Tiara
05-03-2006, 12:00 PM
May 2, 2006
A puzzling pooch
If he's a pit bull, he's outta here
By ROSS ROMANIUK (rromaniuk@wpgsun.com), CITY HALL REPORTER
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2006/05/02/winsunpooch2.jpghttp://www.canoe.ca/CanoeGlobalnav/invisible.gif
CANINE CONUNDRUM: The city says Burnsey has to get out of town because he’s a pit bull. His owner says he’s a Rottweiler-boxer cross. (Handout)
Is it or isn't it a pit bull?
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2006/05/02/pf-1560045.html
The answer to that question will determine whether a North End man gets to keep his beloved pet.
Burnsey, a three-year-old male dog, is caught in a tug-of-war between owner Mike Burke and the city's animal services agency. And it appears that a judge is going to have to decide the dog's fate.
The city says it's a pit bull -- a breed prohibited in Winnipeg for more than 15 years -- and must be removed. Burke insists it's a Rottweiler-boxer cross and a beloved pet to his two young daughters.
'DOG IS LIKE MY SON'
"My kids are devastated," Burke told the Sun after the city impounded his pet last week. "And that dog is like my son."
The dispute started when pound staff nabbed Burnsey following its escape from Burke's Alfred Avenue yard -- and months after a previous city order to get rid of the dog.
Burke, 27, accuses the pound of being heavy-handed in capturing the dog, which at least two veterinarians say does not appear to be from the pit-bull family.
Diane Keddie of Machray Animal Hospital has backed Burke in a letter to the city, saying that Burnsey's features are "very consistent" with those of a "crossbreed heritage" that does not include pit bulls.
And Evan Fisk of Winnipeg Spay & Neuter Clinic said in a letter nearly a year ago that it's "highly likely" that the dog is a cross between a boxer and Rottweiler.
He adds that any trace of pit bull heritage "is so minimal and insignificant the pet and owners should both be given the benefit of a doubt here."
Pound manager Tim Dack did not return calls for comment, though a councillor in charge of animal services matters says the city has made no mistake.
"That dog can't be in the city, and he has not complied," said Coun. Gord Steeves (St. Vital), head of city hall's protection committee. "And if we have a dog we consider a pit bull running at large, we're going to lay a charge."
Burnsey's fate remains in limbo while he's kept at the Logan Avenue pound, though Steeves says he won't be killed if the city wins the bylaw court case to begin May 11.
"The court can order (Burke) to take it out of Winnipeg or send it back to the city," Steeves said, though it's unclear whether a destruction order would come later.
Burke could be on the hook for fines totalling $1,600 and further kennelling charges.
When shown photos of Burnsey, animal health technologist Sherry Haig said Burke appears to know his pet.
"The head, the face and the ears are more like a Rottweiler," Haig said.
"Pit bulls almost have this joker smile. It's a different look."
A puzzling pooch
If he's a pit bull, he's outta here
By ROSS ROMANIUK (rromaniuk@wpgsun.com), CITY HALL REPORTER
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2006/05/02/winsunpooch2.jpghttp://www.canoe.ca/CanoeGlobalnav/invisible.gif
CANINE CONUNDRUM: The city says Burnsey has to get out of town because he’s a pit bull. His owner says he’s a Rottweiler-boxer cross. (Handout)
Is it or isn't it a pit bull?
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2006/05/02/pf-1560045.html
The answer to that question will determine whether a North End man gets to keep his beloved pet.
Burnsey, a three-year-old male dog, is caught in a tug-of-war between owner Mike Burke and the city's animal services agency. And it appears that a judge is going to have to decide the dog's fate.
The city says it's a pit bull -- a breed prohibited in Winnipeg for more than 15 years -- and must be removed. Burke insists it's a Rottweiler-boxer cross and a beloved pet to his two young daughters.
'DOG IS LIKE MY SON'
"My kids are devastated," Burke told the Sun after the city impounded his pet last week. "And that dog is like my son."
The dispute started when pound staff nabbed Burnsey following its escape from Burke's Alfred Avenue yard -- and months after a previous city order to get rid of the dog.
Burke, 27, accuses the pound of being heavy-handed in capturing the dog, which at least two veterinarians say does not appear to be from the pit-bull family.
Diane Keddie of Machray Animal Hospital has backed Burke in a letter to the city, saying that Burnsey's features are "very consistent" with those of a "crossbreed heritage" that does not include pit bulls.
And Evan Fisk of Winnipeg Spay & Neuter Clinic said in a letter nearly a year ago that it's "highly likely" that the dog is a cross between a boxer and Rottweiler.
He adds that any trace of pit bull heritage "is so minimal and insignificant the pet and owners should both be given the benefit of a doubt here."
Pound manager Tim Dack did not return calls for comment, though a councillor in charge of animal services matters says the city has made no mistake.
"That dog can't be in the city, and he has not complied," said Coun. Gord Steeves (St. Vital), head of city hall's protection committee. "And if we have a dog we consider a pit bull running at large, we're going to lay a charge."
Burnsey's fate remains in limbo while he's kept at the Logan Avenue pound, though Steeves says he won't be killed if the city wins the bylaw court case to begin May 11.
"The court can order (Burke) to take it out of Winnipeg or send it back to the city," Steeves said, though it's unclear whether a destruction order would come later.
Burke could be on the hook for fines totalling $1,600 and further kennelling charges.
When shown photos of Burnsey, animal health technologist Sherry Haig said Burke appears to know his pet.
"The head, the face and the ears are more like a Rottweiler," Haig said.
"Pit bulls almost have this joker smile. It's a different look."