Wag The Dog

Wag the Dog has moved!

dlcc — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:42:41 -0500

Wag the Dog has moved to a new address. All new articles will be posted at http://wagthedog.doglegislationcouncilcanada.org/. Please update your bookmarks and let your friends know.

Welcome to the Official DLCC Blog

dlcc — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:47:01 -0400

Invitation to Attend Queens Park with Cheri Di Novo on November 18th

Lori Gray — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:58:26 -0500

On November 18th, 2009 a BILL will be put forth by MPP Cheri Di Novo to
Queens Park removing the breed specific part that is currently in Ontario's
Dog Owner's Liability Act.

If possible, attend the morning PRESS RELEASE at the front of Queens Park on
November 18th, starting at 9:30 am and ending around 11:30 am.

Cheri will be presenting the Private Members Bill in the house around 3pm,
for those who would like to stay for the afternoon and would like to sit in
the gallery.

PARKING For those who need parking and do not want to drive to the Queens
Park location, attached is a list of subway stations where you can park
cars. One would have to check if there is a cost involved at their
preferred station.

http://www3.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Parking/index.jsp

http://tinyurl.com/cdtdns

Please see Cheri Di Novo's blog page for further information.

http://www.cheridinovo.ca/blog/

http://tinyurl.com/yk6wzlz

Cheri's interview on newstalk1010, November 7th, 2009 on "The Ben Mercer
Show".

http://tinyurl.com/yfa6l7o

http://tinyurl.com/yjl77xt

http://tinyurl.com/y8jczqx

We have also designed a poster for people to put up in all areas of Ontario
and the link to the poster is below. We are in the middle of designing a
web page called "stop canine profiling" in support of the private members
bill. It will be added to the poster as soon as it is decided if it will be
either dot com or dot ca. When this is done (anytime now) the poster will
reflect the change and the support web site will be added to the poster.

POSTER FOR PRINT OUT:

http://tinyurl.com/ykvaldk

In the meantime face book has a support page up and running. The link to it
is below. In the discussion pages are samples of letters.

http://tinyurl.com/yau884n

If people, on face book, want to attend, please go to this EVENT page to
confirm.

http://tinyurl.com/yau884n

In the meantime, PLEASE feel free to write Cheri a letter of support. We
ask that you also phone, fax or write your local MPP's and ask THEM to
support Cheri's private members bill. A full list of Ontario's MPP's is
below.

http://www.ontariotenants.ca/government/mpp.phtml

Looking forward to a end of legalized discrimination and profiling in
Ontario.

Fran Coughlin

Straight from the horse's mouth "I'm no expert!"

Lori Gray — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:57:30 -0500

An interview with Dalton McGuinty was posted on You Tube from Animal House Radio.

First off, before you get into watching this interview with McGuinty, here are some quick facts.

1. It is impossible to "breed" any dog for aggression. This is science, not opinion. Aggression is a learned behaviour not a genetic inherited trait.

2. A "pitbull" is NOT a breed. It is a slang term for a cross bred dog. The 3 purebred breeds banned are all very rare breeds with roughly 1000 dogs in the whole province all three breeds combined! It is highly UNLIKELY there is any genetic code from ANY of the purebred breeds named in the ban flowing in the DNA of the short haired mutts targeted by this law. Popular breeds are what is found in popular mutt mixes such as Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers etc.

3. There were 4 days of committee hearings held prior to the law being passed. 80% of the presentations were AGAINST THE BAN. There were no canine experts presenting who were pro ban. There were 45 experts and a long list of individuals presenting AGAINST THE BAN; but McGuinty still maintains they listened to the experts!

4. Public safety has not been improved. The government did not put in place a bite registry, as was requested. There have been deaths attributed to dog bites since the inception of the ban but none were dogs falling under the ban. How were these victims protected by McGuinty's "public safety"? Or the scores of people bitten by dogs not falling under the vague description laid out in DOLA? Dalton McGuinty, Michael Bryant, Chris Bentley and Bob Delaney have all been quoted as saying the aim was to protect the public from "pitbull" bites not dog bites! Remember there is no such thing as a "pitbull". In court counsel for the Attorney General's office, Robert Charney was quoted saying "OK, there is no such thing as a 'pitbull'!"

5. McGuinty refuses to admit they were wrong. There would be respect for those who admit they were wrong even if they possibly had public safety at heart in the beginning.

