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Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow has branded a local council’s decision to euthanise his dog as a ‘disgrace’ – despite the American Staffordshire Terrier killing a greyhound just three months after mauling a small dog in Sydney.
The Souths enforcer was not present when his dog Thor fatally attacked an ageing 11-year-old greyhound named Ruby at Bateau Bay on the NSW Central Coast in July.
Ruby, who was owned by devastated couple John and Karen Gowans, was mauled and killed just 100m from their home – prompting Central Coast Council to announce they would put down Arrow’s dog Thor.
South Sydney star Jai Arrow has branded the decision of a NSW council to put his dog Thor down as a disgrace, despite the dog mauling and killing a greyhound
Eleven-year-old Ruby could not be saved after being attacked by Arrow’s American Staffordshire Terrier and her owners wanted him to be ‘accountable’
The American Staffordshire Terrier was euthanised on Friday afternoon, prompting the 27-year-old Souths forward to brand the decision a ‘disgrace’.
‘I think it’s an absolute disgrace that they couldn’t even notify me and at least give me the decency to go and say goodbye to him,’ Arrow told Channel 9.
Arrow’s comments come after his lawyer Paul McGirr hammered the ‘gutless’ council, before announcing they would ‘explore all legal avenues’.
Jai Arrow’s American Staffordshire Terrier, Thor, before he was put down by a NSW council after mauling and killing another dog
‘They (Central Coast Council) terminate the dog on Friday and then at 4.45pm on Friday send me an email saying they would exercise their powers and they would terminate the dog – yet they had already done it,’ McGirr told the Daily Telegraph.
‘We were looking to appeal the decision of the council to the Supreme Court and throughout this process we have asked them not to do anything.
‘We wrote further correspondence to (Central Coast Council) and asked to be present, along with Mr Arrow, to explain the position of Jai not being present near the dog in any of the alleged attacks,’ said McGirr.
Jai Arrow (right) remonstrates with Cronulla star Nicho Hynes in the Rabbitohs’ one-point loss on July 30
Arrow has played 124 NRL matches for Brisbane, Gold Coast and South Sydney since debuting in 2016 for the Broncos
Whether or not Arrow was present at the attack (he was away at State of Origin duties) does not change the fact an old dog was killed – and outraged people took the social media to condemn the NRL star for playing the victim.
One dog lover said: ‘Arrow never should’ve allowed this dog to be under anyone else’s control after the first time it attacked a dog’ when commenting about the fact Arrow and his lawyer asked for leniency given he wasn’t present.
One wrote Arrow ‘should never be allowed to own a dog again’, while another said it was an ‘obvious decision’ by the council, who simply had no choice given the circumstances.
When the attack occurred in late July, Thor, who was being looked after by Arrow’s sister, bolted out of a yard before attacking Ruby, the greyhound.
She could not be saved after suffering a punctured thorax, dislocated jaw and multiple deep cuts in the vicious attack.
John Gowans demanded Arrow be held ‘accountable’ – questioning how much the NRL star thought the life of his dead dog was worth.
American Staffordshire Terrier Thor has been put down after killing an 11-year-old greyhound, which owners says ‘was onto her like a flash’
‘All of a sudden this other dog was just onto her like a flash, I didn’t see it coming, I couldn’t protect her, I couldn’t do anything,’ Gowans, sporting an arm cast, told Channel Nine in an interview after the attack.
‘There was just nothing that could be done for her, if she wasn’t able to be a normal happy dog, I didn’t want her suffering.
I just want him to be made accountable for this. I mean he had to pay $10,000 in vet bills down in Sydney, what is a dead dog worth?’
Arrow’s dog had already been labelled ‘dangerous’ by Waverly Council after he mauled another dog owned by Sydney woman Kate Muir in April at Bronte Beach.
The attack left Muir’s miniature schnauzer, Millie, badly injured and in need of urgent medical treatment, which cost $10,000.
Kate Muir’s miniature schnauzer Millie was left badly hurt (pictured) by the attack. Jai Arrow has offered to pay all vet bills, which Muir said ran to $10,000
Muir alleged she was also injured as she tried to prevent her dog being mauled.
‘We deeply apologise to the family and the dog for this incident,’ Arrow said at the time.
The NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) states dogs declared dangerous must wear a muzzle and be leashed at all times, amongst a host of other requirements.
If owners fail to comply with the requirements, they may be issued with a penalty notice and/or liable for imprisonment and the dog may, under certain circumstances, be seized and destroyed.
American Staffordshire Terriers like Thor were involved in more than twice as many attacks as any other breed in the last quarter
Jai Arrow owns a Rottweiler named Koda (right) as well as his since-euthanised American Staffordshire Terrier Tho
According to the OLG, American Staffordshire Terriers like Arrow’s dog were involved in twice as many attacks at the next closest breed.
From April 1 – June 30 212 American Staffordshire Terriers were involved in attacking either humans or other animals. The next closest was Bull Terriers (Staffordshire) with 103 reported attacks.
Arrow also owns a Rottweiler, which were responsible for the sixth most attacks during the last quarter, named Koda.
The Central Coast Council has been contacted for comment.