A couple of big developments in that Dunaj the Downtown Doberman story.
First, an appeal to the destroy order launched by its owner Rob Szalas has apparently been dismissed by the Health Services Appeal and Review Board at the Health Unit’s request without an appeal even being heard. That means the destroy order remains in effect.
"They repeatedly asked for delays and they always wanted it to be secret and not open to the public, " said spokesman Tony Loeffen.
"And now they finally cancelled it."
A support website says, "No one close to this situation expected that Rob and Dunaj would get a fair chance to defend themselves and prove Dunaj’s innocence. We know why the Health Unit could never let this case get to the point where they had to show their evidence."
See site here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Dunaj-the-Downtown-Doberman/467270553411538?fref=nf
Calls to the Health Unit and its lawyer by BayToday were not returned.
Dunaj is clearly now a dog on the lam.
"Dunaj is now under the care of the Lexus Project in New York and he has had a significant amount of time to settle in and is enjoying his happy life," explained Loeffen.
See the Lexus Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lexus-Project-Legal-Defense-for-Dogs/134397299923522
And website: http://www.thelexusproject.org/contact
"We expect to fight for the right to reunite Rob and Denaj in North Bay in a city that is safe for all breeds," added Loeffen saying legal action is in discussion now.
"We are awaiting legal advice from the Lexus Project on how to proceed. They are lawyers who save dogs"
Richard Rosenthal is the New York lawyer handing Dunaj's case.
"We have the dog," Rosenthal confirmed to BayToday. "It's no longer in Canada. When the project takes on a dog it won't disclose where the dog is.
"That's it. It's effectively finished. The dog will obviously be seen by behaviourists and at that point we'll make a determination what's best for the dog, but so far he's been totally playfull and wonderful."
So how will Rob Szalas ever get his dog back?
"He won't be able to as long as he's living in that area," answers Rosenthal. "Right now there is no way to litigate with them in a meaningful way if we could in the United States.
"He gave him up in order to have him live rather than allow them to kill the dog.
"If it can be litigated and get the order reversed we'll make the dog available to him again, otherwise we protect the dogs."
"If we can find an attorney (in Ontario) that is willing to work with us on a pro bono (free) basis, to challenge the determination of the system, we'd like nothing more than to right this wrong. We'd love to challenge this!"