Dog nearly killed for having too large of a head!

Lori Gray — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:34:36 -0400

Here is a perfect example of the absolute bullshit going on here in Ontario!

In Kitchener, Ontario this week, Shon Carroll, a humane society officer was "told" to investigate the background (lineage?) of a dog that was brought in stray.

** Kitchener has had a breed specific ban in place since Febuary 1997, put in place prior to the province enacting a province wide ban in 2005.

Jack Simpson as he put it, inherited a mutt 18 months ago from a neighbor. Simpson's dog got loose and went to explore the neighborhood, but was picked up by the humane society in Kitchener. When Simpson called looking for his dog he described him as a "lab/pit cross". The word "pit" activated the antennae of the HS to "investigate" the lineage of the dog.

This proves my point that most people who work with dogs in shelters, pounds and the like have no clue about dog genetics or breeds. They clearly have bought into the BS that "pitbulls" actually do exist and they must be identified and killed. Some shelters and pounds do not identify cross bred dogs and declare short haired mutts as breeds people "view" as "friendly" and find them homes but others such as Kitchener choose to kill dogs based on LOOKS NOT BEHAVIOR!

With each passing day this mass dog murder in Ontario gets more and more insane! Thanks Dalton McGuinty you useless piece of dog shit.

Mr. Simpson took the matter of what is now saving his dog's life to a humane society committee hearing where they would decide if the dog fit their criteria to be able to live or be designated as having some weird characteristics in how he looked that would declare a date with Dr. Death!

I have to include a lengthy excerpt because it is just too bizarre not to share.
Here is a link to the rest of the story where you may also see a picture of Jack Simpson and his dog Charlie.

Carroll met with Simpson and his dog on Sept. 2 to take pictures and measurements.

“My biggest thing is the width of the head, the wideness of the forehead,” Carroll said at the committee hearing.

The hind quarters were visibly lower and smaller than the front shoulders. The dog also had a big chest. But Charlie’s head was most concerning for humane society officer tasked with enforcing the Pit Bull ban.

Charlie’s muzzle has a box shape too, Carroll said.

Carroll told the committee the lab traits in Charlie are stronger than the Pit Bull traits. Carroll also said Charlie appeared to be friendly.

But mainly because of the size of the dog’s head Carroll designated Charlie a Pit Bull-like animal that was banned and would have to be destroyed.

“Because I left a message with the humane society that he is a lab-pit cross, the fact that I said ‘pit’ was enough to raise red flags,” Simpson said to the committee.

“Had I known then what I know now, I would never have mentioned the word ‘pit,’ I would have said a ‘lab cross’ and that would have been the end of it,” Simpson said.

He told the committee the dog never bothered anybody. Simpson said he brings the dog to the old age home where his mother lives and his sister’s daycare. He submitted letters from both women as evidence.

“My mother’s in an old age home. I take Charlie there, everybody loves Charlie,” Simpson said.

“I take him to my sister’s, she has a daycare centre, all the kids play with Charlie, and they all love him. There isn’t a soul in the city who doesn’t like Charlie and yet they were willing to put him to sleep because of the size of his head, which doesn’t seem fair,” Simpson said.

The committee members — Coun. Geoff Lorentz, Coun. John Smola and Anne Lawrence of the K-W Kennel Club — listened to the evidence.

Simpson said a lot of people are not aware dogs that are half Pit Bull can be designated and destroyed.

“It’s not an exact science I can tell you that,” Lorentz said.

Lawrence, the committee chair, wanted to know why Simpson described Charlie as a “lab-pit.”

“It’s just an easy way to explain what kind of dog he is rather than rattling off a whole bunch of different breeds I see in him,” Simpson said.

“OK so this wasn’t because you were told this by a vet?” Lawrence said.

“No, this is something I came up with as a short way of telling people what I think he is,” Lawrence said.

The committee members deliberated behind closed doors for a few minutes.

“Based on the evidence the committee is rescinding the designation which means you are free to license your dog, no restrictions. Thanks you every one,” Lawrence said.

No further explanations were given.

Simpson was visibly relieved as he walked out of the council chambers where the hearing was held.

“I am pleased, very pleased,” Simpson said.

The whole process has left Simpson shaking his head.

“Because they didn’t like the size of his head they wanted to kill him,” Simpson said.

“They gave me two options. Go get a DNA test done on him and find out what his lineage is, which is several thousand dollars, or leave the province,” Simpson.

