Dog seized from homeless man

A man sleeping rough on the foreshore has accused City of Rockingham rangers of wrongfully taking his dog labelling it the "lowest blow" to the homeless yet.

The City has refuted the claim, saying the dog's seizure was solely related to a "dog attack incident" and not linked to homelessness.

Tears swelled in Craig Dodds' eyes when he told of how his bullmastiff, named Horse, was taken to the pound last Wednesday afternoon.

"I was sitting having a barbecue and I gave Horse a bone," he said.

"He was on his chain and someone came past with a labrador off its lead and he saw my dog.

"He started barking and then Horse started barking and growling and I pulled Horse back."

The 46-year-old said his dog of six years did not bite the labrador but rangers and the police had been called to the scene and took Horse with a metal halter.

Mr Dodds said Horse never left his side and he was horrified he had been taken to the pound.

"He sits with me all the time and he doesn't hurt anybody, he's just a big teddy bear," he said.

Police officers arrested Mr Dodds after he became angry at the rangers and charged him with one count of disorderly behaviour.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said rangers reported the dog was unsecured in a public place and had attacked another dog, which was being walked on a lead.

Homeless advocate Owen Farmer said the City's behaviour was shameful and it came only weeks after rangers confiscated the belongings of other homeless men.

Mr Farmer said he had known Mr Dodds for many years and said he could vouch for Horse being "a big friendly giant".

"I think it is disgraceful because once again they are hitting the homeless where it hurts," he said.

Mr Dodds appeared at Rockingham Magistrate's Court on Monday for his disorderly conduct charge and other non-related charges.

He was released on bail and is due to reappear on June 30.

Cr Sammels said Horse would be held pending a dog attack investigation next week and if the City pursued prosecution of the owner, the final determination would be made by a magistrate. Police did not want to provide a comment.