A former Australian soldier allegedly assaulted police and an RSPCA inspector after breaking his companion dog out of a shelter.
Shane Van Duren, 41, is accused of cutting through three fences at the RSCPA’s Weston Creek headquarters on Tuesday night to free his Belgian shepherd, which had been handed in by a member of the public who found it wandering the street.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard on Thursday the animal was a companion dog to assist in treating his post-traumatic stress disorder.
Van Duren then posted on social media that he had “sprung” the dog.
Police and an RSPCA inspector went to his Deakin home on Wednesday, but Van Duren allegedly refused to surrender the animal, and became involved in a violent scuffle when he attempted to flee.
He is alleged to have punched a police officer, causing a cut that required stitches, and choked the RSPCA inspector when she attempted to intervene.
The court heard, during the alleged incident, he said: “I’ll kill you, you b—-. You’re f—— dead b—-“.
Defence lawyer, Dean Ager, from Legal Aid ACT, said his client was an army veteran who suffered from PTSD and used the dog as an assistance animal in his treatment.
Editor’s note – terrible situation, I hope the Police officer recovers quickly but at the same I hope the army veteran can keep his dog and receive counselling. Hoping for amicable resolution to this incident.
Read more in Canberra Times.