Where do some shelter workers and animal control officers come up with this BS?

Someone please direct me to the information that leads these wanks to believe they can justifiably kill dogs because:

- Their head is too big

- Their forehead is too wide

-Their hindquarters are lower and smaller than their front end

-Their chest is too big

-And for God's Sake DO NOT HAVE A BOX SHAPED MUZZLE!

It appears that a flippant decision was made that Charlie seemed to also have a friendly demeanor, seeing as though he visits the OLD AGE HOME AND DAYCARE TO VISIT on a regular basis!

The moral of this story is; if you live in this Dogforsaken province of Ontariostan, erase the word "pit" from your vocabulary. Don't even use it to describe what exists in the center of most fruit for fear of having your dog killed because his head it too big!

High Five to Arnold Schwarzenegger

Lori Gray — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:49:19 -0400

Thank Dogness there is still some good old common sense left in the world!

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed Assembly Bill 241 which would have prohibited any person or entity from having 50 or more intact dogs or cats. He returned the bill with the following veto message:

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 241 without my signature. This measure would make it a crime for any person or entity to own or control more than 50 unsterilized adult dogs or cats for breeding or raising for sale as pets. I support measures designed to prevent animal cruelty and that punish persons engaged in the abuse of animals. However, this measure simply goes too far in an attempt to address the serious problem of puppy mills. An arbitrary cap on the number of animals any entity can possess throughout the state will not end unlawful, inhumane breeding practices. Instead this measure has the potential to criminalize the lawful activities of reputable breeders, pet stores, kennels, and charitable organizations engaged in raising service and assistance dogs.

For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

Denver mis-identification process update

Lori Gray — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:22:19 -0400

Denver newspapers are a-buzz with questions about whether thousands of family pets have been slaughtered simply because of the mis-identification process.

Well, duh?

Check out this quote from The Denver Daily News.

This snippet is Doug Kelley (director of animal control in Denver) defending the "system".

System defended

Doug Kelley, director of animal control, defended the system yesterday, arguing that the appeals process is proof that it works.

“The administrative hearing process is there, it’s designed to allow owners to appeal,” he said. “That process worked in this case — the dog, upon further information, was found not to be a pit bull. So, that’s why the process is there.”

Kelley also defended the training animal control officers receive in order to label a dog.

The training is actually a voluntary program that animal control officers must opt into. The checklist to determine if a dog is a pit bull is almost entirely physical characteristics, such as lips, eye color and shoulders. If a dog matches the majority of criteria for a pit bull, then the dog is a pit bull in the eyes of city officials.

Critics of the system, however, point out that there are dozens of traits that can be applied to several breeds. In many cases, the evaluators are unable to agree on several of the criteria.

So what if you don't have a couple thousand to blow on legal fees? Your dog is killed!

Training for breed identification? No such thing! You can't identify something that is fictitious. "Pitbull" is a slang term for a non-purebred dog or cross bred dog.

Checklist... see previous post! Opinion based descriptions.

Try this...

Identify the following pictures on Denver's "pitbull" checklist. Just open the attachment on the previous post and keep it open so you can do your own checklist of each of the animals below. See if you come up with a similar result for the following animals.

Animal number 1.

Animal number 2.

Animal number 3.

Ok, freak me out! I calculated more common criteria with animal number 3 when going through the checklist with each animal!

Here are a couple other links to other articles on this topic.

The Denver Channel

Denver Post

How does Denver identify a dog as a "pitbull"?

Lori Gray — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:32:05 -0400

Have you wondered how Denver identifies a dog as a "pitbull"? I always find it a curious process how it is that one identifies something that is a slang term or label as opposed to a concrete provable subject.

As I have said over and over, the term "pitbull" is a slang term for a type or "look" of dog. It is not a purebred and it is certainly not a breed. There are well over 25 purebred breeds that resemble what is sometimes referred to as a "pitbull". Basically it depends on who is doing the judging.

In the case of Dexter, in my previous post, Denver Animal Control (AC) has a "team" of so called "experts". In this case two were AC officers and the third was a vet tech.

The same shenanigans go on up here in Ontario too. The city of Mississauga was caught red handed using the janitor at the pound as one of the "breed experts" and having slips of paper (with breed written on it) dropped in buckets in front of cages as a vote by pound staff to identify mutts in custody.

