AUSTRALIAN UNITED SCHUTZHUND CLUBS

 20th July 1998

PRESS RELEASE

Australian United Schutzhund Clubs are very please to announce that the decision on the appeal lodged in the Administration appeals Tribunal of Victoria, against the declaration of Mr. Michael J Burns' male Rottweiler Dreistleigh Satchmoe (A) BH ZTP AD as a dangerous dog was set aside.

The presiding member Mr. D A Mattei in making his decision to set aside the declaration made the following findings.
 
 1.      " I find on the evidence before me that such attack is limited on the sleeve worn by the helper or agitator and does not ever or in any way extend to an attack on any other portion of his or her person, with the focus of the dog being on the hesian or padded sleeve."

2.      "In my view the can be best described as sterile or simulated or hollow."

3.      "I find further on the evidence there is no basis whatsoever for the suggestion which was raised at the hearing before me that there is a risk of "boilover" or that there is a "second command" whereby the dog is required to follow the attack on the sleeve by making a further or extended attack on another part or other parts of the person of the helper."

4.      "I find on the evidence that, apart from the subject training attacks, the subject dog has never attacked or bittern a person and that such training has not rendered it more likely to do so but rather, if anything, less likely."

5.      "I find that the subject training is far removed from the training undergone by guard or security dogs were the entirely different objective is to injure and where the helper wears a full body protective suit."

All Queries to be directed to the Government Liaison Officer Mr. Michael J Burns

Ph: 07 3248 8201(BH) 07 5497 8556 (AH)