Matthew Munday, a deaf and homeless man who sleeps on the streets of Hobart, has lost his Supreme Court battle to save the life of his dog, Hardy.
Hardy, a white Staffordshire-bull terrier cross, will be seized and destroyed by the Hobart City Council after biting a woman on the arm near Centrepoint in November last year.
The council had previously tried to seize Hardy due to complaints about his prolonged tethering and excessive barking.
Despite Mr Munday’s emotional plea that Hardy is his only companion and provides him with a sense of security at night, Justice Tamara Jago ruled in favor of the council.
Justice Jago acknowledged the woman received a ‘mild laceration’ as a result of being bitten, but said that the dog had bitten through two layers of clothing.
While Mr Munday denied being near Centrepoint during the incident, CCTV footage failed to confirm his claim.
The council argued that Mr Munday had a history of neglecting his responsibilities as a dog owner.
Despite the dog’s alleged atypical behavior, the court upheld the council’s decision to seize and destroy, deeming it fair and supported by evidence.