We happen to have a copy of the form Denver AC uses to decide whether a dog is a "pitbull". I have attached a copy to this post.

The process is laughable but the outcome is far from. The outcome has resulted in the deaths of thousands of good family pets that happen to not fit the description of what Denver considers a family pet dog to look like. (see my second last post) Yes that's right, in jurisdictions that have breed discriminatory legislation; your pet's right to live or stay in your home depends on what it looks like, not how it behaves. It is not dependent on how responsible the owner is; it is strictly dependent on how your dog looks. The labeling or categorization may vary drastically from what you as an owner, AC employees or someone off the street thinks it should look like. It is dependent on amateurs with no qualification to judge the breed makeup of a cross bred dog. One step further, there is no person qualified to determine the makeup or lineage of a cross bred dog because it cannot be definitively determined. Professional dog show judges (with reputable kennel clubs) are at least experts in judging purebred dogs and know what to look for.

When you view the document in the attachment, what you are seeing is one form, used for the identification process, copied three times by three different "experts" at Denver AC. There are 27 steps to fill out , not including the dog's name, color or gender.

The three forms in a row you are viewing have been performed on the same dog! As you can see the only criteria all three "experts" agree on are the coat color, nose color and sex of the dog. They could not even agree on the weight of the dog, in fact one called the dog obese at 60 lbs while another recorded the dog at 65 lbs with no indication the dog was overweight.

So here is how things basically go down.

Your dog is picked up or seized as a "pitbull" by any law enforcement. The dog is taken to the Animal Control facility where three of their "expert" "pitbull" evaluators fill out the form (the one attached). On the back of the form (not shown in the attachment), they write "pitbull" or whatever breed or mix of breed they think it is. If at least two of the "experts" say it is a "pitbull" then the dog has just received its date with Dr. Death. If at least two of the evaluators say it's not a "pitbull" then you can pick up your dog and the dog is legal to live in Denver.

The law essentially reads that if Denver says your dog is a "pitbull" then it is a "pitbull". Sound familiar?

Why on earth do you think (in Ontario) reverse onus was written into the law? (The onus in on the owner to prove the dog is not a "pitbull" as opposed to the crown proving the dog is a "pitbull")

The stand alone answer to that is IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVE YOUR DOG IS NOT A "PITBULL" BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EXIST! Robert Charney (counsel for the Attorney General's office in our case said himself in court "there is no such thing as a "pitbull"!) You cannot prove definitely that a cross bred dog has or does not have particular breeds in its genetic back ground or lineage. There is no proof and too many variables.

That being said, Kevin O'Connell just won his case in Denver (see previous post) proving Dexter was not a "pitbull". In my opinion, O'Connell's "experts" trumped AC's "experts". It sure sets a nice precedence for what a dog that isn't a "pitbull" looks like!

Getting back to the attachment

***The three "experts" who filled out the forms attached, appeared at a hearing. When each were asked which of the criteria on the form were of the "pitbull" they did not know. One of the "experts" actually shrugged his shoulders. These "experts didn't know whether a "pitbull" was supposed to have a curved or straight tail or course or soft coat. The form is "just something they fill out" but the "experts" cannot tell you what it all means.

The dog that was being identified in all three forms attached was identified as a "pitbull".

**The dog being identified in the attached form is not Dexter. This is an unrelated previous case in Denver.

*This clearly demonstrates how the identification process is gravely flawed, sending thousands of innocent dogs to their death!

Denver's breed identification was challenged

Lori Gray — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:51:22 -0400

In a case against the city of Denver where 3 "breed ID experts" identified a dog (Dexter) as a "pitbull"; Dexter's owner challenged this identification and won!

My face is blue from mentioning this important tidbit of knowledge..

"Pitbull" is a slang term for a shape or look of dog. It IS NOT a breed! No wonder there are problems identifying something that cannot be defined and does not exist. Nobody is truly qualified to ID the breeds of a cross bred dog. Unless a dog is registered with a reputable dog registry, there is no way of proving the lineage of the animal. Fun game at the shelter but when your dog's life hangs on the balance, it isn't so damn fun anymore.. Unless you are a sociopathic dog killer (Kory Nelson and gang in Denver).

The above video is courtesy of KDVR in Denver, CO.

The comment was made in the video that thousands of mis-identified family pets have likely lost their lives as a result of Denver Animal Control mis-identifying. Ya THINK? See previous post!

