A Resolution for Beau rejected by KCDC

Media Statement by Councillor Jackie Elliott

Two hours prior to the vocal protest at KCDC against the destruction of Beau, I presented a new resolution to the CE, Mayor, councillors and staff, says Councillor Jackie Elliott.

Beau’s behaviour had not been assessed for over 18 months. Since then, Beau has matured from an adolescent male dog to a well-balanced calm mature dog.

Evidence and photographs show Beau and his owner never attended basic obedience training. I believe this lack of guidance is the only reason Beau's actions were unacceptable to the community at that time.

"I appealed the Mayor, CE for an updated behaviour assessment, recognising that the kindness and quality of the care staff provided to Beau in his home for the past two years is reflected in his personality now. Staff appear to me to have raised a good dog, despite challenging conditions in what, it appears was possibly the best home for him," says Cr Elliott.

I requested KCDC as applicants in the case present this new evidence and recommend for the dog to be released to Huha and reclassified with ongoing support of a new owner to build a healthy lifelong relationship.

I believe strongly that the Council and Beaus owners will never agree on past evidence presented to the judge and the resolution I proposed enabled all parties to move away from a negative outcome, so was more amenable to all concerned. "I am disappointed that Council were not convinced, and of the sad outcome," says Cr Elliott.

"I ask the Mayor, if ‘Beau was the most dangerous dog KCDC staff had ever encountered,’ as he said publicly this week, why did the same staff let members of the public visit the dog inside an enclosed compound for an hour at a time, every week of those two years."

ENDS

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