City Of Onawa And Pet Owner Fighting Over Fate Of St. Bernard

IOWA -- The fight between the city of Onawa and a man over his dog is getting some national attention. The city says he's a dangerous animal but the dog's owner says he's a gentle giant that has never hurt anyone.

Tuesday night, Onawa's City Council will decide the future of Zhivago the St. Bernard dog.  Police there are declaring the dog a dangerous animal after it had broken off its chain and ran loose around town, twice.  The dog's owner says his pet isn't dangerous at all. In fact, he says he's vital for his health.

If he loves this dog so much, why is it being left CHAINED out in the yard????

Billy Parker says his dog, Zhivago, is not just a pet. He's a therapy dog who helps him deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, linked to a terrible accident.

There are so many liars out there claiming their pet is an emotional support animal, a therapy animal, etc. that I do not believe them unless they show official proof.

"He's been my savior, my buddy, I don't know what I'd do without him," said Billy Parker, Zhivago's owner and Onawa resident.

But the three-year-old St. Bernard is over 200-pounds, has outgrown its chains and has gotten loose in Onawa, twice. So police there have declared it a dangerous animal and one that should be seized.

"My understanding is that the dog has gotten off the chain multiple times and has alarmed other people as well. It would be correct to say that has been no actual bites of any actual animal, person or individual," said Bradley Hanson, Onawa City Administrator.

"And for the city of Onawa to just show up and say you've got three days to get rid of your dog or we're going to seize him... It's devastated our whole way of life, it really has," Parker said.

For Billy and his wife, Zhivago is part of the family.  They say he's never hurt anyone, not even their cats or children.

"He's never once hurt any of them, in any way shape or form. If he would have bitten someone, it would be different. I would totally understand," Parker said.

Which is why the family's story is capturing the attention of people all over the country. People in Iowa and even as far as Canada have come to the dog's defense both online and through phone calls to the city.

"They like to say that, 'well the dog hasn't bitten anybody'. But my next question is well, do you want to wait until this dog has actually bitten or maimed someone. And their comment is, well, no," Hanson said.

Which is why the issue is being decided by city council Tuesday. That group will vote to decide Zhivago's future. Though a future without his beloved pet is something Parker says he can't bear to think about.

The public meeting to determine the fate of Zhivago will be held at the Onawa City Hall on Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m.  The meeting is open to the public and will allow for both sides to present their case concerning Zhivago the dog.

Zhivago's supporters have set up a YouCaring page for him to help the family raise money to afford a lawyer to help the Parkers keep their dog.

(KSFY - Mar 23, 2015)