In an excerpt from an article at The Westword News it was not Dexter who actually did anything wrong, AC was called regarding another issue with a different dog.

Kevin O'Connell was away on business when he got a call from a Denver animal-control officer: His dog, a Presa Canario, had mauled a Chihuahua. O'Connell, a civil engineer who lives in Thornton, had left his two dogs with a friend who lives in Denver; he gave the officer his friend's address. Then his friend called: She said that animal-control officers had shown up at her house, but instead of impounding the Presa Canario, they'd taken his other dog, Dexter, who'd been in her back yard.

"What?" O'Connell replied. "Why?"

"They say he's a pit bull."

It is high time for the WITCH HUNTERS to give it up. Seek therapy for your irrational fears and get on with your life. If you truly want to do something constructive about protecting public safety from irresponsible dog owners then take a look at the Responsible Dog Ownership bylaw in Calgary, Alberta. No targeting breeds, discrimination or throwing responsible dog owners under the bus in Calgary. Simple, enforceable, common sense bylaws that have been in place for nearly 2 decades and is a proven winner!

Denver's going down baby!

Time to wake up to the horrors of BSL

Lori Gray — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:19:12 -0400

It is due time to "out" the visual and background story behind breed bans. Please let this burn into your mind. Please share this with as many people as you possibly can. The content is difficult, but what those of us who live with breed bans have witnessed and live with every hour of every day is not to be turned away from. The only way we can see our way through this is by speaking openly. We must educate people about the facts. There is an alternative. We must show our governing bodies the way. It is our duty as dog owners and citizens of municipalities, towns, cities, counties, states and provinces. It matters not what breed or cross breed of dog you own. It matters not if you even own a dog. It matters not if you even fancy dogs. This insanity MUST STOP! We owe it to the innocent.

A dog owner who was forced to move out of Denver because of the pit bull ordinance, passed along a portion of her difficult account of life as a dog owner in Denver.

Many of you B.A.N.D. (Breed Awareness, Not Discrimination) members have been here with me and so many others since Denver reenacted the breed ban in May of 2005. Various members have done and continue to do rescue, fostering, letter writing, phone calls, and every other kind of action that goes into helping those affected or changing these insane laws to something saner, kinder, and smarter than rounding up family dogs and killing them.

Lately, for several reasons, I've not sent out much information about what is going on with the court cases or what you can do to help if you're looking to. A small part of those reasons is that doing some of this is hard and awful and I just plain don't want to relive it by telling others--I've pretty much clammed up as a defense mechanism. For me, one of the worst aspects of this is helping people through the system to get their dogs out. Animal control does not make this easy and anyway, almost everyone is scared and crying, and that's just the people.

When these people go to visit their dogs in the Denver shelter, and have to leave their dogs there--actually walk away--as the dogs are screaming to go with them, it is almost too much to take. And the dogs have no idea how they got from their comfy sofas to that concrete hellhole. I know many of you on this list have experienced this firsthand and some of you have said you've never heard your dog make that panicky sound before.

The point of this is that so many people do not know what the end result of breed discriminatory legislation is. I've heard people say, "Oh, you just can't have them there."

No! That is not it at all. Not even close.

Breed discriminatory legislation manifests itself in the rounding up and killing of good, well-loved, well-trained, passive, sweet, family dogs. I've included photos as proof that that is the end result of a breed ban. Please do your part and help spread the word. I can attest that these are indeed photos from Denver's breed ban as I took them myself.

Also, there's so much need out there with the dogs, even if you don't want to send these disgusting photos out or don't want to become an advocate for people going through the system, there is plenty more you can do with whatever time and resources you have. We need it all and we need it now! Thank you!

Your tired friend,

Xxxxx

About the photos...

These are pictures of just one load of dogs that Denver has rounded up and killed as part of their breed ban. "Well," you might say, "dogs are killed every day in shelters across the land." Yes, they are and it is all awful. But these were dogs who had homes. These were owned dogs that got picked up and killed for what they look like, not for anything they did. Underneath this pile of dead dogs, but not shown, were something like twelve puppies that were not even weaned yet. The photographer wanted to show them, but didn't have the heart to move the bodies of the adults around to show the puppies. Either way, this is how a breed ban manifests itself--in the rounding up and killing family dogs.

__._,_.___

Now, just before you lean back and wipe your brow to think this is a Denver issue or this isn't happening here.. think again.

