Tania Wilson adopted the boxer-mix last month after losing her elderly dog,her daughter Katelyn Wilson told the local Radio 6PR’sMorningsprogram.
Oakley has become a member of the family,even getting his own bandanna for Easter.Facebook (composite image)
“We immediately fell in love with him,” she said.
“There was just something about his nature that we just fell in love with.
“He’s very playful,very bubbly. Just loves being around people,loves to snuggle up to you.
“He’s quite a water baby. And my mom has a large pool with life jackets for teaching him how to swim in the big pool.”
Wilson said it was when her mother went back to the shelter,Swan Animal Haven in the city’s north-eastern suburbs,with Oakley to donate toys and say “thank you” to the volunteers,that Oakley was removed from their care.
“The lady kept talking to us;just,you know,normal conversation;asked us to wait outside because there was another volunteer that wanted to say hello. We waited outside for quite some time and I started to feel a little bit uneasy,” she said.
Wilson said they were taken inside the office where another volunteer told them they had breached the signed contract by allowing the dog to sleep outside.
“For quite some time we were waiting for the president to arrive. She pulled up … grabbed Oakley’s harness,lead and collar and came out and said:‘Here’s your stuff,here’s your cash. Leave.’”
“When we adopted (Oakley) they said they prefer for dogs to sleep inside ... but they very much put it across as a personal choice.”
Wilson said they were not required to fill out any questionnaires or paperwork on the day they took Oakley home;however,after a week-long trial they signed a contract to keep Oakley. She said this did not stipulate that the dog must sleep inside.
Son James Wilson said he would not believe the Swan Animal Haven could be so “heartless”.
“We have provided him with a loving,caring,and comfortable home,” he said.
“No amount of pleading or tears was enough for them to use common sense or to have a heart and return him to us.
“The owner arrived with an attitude and treated my Mum like she was a horrible person;she told her that we were not good dog owners and kicked her out.”
Swan Animal Haven has been contacted for comment. They have not responded,however responded to a post on Wilson’s Facebook page with a post saying:“There’s a lot more to this story than being put out there. A lot more.” The post gave no other details.
Like many not-for-profit rescue groups the shelter is full.
A month ago,it posted on Facebook that it had more than 60 dogs desperately needing a place and that being so full was “devastating.”
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