A 16-month corgi has been surrendered to the council after a clip of the dog walking in circles trapped on a tiny apartment balcony sparked outrage.
Melbourne woman Helia Abdollahi explained she has spent the last three months recording the lonely canine living in a block of units across from her in the city’s CBD.
The neighbour made several reports to authorities, which amounted to no action, and decided to share the distressing video online in a last-ditch effort.
‘The balcony is barely 1.5metres long, with no shelter, toys, or comfort,’ she said.
‘We’ve seen him out there in the rain, during freezing cold nights, and for hours on end. He paces in circles, shows signs of anxiety, and barks or cries for attention.
‘When the owner does show up, the dog gets excited, wagging, hoping for interaction, but is completely ignored. He even seems scared to step inside the apartment, like he knows he’s not allowed.’
The footage and photos of the corgi, known as ‘Trump’, and his dire living conditions outraged hundreds of Aussies who labelled the dog’s treatment as inhumane.
But in a heartwarming turn of events on Friday, Acting Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell told Daily Mail Australia the owner surrendered the dog to council that morning.
Melbourne woman Helia Abdollahi shared footage of the little corgi pacing around in circles while trapped on an apartment balcony in the city’s CBD
Ms Abdollahi made reports to the RSPCA, building management, closest cafe and pet stores, multiple animal rescues, Facebook groups and Melbourne City Council
‘Thanks to the kindness of a good Samaritan, a little corgi has a new lease on life –with a future filled with head pats, long walks, and plenty of treats,’ Ms Campbell said.
‘We take responsible pet ownership seriously – and while our team works tirelessly to protect the welfare of animals, we also rely on our community to speak up when something isn’t right.’
‘Every pet deserves a safe and loving environment, and we’ll now work to find this pup a forever family.’
Trump is currently at The Lost Dogs’ Home in North Melbourne, where he is undergoing medical checks.
Service Delivery and Local Government Manager at The Lost Dogs’ Home, Mel McCarthy, said she had no doubt Trump would find a new home.
‘This little corgi is being well looked after and will no doubt find a new home very soon,’ Ms McCarthy said.
‘With the right time commitment and training it is completely possible for people own a dog happily in the city.
‘Please reach out if you are struggling, our behaviour team can offer advice on how to successfully manage a dog in an apartment.’
In a heartwarming update, Melbourne City Council said Trump was surrendered to council by his owner and has since received ‘plenty of treats’
Trump is currently at The Lost Dogs’ Home in North Melbourne, where he is undergoing medical checks and will stay until he is ready for adoption
Once Trump is ready for adoption, the little corgi’s profile will be shared to The Lost Dogs’ Home social media channels and website.
The development comes after Ms Abdollahi made reports to the RSPCA, building management, her closest cafe and pet stores, multiple animal rescues, Facebook groups and Melbourne City Council.
‘I believe this could simply be a case of someone getting in over their head, maybe not understanding the responsibility that comes with having a high-energy breed, like a corgi, in a small apartment,’ she wrote online.
‘I’m not here to criticise, humiliate or expose anyone. I don’t want conflict, I want a solution.’
In an update to invested Aussies, Ms Abdollahi earlier revealed Melbourne City Council had been in contact and had also reached out to the corgi’s owner directly.
