What began as an ordinary family matter quickly became a deeply serious legal battle for Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic — with their beloved German Shepherd, Chance the Yapper, at the centre of it.
The couple found themselves in court this month after Chance was the subject of a dangerous dog declaration following an alleged attack in Sydney.
For Jasmine in particular, the case became a fight to protect a much-loved member of the family.
The incident that changed everything
Chance, an eight-year-old German Shepherd, was investigated by North Sydney Council following an incident on Military Road in Neutral Bay on April 18.
According to court documents reported by Australian media, Chance allegedly attacked a person without provocation, causing what was described as “serious injury”. The documents also indicated that another dog was involved in the incident.
Following the incident, North Sydney Council issued a dangerous dog declaration.
That decision carried potentially devastating consequences for the Stefanovic family, as a dangerous dog declaration can ultimately result in the animal being euthanised.
Rather than accept the decision, Jasmine launched a legal appeal.
Jasmine takes the fight to court
On September 3, Jasmine appeared at Hornsby Local Court as part of the legal challenge against the council.
The family enlisted canine lawyer Anne Greenway of Lawyers for Companion Animals to represent them in the matter. The case ultimately resulted in a compromise rather than the dangerous dog declaration remaining in place.
Chance will instead remain under a four-year control order.
It means the dog can stay with the family — but under strict conditions.
The rules Chance must now follow
Under the control order, Chance must be muzzled and kept on a leash whenever he is in public.
The Stefanovics must also display a “Warning Dog” sign at their Castlecrag home.
The order reportedly requires Chance to undergo behavioural or socialisation training with a qualified expert within six months, with proof of completion to be provided to the council. He must also be kept securely at home to prevent him from escaping, and cannot be left in the care of anyone under 18.
So while the most serious outcome has been avoided, the matter is far from simply disappearing.
The next four years will come with considerable responsibility for the family.
A dog who has been part of the family for years
Chance has been with Karl and Jasmine since 2018, when they welcomed him into their home as a puppy.
The German Shepherd has also featured regularly in the family’s social media posts, becoming a familiar part of their public image.
For Karl, the decision to get another dog reportedly came after a difficult period following the loss of the family’s previous German Shepherd, Rocky.
According to New Idea, Karl was initially reluctant to take on another puppy because of the responsibility involved. Jasmine eventually persuaded him, and Chance became part of their family shortly before their wedding in Mexico.
Karl once joked that Chance was “Jasmine’s dog”
There was a lighter side to the relationship in the early days.
In a 2018 appearance on Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty show, Karl joked that Jasmine loved Chance more than she loved him.
He also joked that he wanted to “get rid” of the then-nine-month-old puppy — while immediately making clear that he was not speaking seriously.
At the time, it was simply part of Karl’s familiar humour.
Years later, however, the situation surrounding Chance has taken on a very different weight.
Claims of tension behind the scenes
While Jasmine has taken the legal fight forward, Karl has not publicly addressed the court case.
New Idea has reported claims from unnamed sources that the situation has created tension within the household. The publication also alleges that Karl has previously considered finding Chance another home, particularly after the couple welcomed their daughter Harper in 2020.
There have even been suggestions that Chance could potentially return to live with Karl’s brother Tom and his wife Jenna, who reportedly had him when he was born and have an almond farm in regional NSW.
Those claims have not been publicly confirmed by Karl or Jasmine, and should be treated as reported allegations rather than established fact.
For now, Chance gets another chance
The court outcome has given the Stefanovic family something they were fighting for: Chance can remain with them.
But it has also placed clear boundaries around what happens next.
The four-year control order means the family must follow a strict set of requirements, with behavioural training and careful management now part of Chance’s future.
For a dog who has been with the family since puppyhood, the outcome is significant.
And for Karl and Jasmine, what began with a single incident in Neutral Bay has now become a responsibility that will remain with their family for years to come.
The most difficult chapter may have been avoided — but the story of Chance the Yapper is clearly not over yet.