This happens every day right here in Ontario. We have the numbers. Over 5000 dogs have been killed right here in Ontario since August 25, 2005!

Tin Pot Award for this month goes to Neguac, NB

Lori Gray — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:03:16 -0400

I cannot find the words to comment on this lack of thought from the town council of Neguac, New Brunswick. My only comment would have to be; way to hurl Neguac! I hope your pop drops from 1623 to ZERO.

In an article from the Times and Transcript, the witch hunt is described in detail.

NEGUAC - The village of Neguac is hoping to rid itself of a number of dog
breeds that fall under the pit bull label and owners are now required to
surrender their pets, no questions asked.

The community, located about 30-minutes northeast of Miramichi, passed a
bylaw banning the ownership of the breeds that are considered pit bulls.

Pit bull is a blanket term used to describe several breeds within the
molosser family that share similar physical characteristics.

Typically lumped into the pit bull-type dog category are breeds like the
American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull
Terrier, and sometimes the American Bulldog and the Bull Terrier.

Village administrator Denis Bujold told Canadaeast News Service that
council's decision to revamp its dog bylaw to include the enforced ban on pit
bulls stems from a few incidents involving the dogs showing aggression towards
people and other dogs.

Bujold said the new legislation allows the municipal animal control
officer to seize any of the breeds covered by the ban.

Under the ban, even pit bulls with a perfect track record of
non-aggression and a quality family life are required to be surrendered.

"He will seize it there and there will have to (be) some arrangement with
the dog, whatever they want to do with it," said Bujold. "That's up to that
owner what they want to do with it, but there's one thing sure; he cannot own
his dog in the municipality."

My terrier is broken?

Lori Gray — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:54:27 -0400

I absolutely have to tell you this amusing story.. it is a true story.

This past weekend a friend, my American Staffordshire Terrier (Justice) and I went to the cottage. We arrived late Saturday night very tired. After carrying all our stuff in we sat down in the living room to enjoy the peace and quiet of Muskoka.

I heard a "rustling" noise several times that seemed to come from the vicinity of the kitchen. We both heard the noise, but Justice didn't seem to give it a second thought so that was good enough for me. It isn't odd to hear animals outside on the wrap around deck frolicking in the night.

At about 1:30 I went to bed. I fell asleep quite quickly but was awakened to the sound of my friend yelling "Lori!!! There is a squirrel in here!!!"

You know what it is like when you wake up from a dead sleep. I was rather stunned but yelled back, "I'll let Justice out of my room!"

I opened the door and the next thing I saw was a little squirrel running past the bookshelf with Justice trotting behind it. Neither the squirrel or Justice were moving very fast; at least not by what I would consider hunting speed. The squirrel disappeared somewhere behind the TV.

I turned to ask my friend what transpired. He said he was playing a game on his cell phone when a cheeky squirrel ran out and crossed the living room, darting in and out of furniture. At one point it ran across the room and banged into the sliding glass door. My friend opened the door and screen and tried to chase the little guy out but the squirrel didn't seem able to find his way back to the great outdoors.

We looked for several minutes but there was no sign of the squirrel so I suggested we go back to bed, close the bedroom doors and deal with the squirrel in the morning.

I quickly fell back to sleep but was awakened again by Justice jumping off the bed. I heard a scratch, scratch... on the floor. I woke up much quicker this time! I realized the squirrel is now in my bedroom! I had a lamp by my bedside so I turned it on without getting out of bed. Much to my amazement, here was a little squirrel, the size of a chipmunk, sitting huddled in the corner of my bedroom with Justice staring him down. Justice's nose was about a foot and a half away from the squirrel with his head hung low I could see Justice's nose moving as he sniffed. I managed a weak "get it!", but Justice made no move toward the squirrel. The squirrel had huge black eyes and seemed rather stunned. Once he saw that this rather huge by comparison dog was not making a move to kill, the squirrel ran past Justice and jumped on the chair in the corner of the room underneath the window.

I now made my move to open the bedroom door and yell at my friend, "the squirrel is in my bedroom!!!!"

