Three dogs declared "dangerous dogs" have been returned to an Amaroo home, after they were seized following the death of Daisy, a Cavalier King Charles, in July.
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Cody Hill said she had put Daisy in the backyard as she normally would when she left home for half an hour, and returned to find her backyard trashed and Daisy dead.
"I was in hysterics, I was screaming, nearly sick and couldn't stop shaking," Ms Hill said. "I just went to pick up some flowers for a friend, it was her birthday the following day, and I came home and [Daisy] was dead."
Ms Hill said her partner Robert had arrived home five minutes earlier and found five neighbouring dogs, two of which were puppies, in their backyard, throwing Daisy's body in the air.
"Rob called the police and they came and took the dogs back into the neighbours' yard, they called the domestic animal service who then took the dogs away," she said.
"When we went out, [Daisy's] coat was off her and on the complete opposite side to where her body was lying."
A Transport Canberra and City Services spokesperson confirmed three of the dogs had been seized at the time and declared dangerous dogs.
An investigation had "included due consideration of all circumstances including the views of the owners of the dog that was killed".
Early this month, Ms Hill returned home to find the dogs back in the neighbouring property. She had not been notified the dogs would be returned, she said.
"I'm angry and I'm disgusted - all our opinions and concerns were disregarded," she said. "To have them returned home after being declared as dangerous, I don't know what the logic is behind that at all."
The government spokesperson said the owners had applied for a licence to keep each of the three dangerous dogs.
"Dogs that have been declared dangerous can be returned to their owner if the owner meets strict conditions to ensure the dogs no longer pose a risk."
The spokesperson said a licences to keep a dangerous dog must be renewed each year and could be cancelled at any time if the owner did not comply with the conditions.
Animal services did "proactive patrols" of dogs released under conditions to ensure owners were complying.
"Any breaches of conditions can result in the dogs being seized and the licence rescinded," the spokesperson said.
Conditions in the Amaroo case included a purpose-built enclosure to contain the dogs, which is now in place, and having the dogs muzzled in public.
Despite the cage to contain the dogs, Ms Hill said she fears the dogs would attack again and is worried about her cat Lola, and whether the dogs could even be a risk to visiting children.
"We used to let Lola out, but recently we haven't let her out because of the attack," she said.
"We also have a lot of nieces and nephews and if they had been in the backyard, what would have happened?"
The spokesperson said animal services "endeavours to ensure all parties involved are regularly contacted and updated on the progress of their investigation".
"We're very sorry that the decision to grant a licence to keep a dangerous dog was not communicated in advance to the neighbours, particularly when they had already had a distressing experience."
