CQ WOMAN AVOIDS FINE FOR RESCUING HER DOG

Would you do the same?


Article heading image for CQ WOMAN AVOIDS FINE FOR RESCUING HER DOG

Ellen McWilliam has pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to one charge of entering a security zone of a security controlled area without permission.

She was flying from Brisbane to Gladstone with her 15-year-old dog. 

After arriving in Gladstone she walked to the conveyor belt where she waited for the cage holding her beloved dog to come around.

After waiting for about 10 minutes, she began to hear her dog howling, as if to be in pain.

Her Defence Lawyer Jun Pepito explained that his client immediately approached staff and asked how long it would take for her dog to be pushed through.

Mr Pepito said staff told her to wait another five minutes.

After waiting those five extra minutes, all the while listening to her dog calling for her, McWilliam took matters into her own hands.

She climbed aboard the conveyor belt and crawled through the large leather flaps separating the entrance from the restricted zone.

She saw her dog in the cage and pulled the pet through, crawling back through the flaps and onto the belt.

She then took herself, her dog and the rest of her luggage home.

Mr Pepito said his client did not realise she had committed an offence, and was surprised to hear from police weeks later regarding the matter.

He said his client's dog was quite old, and was both deaf and blind.

The court heard McWilliam had no criminal history.

She was placed on a one year good behaviour bond and was warned by the Magistrate that entering restricted security zones is usually a very serious offence.

27 June 2017




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