By Natalie Hart

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A CEDAR Grove couple whose horse was mauled by two dogs three weeks ago says the State Government must implement tougher laws on animal seizures.

Neil and Carol Philip have been left devastated by the attack on their miniature horse, Chester, who was put down as a result of his wounds, while the two Staffordshire bull terrier cross dogs responsible remain with their owners.

The Philip’s are now pushing for the State Government’s Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 to be changed so dogs that attack animals or humans can be removed from their premises immediately, even if authorities do not have the owner’s consent.

Currently, the Act allows council officers to seize a dog without the owner’s permission if it is already regulated, that is if it has been previously declared dangerous or menacing.

If it is not regulated, council officers can only seize the dog if the owner has consented to entry to their property and the dogs are on the property, they are unsecured and pose an immediate threat to public health and safety.

The two dogs that attacked Chester were not regulated dogs and were not given up voluntarily to council officers.

Mr Philip said since the attack he has been struggling to come to terms with the loss of his beloved pet while seeing its attackers run free.

“It’s not that I want the dogs destroyed straight away but they should be seized immediately, held until an investigation is done and if the dogs are found guilty they should be destroyed,” he said.

“Chester didn’t deserve to die like that, he didn’t do anything wrong, and we just want to see something done about the dogs that did it.

“They are a danger to the neighbourhood.”

DIVISION 11 Councillor Hajnal Black has bowed out of next Saturday’s election, admitting her ongoing court disputes have interfered with her ability to represent the community.

Cr Black made the announcement at the Logan Country Chamber of Commerce Meet the Candidates for Division 11 evening in Greenbank last night.

Cr Black began her address by apologising to the community for “all the unwanted and unnecessary attention” the Division had received “for all the wrong reasons”.

“I wanted to come down and tonight just announce that I have nominated but unfortunately because they’ve cut off the time in which you can now withdraw, I am still on the ballot but I’m not standing,” she said.

“I just love being a Councillor, I love my job, but unfortunately there’s been a few things of late that have happened particularly in my private life that is hardly private but has really interfered with my ability to work fulltime and to give this job what it needs.”

When Cr Black began to delve into her ongoing court matters, she was heckled by a member of the crowd.

“I’m here to listen to candidates running for the election, not what’s going on ... I’ve known you a long time but that’s not what I’m here for,” he told Cr Black.

Cr Black then wrapped up her speech.

“It’s unfortunate I haven’t had the chance to tell you everything that has happened along the way, with that said I wanted to come along and thank you for your support over the years and to say that it has been a pleasure working with you and I want to wish all the candidates they very best of luck in this election,” she said.

By Carmen McIntosh

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

UPDATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 2012 - 3.30pm.

COUNCILLOR Hajnal Black has been arrested by police at a house in Bellbowrie.

The arrest comes seven days after a warrant for her arrest was issued when she walked out of Beenleigh Magistrates Court and a day after her husband Cr Sean Black called for opponents of his wife to "leave her alone".

THE hunt for Cr Hajnal Black is continuing today (Wednesday) after an arrest warrant was ordered after she stormed out of Beenleigh Magistrates Court last week.

Cr Black was due to appear last Thursday at 9am in the Magistrates Court where she is facing five charges of failing to properly disclose her interests as a councillor.

When she failed to show, Magistrate Trevor Morgan issued the first of two warrants for her arrest in as many days.

Cr Black appeared five hours later, telling the court she had to find her law book and came as quickly as she could, given it was raining.

Magistrate Morgan recalled the warrant and adjourned the matter to Friday to allow Crown Prosecutor Ben McMillan time to return to court, however Cr Black objected on the grounds she needed to file submissions to the Court of Appeal on a Supreme Court matter.

Magistrate Morgan said whether Cr Black turned up was entirely up to her. On Friday, the court was again left waiting for Cr Black for more than an hour.

When she did appear, Cr Black blamed traffic at a local Beenleigh roundabout to which Magistrate Morgan replied, “Your audacity is breath taking, Ms Black”.

Cr Black then asked that Magistrate Morgan step down from her case on the basis of “aggravated bias”.

She went on to say Magistrate Morgan had overruled her on points of law, had rolled his eyes, patronised her by telling her she needed to focus, failed to say “allegedly” as if the matter was a foregone conclusion and had pointed out law precedents to support the opposition’s case.

Crown Prosecutor McMillan said there was nothing to support Cr Black’s accusation of bias and Magistrate Morgan subsequently refused that he step down.

Cr Black asked to be excused so she could file documents to the Supreme Court in relation to another matter but Magistrate Morgan asked her what had prevented her from filing the documents in the previous eight days, to which she replied the “25 points of law” her appeal was based on and his “threats of arrest”.

An adjournment was refused.

Cr Black asked the court what would happen if she just left, to which Magistrate Morgan replied: “I’d issue a warrant for your arrest”.

Cr Black packed up her belongings and and left the court, saying, “You are obstructing justice. You cannot stop me from getting my appeal in”.

Magistrate Morgan issued a second warrant for her arrest. At the time of print on Monday it remained unclear whether Cr Black had been arrested. A conviction of any of the offences could result in her being disqualified from her role as councillor.

In addressing the media on Thursday, Cr Black said she was not at all concerned about losing her job.

Recent developments:

• Mayor Pam Parker has called for Cr Black to stand down.

• Cr Black has refused to stand down.

• Ipswich Cr Paul Tully has called for Cr Black to turn herself into police.