Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine have fronted court in a battle to keep their dog alive.
The couple’s pet, a German Shepherd called Chance the Yapper, narrowly avoided being branded a ‘dangerous dog’ at Hornsby Local Court on Thursday.
Karl, 52, and Jasmine, 42, brought in leading canine lawyer Anne Greenway in their case against North Sydney Council.
A ‘dangerous dog declaration’ could have led to Chance being euthanised, after an incident in Sydney’s Neutral Bay on April 18.
The council agreed to overturn the dangerous dog order and instead imposed a control order, which will be in place for the next four years.
The eight-year-old dog, ‘without provocation attacked a person, causing serious injury’, according to court documents.
Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine have fronted court in a battle to keep their dog alive. The couple’s pet, a German Shepherd called Chance the Yapper, narrowly avoided being branded a ‘dangerous dog’ at Hornsby Local Court on Thursday. Pictured with Chance and their daughter
The documents also indicated that Chance had ‘attacked another dog’ during the incident.
The four-year control order requires the Stefanovics to muzzle and leash the dog whenever he is walked in public.
The pair must also hang a ‘Warning Dog’ sign at their Castlecrag home.
Additionally, Chance has been ordered to complete ‘behavioural or socialisation training’ from a ‘qualified expert’ within six months.
A certificate of completion will need to be presented to the council.
The documents also specify that Chance cannot be left in the care of anyone under the age of 18, and needs to be kept in a secure enclosure at home to avoid escape attempts.
A ‘dangerous dog declaration’ could have led to Chance being euthanised, after an incident in Sydney’s Neutral Bay on April 18
Karl and Jasmine have owned Chance since 2018
The possible penalty for breaching a dangerous dog order includes a $16,500 fine, the destruction of the dog and five years’ jail.
Karl and Jasmine have owned Chance since 2018.
Clearly a loved member of their family, Chance frequently appears in social media posts made by the couple.
Karl previously said that he wanted to ‘get rid’ of Chance because Jasmine prefers the dog to her husband.
‘I think she (Jasmine) loves him (Chance) more than me,’ he told Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty radio show.
‘I just can’t stand him. He’s only nine months old and I want to get rid of him,’ the journalist joked at the time, before adding: ‘Not in a bad way.’
