Liberationists say they took Bruno

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 1

Liberationists say they took Bruno

A determined group seemed to be behind the theft of Bruno, the Great Dane, from the S.P.C.A. animal home on Saturday. Miss Barbara Ash, an inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the theft was well planned. A group calling itself the Animal Liberation Front claimed- responsibility for the theft and took the dog some time between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Bruno had been transferred from the. Christchurch Central Police station to the animal home about 10 days earlier. He had been impounded after complaints that he had “terrorised” Redcliffs schoolchildren. A new seven-strand wire perimeter fence was cut to gain access to the isolated Wilmers Road property at Wigram. The telephone cable was cut and a heavy chain put on the iron gate. “I presume they did that to stop me from getting help if I woke up and caught them,” said Miss Ash, who lives on the property. A security lock on Bruno’s holding pen was forced or cut.

Miss Ash said the night was well chosen for the break-in. Strong winds would have muffled any

noise made and Rex, an “unfriendly” German shepherd guard dog, was not making his usual patrol of the grounds because he had injured a leg a few days earlier.

Bruno would have been asleep in an enclosed, heated area of his pen and therefore out of sight, said Miss Ash. The thieves knew what pen he was in and must have known Rex was not on duty. “It was just like the ‘A Team’ on television,” said Miss Ash.

A security firm had patrolled the area at 4 a.m. and found nothing unusual.

The first Miss Ash knew of the break-in and breakout was when animal home staff arrived at 8 a.m. and could not get through the gate because of the chain. Bolt-cutters had to be used to break the chain.

The police had said they were treating the incident as a normal theft, said Miss Ash.

A letter containing photographs of Bruno and a person wearing a black balaclava and black jersey was sent to “The Press” by the Animal Liberation Front. Copies of the letter were also sent to Radio Avon and Radio New Zealand. Bruno had been earlier taken into custody pending a court hearing on Wednesday in the District Court.

“This evening a group of animal liberationists broke into the S.P.C.A. home and successfully liberated Bruno to a safe place many miles from Christchurch,” said the letter.

“They liberated Bruno because past records indicate hearings in cases like this one are a mere formality. Bruno was doomed to die. “He is now being well looked after by people who are concerned solely for his welfare.”

Miss Ash said the S.P.C.A. feared for the safety of any children Bruno might be allowed to approach. S.P.C.A. staff had assessed Bruno’s temperament during his 10-day stay at the home.

“He is the biggest, softest animal with adults but something has happened in his past to make him change his attitude towards children,” she said. Bruno’s owner, Mr Steven Young, said yesterday that he wanted to hear from the people who took Bruno “just to let me know what is going on.” Those responsible would not have to say who they were or where they had hidden the dog, he said.

Most of what he knew of the event had been gleaned from the news media.

“I can’t really make much comment because I just do not know what is happening,” Mr Young said.