Dogs seized- Meagan King and her children Emalee and Maddison are missing their family pets. 61356

By Lia Bichel
A NARRE Warren woman says she is angry that council officers entered her yard when she was away from home and removed her dogs on allegations of biting.
Meagan King said she and her two children feel like they have lost members of their family after finding out their dogs were seized.
But the City of Casey Manager of Community Safety Caroline Bell said the council investigated all reports of dog attacks, bites, rushes and took such matters very seriously.
Ms Bell said that at 5.50pm on Sunday 6 March, the council received an after hours complaint that a person had been bitten by a dog or dogs at the address in Narre Warren.
“As a result, two bull mastiff type dogs were seized by a council authorised officer,” Ms Bell said.
“In this particular case the owner was not home at the time and information was left at the front door notifying that the animals had been seized due to a reported attack. “The matter was discussed with the owner (Monday) at the Casey Council Customer Service Centre in Narre Warren.
“Following completion of the investigation, the council will determine any further action.”
Ms King said she felt the council officers should have waited until she was home to take her dogs. “I took my children to the beach, and when I returned, my dogs were gone,” Ms King said.
“I called the police to report them missing but they told me Casey Council took the dogs because they received reports of them biting someone.
“I asked the council for more details but they didn’t give me any. My dogs have never hurt anyone, I don’t believe they have done it.”
Ms Bell said the council did not need a permit to enter a yard.
“An authorised officer can seize a dog if he or she reasonably suspects that a person has committed an offence … relating to dog attacks,” she said.
Casey prosecuted 29 cases relating to animal matters in 2010.
Two hundred and ten dog attacks were reported for the same period.