Latest news with #HeliaAbdollahi
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Major update after clip of a corgi on a balcony outraged the nation
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. '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.' 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.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Aussies disgusted by sad sight on apartment balcony: 'This makes me so angry'
Heartbreaking footage of a corgi walking in circles on a tiny apartment balcony has sparked outrage with Aussies demanding its urgent rescue. Helia Abdollahi claims to have spent the last three months recording the lonely canine living in a block of units across from her in Melbourne 's CBD. The neighbour said she has made several reports to authorities, which has amounted to no action, and decided to share the distressing video 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.' Footage and photos of the corgi show its dire living conditions. The only item on the narrow balcony is a small kennel with no bedding. The glass sides of the balcony have been smeared with filth and the owner seemingly only cleans the dog faeces once a large amount accumulates. 'This isn't a one-off. This is chronic neglect,' Ms Abdollahi said 'I've seen him spin on that tiny balcony floor endlessly - a heartbreaking sign of anxiety and psychological distress. 'I've seen his tail wag when the owner comes out, desperately trying to connect, but the owner doesn't even acknowledge him. Doesn't pet him. Doesn't let him inside.' Data from the Bureau of Meteorology shows the average night temperature in Melbourne for July is between 6C and 8C. On top of the cold conditions, corgis are considered a high-energy breed that need mental stimulation and over an hour of physical activity every day. 'This is not about shaming or attacking the owner. I'm operating from a place of empathy,' Ms Abdollahi said. '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. 'I'm not here to criticise, humiliate or expose anyone. I don't want conflict, I want a solution.' At the time of her posts, Ms Abdollahi had made reports to the RSPCA, Melbourne council, building management, the closest cafe and pet store, multiple animal rescues and Facebook groups. Representatives from the RSPCA have visited the property twice but, due to animal legislation, were unable to seize the dog. Council workers have also visited the property and claimed it is monitoring the situation. Victoria's current animal laws, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, only allow animals to be taken from owners on reasonable grounds. This can include baiting or using the animal as a lure, depriving the animal of food and water, or if the animal is in a painful entanglement. Ms Abdollahi has even offered to 'purchase the dog or rehome him with care with no pressure or judgement'. However, hundreds of social media users under her videos were much less forgiving. 'What is the point of having a dog? I don't get it,' one wrote. 'As a corgi owner in Melbourne this makes me so unbelievably angry and upset,' another said. 'I also have a corgi and live in the same building as you. I see this view every day too, and it genuinely upsets me,' another wrote. Animal Justice Party member Georgie Purcell pointed the blame for the corgi's suffering at the state's 'archaic' animal welfare laws. 'I like many others have reported this to the RSPCA and despite them investigating … they have told me they cannot intervene,' she said in an online clip. 'This is because under Victoria's animal welfare laws things like this are perfectly legal. 'Almost ten years ago, the Victorian Labor Government committed to rewriting our state's archaic animal welfare laws, but Jacinta Allan just hasn't prioritised it.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
Distressing footage of dog on apartment balcony goes viral
Disturbing footage has emerged of a small dog living on an exposed balcony in Melbourne's CBD. In a clip posted to social media, the corgi can be seen anxiously pacing along the narrow balcony, covered by nothing more than a glass window smeared in dirt and marks. At one end of the balcony is a very simple wooden kennel with no bedding or protection from the elements. During the compilation of clips – filmed by a neighbour over three months – the dog's owner can be seen making his way outside briefly to clean what appears to be piles of dog faeces – each one filling an entire dustpan. The dog excitedly wags and circles his owner before having the door closed in his face. Neighbour Helia Abdollahi revealed she has 'witnessed this little corgi trapped for the past three months. 'Rain or shine, day or night – he is always out there.' she said. 'Alone. Cold. Barking. Spinning in circles. No toys, no bed, no food in sight. Just concrete and silence.' Ms Abdollahi reported the situation to RSPCA on June 1, following it up with emails, detailed descriptions and video evidence – but nothing has changed. 'This isn't a one-off. This is chronic neglect,' she said. 'I've seen him spin on that tiny balcony floor endlessly — a heartbreaking sign of anxiety and psychological distress,' she said. 'I've seen his tail wag when the owner comes out, desperately trying to connect. But the owner doesn't even acknowledge him. Doesn't pet him. Doesn't let him inside. The corgi literally hesitates to step over the threshold, like he's been conditioned to know he's not allowed inside his own home.' 'This is emotional abuse, and it's completely preventable. Melbourne is freezing right now — I can barely handle the cold inside my apartment. I can't even imagine how this small dog is surviving out there night after night,' she added. According to the Bureau of Metereology (BoM), Melbourne nights in July typically average between 6 and 8 degrees celsius. In an update to her followers, Ms Abdollahi said the building manager had confirmed the RSPCA visited the property twice but, due to animal legislation, could not seize the dog. Victoria's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA) allows RSPCA inspectors to enter premises and seize animals only on reasonable grounds. These include: baiting or using the animals as lures, depriving the animal of food and water, or if the animal is in an entanglement causing pain or suffering. Ms Abdollahi has also reached out to Melbourne council, the management of the apartment towers, the closest cafe and pet store, multiple animal rescues, and Facebook groups. She has since left a note, offering to either 'purchase the dog or rehome him with care with no pressure or judgement.' Corgis, originally bred as herding dogs, are high-energy dogs that thrive on mental stimulation and physical activity. They typically need between 1 to 1.5 hours of exercise per day. With the right care, they can live up to 14 years old. PETA Asia Senior Vice President Jason Baker, branded the situation as 'incomprehensible'. 'Dogs are not disposable fashion items. You can't just toss your dog out on the balcony when they're no longer convenient, like you toss a pair of shoes to the back of your wardrobe when they're no longer fashionable,' he said. 'Dogs are highly social, pack animals who suffer terrible loneliness and deserve love, attention, and a safe environment to thrive in. 'It's incomprehensible that anyone would fail to see this as animal abuse and cruelty. Where is people's sense of shame and decency? No animal should have to suffer in isolation, longing for affection, basic care, and even shelter from the elements. 'PETA has been in touch with authorities to ask for immediate action to remove this dog from their current living conditions. PETA stands ready to assist in finding a permanent, loving home where this dog can feel safe and cared for.' Animal Justice Party member Georgie Purcell took to social media to slam the 'archaic' animal welfare laws that prevent authorities from intervening. 'I like many others have reported this to the RSPCA and despite them investigating … they have told me they cannot intervene,' she said. 'This is because under Victoria's animal welfare laws things like this are perfectly legal. 'Almost ten years ago the Victorian Labor Government committed to rewriting our state's archaic animal welfare laws, but Jacinta Allan just hasn't prioritised it.' A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne told 'We take animal welfare seriously and understand the community's concern regarding the condition of a dog at this residential property. 'Our Animal Management officers were notified last week and have been actively following up. An officer has attended the property and spoken with the owner about the housing conditions that do not meet the standards outlined in the Activities Local Law 2024. 'Clear directions have been given to improve the cleanliness and hygiene of the dog's living space, and further checks and enforcement action are scheduled for this week.' 'We know how much people care about animals in our city – and we'll continue to monitor the situation closely and take further steps if needed,' they added. The clips, which have close to 200,000 views have been met with outrage from viewers. 'What is the point of having a dog? I don't get it,' said one. 'As a corgi owner in Melbourne this makes me so unbelievably angry and upset,' wrote another. 'I also have a corgi and live in the same building as you. I see this view every day too, and it genuinely upsets me,' wrote a third.
