancestor. I will be going to the lost dogs home tomorrow to see my dog. Apparently they have refused me to see my dog. I have to submit an appeal to the decision of one women it will take weeks. It will involve three Veterinarians to decide by a majority vote whether my dog is a Pitbull or not. Why if it takes three VETs to determine the breed can one council worker eyeball my Aztec and determine he is a pitbull. This is a form of cruelty, my dog is impounded and I am in heightened state of stress damn near Panic because of ONE WOMENS OPINION. I am furious and would really appreciate any attention I can get to retrieve my baby. I want my dog releases ASAP and I would appreciate any help or advice anyone can offer.

I have called the council and they have told me that the officier that impounded the dog is not working today. The have not completed the paper work and I can do nothing until i Recieve the papers. Are they allowed to seize my dog without serving me papers telling me why they have done so?

[mizzpiggy]

I have been searching for my dog for over 5 months. Everyday I have searched the websites of impounded animals. Today I received a phone call from the Frankston City Council telling me they have found my American Staffy Aztec. The bad news is that the women who found my dog wondering in Frankston determined by her powers of observation that my dog is an American Pitbull. American Pitbulls are Banned in Victoria and can not be brought. I brought an American Staffy, the vet records from when he was a pup have him recorded as a Staffy, he is registered as a Staffy, However one women from the Frankston City Council has deemed my dog an American Pitbull. This is a ridiculous law, it is very hard to determine a breed of dog if they come from a recent common ancestor. I will be going to the lost dogs home tomorrow to see my dog. Apparently they have refused me to see my dog. I have to submit an appeal to the decision of one women it will take weeks. It will involve three Veterinarians to decide by a majority vote whether my dog is a Pitbull or not. Why if it takes three VETs to determine the breed can one council worker eyeball my Aztec and determine he is a pitbull. This is a form of cruelty, my dog is impounded and I am in heightened state of stress damn near Panic because of ONE WOMENS OPINION. I am furious and would really appreciate any attention I can get to retrieve my baby. I want my dog releases ASAP and I would appreciate any help or advice anyone can offer.

I have called the council and they have told me that the officier that impounded the dog is not working today. The have not completed the paper work and I can do nothing until i Recieve the papers. Are they allowed to seize my dog without serving me papers telling me why they have done so?

<a href="http://s332.photobucket.com/albums/m335/mizzpiggy_2008/?action=view&current=bigazzie.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m335/mizzpiggy_2008/bigazzie.jpg" border="0" alt="Missing"></a>

[Miranda]

Is your dog a registered (with canine council) Amstaff because if he is they don't have a leg to stand on. If he isn't registered you will probably have to comply with the regulations for keeping a restricted breed, having a childproof pen and a notice displayed at the front of your property are two of them. I think they also have to be desexed. I am not an expert by any means, but I have seen 'There is a restricted dog breed kept on this property' notices on houses when I've been walking my dogs so obviously you're allowed to keep them if you comply.

Edited December 12, 2008 by Miranda

[kyliegirl]

Have you still got the breeders information, have you got his papers?

I would suggest you call your breeder and try to gain as much proof as possible of your dogs lines, his papers, photos of his parents, along with copies of your vet papers and council papers.

I am sorry this has happened it sucks with the stupidity of people these days but we cant change that and all you can do is try your hardest to prove them wrong

Even contact your local club for some assistance

Edited December 12, 2008 by kyliegirl

[Kowai]

Whatever you do don't just let them have their way! Do everything you can to prove your dog is NOT a Pit Bull!

This makes me so angry to hear!!! Its disgusting!!

Threaten them with legal action!

To think about it.. If someone had my Zach I'd bloody be in there giving them an earful til they gave him back goddamnit. If your dog is registerd as a Staffy, bought as a Staffy then WTF

Edited December 12, 2008 by Kowai

[GotAnyBlacker]

Your dog is cute. I hope you manage to get him back

[EISHUND]

I brought an American Staffy, the vet records from when he was a pup have him recorded as a Staffy, he is registered as a Staffy,

Unless you bought him with papers, you have no proof But don't let them get away with it, fight it tool & nail!!!! They don't have proof that he's a APBT either, just one persons opinion. eta: looking at the pic though, I'd have guessed APBT

The unregistered breeders are sealing the fate of the unregistered pups they are producing.

