Outcome of dangerous dog hearing to be known within 14 days

The fate of Max, a black-and-brown male German Shepherd accused of undisclosed canine delinquencies, should be known within 14 days, says Ward 4 Coun. Marchy Bruni, chair of the city's dangerous dog committee.

A rare meeting of Bruni's committee — believed to be the second in the last 22 years — was held on Wednesday, but it unfolded behind closed doors, preventing the public from knowing what Max did that makes him a public menace.

Believed by city staff to belong to Tossa Fairservice, Max was designated a dangerous dog on Feb. 26.

Bruni says the city has ordered that whenever Max is not in Fairservice's dwelling unit but still within the boundaries of the owner’s premises, he must:

• wear a muzzle
• be securely tethered
• be contained within an area securely enclosed by a locked fence of an appropriate height, or an area enclosed by other means such that the dangerous dog cannot come into contact with members of the public
• a sign, no smaller than five inches by seven inches, must be displayed at all entrances to the property upon which the dog is kept, warning that there is a dangerous dog on the property

Wednesday's appeal hearing "had to go into closed session, and so we had to ask the gallery to leave politely and then we had to go from there because whenever you talk about personnel issues, you have to go into closed session," Bruni told SooToday.

The decision to close the meeting was made after consultation with the city's legal staff, he said.

"That information we thought should not be leaked out to the public, unfortunately."

"There will be a notice given within 14 days of the hearing," Bruni said.

"The committee will forward a written copy of its decision and reasons to the applicant and to the pound keeper."

"The neighbours in the area are well aware. And we did have three witnesses  one at a time. They had their own story to tell so I cannot elaborate any more."

Bruni said he expected the committee's ruling on the appeal will be published on the city's website.