Bid to save poodles from doghouse

In what could be a landmark case, a Canberra couple fighting to keep their three toy poodles in their inner-city apartment are being taken to court this week by the complex's owners' corporation.

Under the new laws, a unit owner can keep an animal if they have the consent of the owners' corporation but that consent ''must not be unreasonably withheld''. Disputes would go to the new ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal rather than the Magistrates Court.

But the new laws come into effect only in March, which is not soon enough for David and Barbara Sinclair, of Turner, who must face the Magistrates Court tomorrow in a bid to prevent moves by the owners' corporation for them to get rid of their much-loved, de-barked toy poodles, Simba, 7; Emily, 6; and Sophie, 6.