Edited December 12, 2008 by LuvMyWhiteShep

[Miranda]

If that's your dog in the pic I don't think you have much chance of proving he's not a pitbull. If I were you I'd pay the relevant fines and agree to comply with the restricted breed legislation. The sooner you do this the sooner he'll be home.

[A_Nomad]

Mizzpiggy, check ya pm's

[Jed]

Contact the EDBA via their website, and ask them for assistance.

[polomum]

So if mizzpiggys 'staffy' was microchipped as a staffordshire bull terrier would she be having these problems??? You would hope they'd scan him first surely!!!!!!! Gorgeous dog.........

[db_sampson]

i worry about this problem because i have and amstaff pup with no papers aswell, it sucks that they can just take your dog whether he had run away or not, i fear council coming to my house and taking bella just because someone thinks she is a pitbull.. its a stupid law, pitbull or not they shouldnt be able to keep your dog on the word of one person.. having said that bella means the world to me and i would pay and do whatever it took to get her back asap.. then maybe fight it..

[Nekhbet]

does his information state 'staffy' or american staffordshire terrier? 'staffy' is open to interpretation.

Get the vet who originally vaccinated him and the breeder to confirm what he is meant to be, that will be a plus.

Was he originally stolen from you or escaped his yard? Is there any charges against him as well such as menacing or attack, or was he just found wandering the streets?

[CatsnStaffs]

does his information state 'staffy' or american staffordshire terrier? 'staffy' is open to interpretation.

Get the vet who originally vaccinated him and the breeder to confirm what he is meant to be, that will be a plus.

Was he originally stolen from you or escaped his yard? Is there any charges against him as well such as menacing or attack, or was he just found wandering the streets?

These are imoprtant questions that need to be answering before any assistance could be offered

[Paganman]

Your dog wasnt actually seized he was picked up wandering at large.When they seize a dog it usually means they go to someones house and take it coz its bit someone or something.If hes done nothing wrong Im sure youll get him back like another poster said pitbull arent banned just restricted in Vic and if you follow all the rules youll be allowed tokeep him Im sure

[Nekhbet]

This is a ridiculous law, it is very hard to determine a breed of dog if they come from a recent common ancestor

A piece of paper is the proof.

you may have bought what was advertised as AmStaff but without papers there is no proof. They are technically one and the same. Writing 'staffy' as a description is not a breed, you are pretty much describing a type - and its very open to interpretation which has happened here.

If your dog is registerd as a Staffy, bought as a Staffy then WTF

because there is no pedigree papers, and how many people are roarting the system by chipping pitties and crosses as amstaffs, staffies and SBT cross. In my eyes its negligent for a vet to write 'staffy' as a breed especially on a microchip.

It may be one womans opinion but he has the stereotypical look of a 'red nosed' APBT. He may very well be an APBT and you were not told by the breeders who may have fibbed in order to get around the laws. As has been said when you get him back and he is deemed an APBT you will simply have to comply with restricted breed laws to keep him.

[Dogsfevr]

Agree he does look more typical of a red nose pittie than an AmStaff but as others have said gather all your info from the original purchase,sales reciept,puppy pack,papers & everything refferring to what the breed is otherwise yep comply but you do need to find out what you nned to do & maybe eat humble pie

Chipping as staffy certainly wanst the best move by whome ever did that.

It would be like me chipping my dogs as "setters" i own 3 varieties irish,english.gordon.

[pittylover]

I have a red nose pitty that was picked up by the pound after someone let her out of our yard we were lucky as the council deemed her to be a staffy and gave her back if the law goes on looks alone then my dog would have been put down fight it ask them to temp test the dog (that is what I did and ultimatley why she was returned as she passed with flying colours) I know queensland laws are differnent but surely there has to be a common ground somewhere is she from a registered breeder oy byb at a pinch I would say she looks the same as my girl and is therefore a pitty but if she is even tempered maybe there is a chance.

[mizzpiggy]

Thanks so much for your support.

I spent all day Friday calling Newspapers, councils, DPI even the Melbourne Mayor. Everyone told me that i have to deal with the council. I called the council but they were determined not to speak to me because I wasn't the registered owner. This in itself is upsetting considering my number was also on the microchip however the council said I am only the secondary owner and therefore they cannot disclose information to me. One council employee even told my husband to tell his wife to stop calling. Of course I called back immediately informing the council that I am a tax payer and I can call the council whenever I want to.

I sent in all the information that I had available regarding my Aztecs breed. I got banned from the lost dog homes website, i think because i left a message for anyone to please call them asking to free Aztec. Probably shouldn't have done that but I was in a state and a half.

Because the lady who originally seized Aztec wasn't working the following day I was going to have to wait until Monday before I could receive the papers I needed to appeal the suspected restricted dog status. I received a phone call at 4pm from a guy that works for the department of primary industries and he advised me that I could call the Coordinator of Municipal Laws to ask for my dogs release because the other lady was absent. I tried but she was not in the office. I left a message saying it was a matter of life and death. I know I am being overly dramatic however I wanted action. To cut a long story short (believe me you have the abridged version). My husband received a phone call at 4:45pm Friday letting him know that he could pick up Aztec Tuesday morning (tomorrow) and that the council has changed their mind. I have no idea why, but I am so happy, I am trying not to count my chickens but all things going as planned 10am tomorrow we should finally have our Aztec back to where he belongs after 6 months and 2 weeks of him being missing.

I am extremely grateful to Frankston City Council for retrieving Aztec and I am very pleased that they were willing to accept that he is in fact an American Staffy. I understand that there is legislation in place to protect the public from dangerous animals however I think that the legislation needs a lot of work and that all dogs should be innocent until proven guilty.

[mizzpiggy]

Hi Guys just reading all your replys and thought I should supply a little more information.

there were a few questions

does his information state 'staffy' or american staffordshire terrier? 'staffy' is open to interpretation.

He is registered as an American Staffordshire Terrier both with the council, on his original vet certificate and subsequent vaccination records.

Get the vet who originally vaccinated him and the breeder to confirm what he is meant to be, that will be a plus.

I did try this however the breeder has changed their phone number. I do remember that when we picked him out from the litter he was the only red nose tan fur the rest were brindles and brown noses, had i known how much trouble his color would turn out to be I may have had second thoughts however I had only been living in Melbourne less than a year and didn't even know that Pit bulls were a restricted dog, I was living in Canada. If i had known I probably would have been a little more cautious.

Was he originally stolen from you or escaped his yard?

He escaped as we had just moved and didn't realise that there was a small fence with a loose pailing. My husband said he had secured the yard but we missed this gate.

Is there any charges against him as well such as menacing or attack, or was he just found wandering the streets?

He was found wondering no Biting or dangerous activity

Your dog wasnt actually seized he was picked up wandering at large.When they seize a dog it usually means they go to someones house and take it coz its bit someone or something.If hes done nothing wrong Im sure youll get him back like another poster said pitbull arent banned just restricted in Vic and if you follow all the rules youll be allowed tokeep him Im sure

They can seize a dog if they consider it to be a restricted breed, originally he was impounded but they seized him immediatly due to his appearance. I was told by the council that a restricted breed can no longer be registered in Melbourne if it has not been registered as a Pit bull prioir to 2005, that means that restricted dogs are allowed to be kept under certain circumstances but no new dogs are allowed. I asked if I could retrieve him and move to Brisban but was told no.

Luckily I did not need to investigate this further however I got the impression that if Aztec was determined to be an American Pitbull he would have been destroyed.

I will post a picture when Aztec returns tomorrow so everyone can take a look and see what they think I honestly don't know what he looks like as he has been missing for so long so.

Thanks to Qute74 for posting Aztecs pic, my attempt failed dismally