My friend now came to the doorway of my room and I grabbed the phone to call my aunt and uncle who have the cottage next door. I am not sure what I expected them to do at (now 4:00am). My aunt said to close the bedroom door and deal with it in the morning.. Meanwhile back in my bedroom I was getting a running commentary from my friend telling me the squirrel was on my bed, on my pillow, on the chair, jumping all around my bedroom. I appeared back in my bedroom doorway to see the squirrel jump onto the blind and try to escape out the window, however the screen was preventing his escape from Alcatraz. While this commotion was happening, Justice was hanging out in the living room! Yes, my terrier is ~BROKEN~ WHAT THE HELL? AREN'T DOGS NATURALLY SUPPOSED TO CHASE AND KILL SMALL MOVING ANIMALS?

There is a shelf above the window that has books stacked on top so it is quite near the ceiling. The squirrel climbed up the wall and found a temporary safe haven on top of the books above the window.

My friend decided it was a good idea to take the broom and "encourage" the squirrel to find its way to the now open window and embrace freedom. The squirrel was hiding his head in his own fur trying the old trick, if I can't see them... they can't see me? The closer my friend got with the broom, the more nervous the squirrel became. It was now moving back and forth across the books. I was standing behind my friend while he began throwing books at the squirrel.

All of a sudden the squirrel launched himself at my friend! It was a flying squirrel!

My friend squealed like a girl and I ducked out of the way but saw the squirrel fly into the bedroom across the hall. I quickly closed the door with the squirrel contained in the other bedroom. All I could think of was Chevy Chase at that moment. A Griswold weekend at the cottage was shaping up quite nicely.

My friend, now traumatized, grabbed a towel, throw rug, cooler and a box to secure the little 2 oz squirrel. He saw to it there would be NO escape from this room. Once the squirrel was secured, my friend realized his cell phone was with the squirrel.

I finally went back to bed. It was now 4:30am. I woke up the next morning to a cell phone ringing repeatedly. I guess the squirrel wasn't answering?

In the morning my aunt and uncle arrived with pest control paraphernalia in hand. They brought a laundry basket (with lid) and gloves. My aunt announced she was "going in". She began hunting around the room for the nocturnal squirrel but out of the corner of her eye she spotted the little squirrel laying dead on the floor.

Not sure how the poor little fella died. Maybe he had a heart attack after a 75 pound American Staffordshire Terrier turned him down as a snack and 2 humans squealed and chased him with a broom.

The moral of the story is, don't assume your terrier will protect your ass from wild animals. They surely don't necessarily answer the call of what they were "bred" to do...

Sarnia dogs released! But no pat on the back for Sarnia...

Lori Gray — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:17:19 -0400

I was away for the weekend so wasn't able to update on the Sarnia dogs..

Chicobandido has the story.

The dogs have been released to their owners.

Thank you to Al Bennet for injecting some sense into this situation.

Here is the media release from earlier today:

City of Sarnia
Media Release

Date: September 21, 2009
Release Date: Immediate
From: Lloyd Fennell, City Manager
Subject: Release of Dogs

The City of Sarnia is arranging for the release of the three mixed-breed dogs
that were detained on the basis of having similar characteristics to a "Pit
Bull" as outlined by the Dog Owners Liability Act (DOLA).

Following the detentions, the dogs Capone, Maddie and Carter were examined by an expert of the owners choice and one of the City's choice.

Both examinations found that the dogs were not "Pit Bulls" nor do they have the
appearance or physical characteristics of the "Pit Bull" breed.

While the dogs were detained, extensions were given to the euthanasia of the
dogs to allow for the examinations.

The City wanted to get the necessary information to ensure the right decision
was made and that is now the case.

Following discussions with the owners' lawyer, the dogs will be released to
their owners subject to them being spayed and neutered in accordance with the
recommendations of the owners' expert.

The city is satisfied that the release of the dogs back to their owners is the
right decision and will work with the owners to ensure that the recommendations
are followed in the release.

Lloyd Fennell

City Manager

A couple of comments..

First off, do you think maybe part of the problem is that some people (at least AC in Sarnia) are still believing "pitbull" is a breed! "Pitbull" is a short haired mutt. You cannot identify the lineage of a cross bred or mutt dog, period. Cannot be done, nada, no no no.

Why is the city stipulating the dogs be neutered and spayed? The dogs have been declared legal. These owners have done nothing wrong. Why are they being ordered to alter their dogs? Don't assume I am advocating they do not alter their dogs but shouldn't it be a choice?

At least the dogs' have been released back to their owners.

I guess we shouldn't hold our breath for an apology. I do not see any heroics on behalf of the city of Sarnia. May they hang their heads in shame for targeting dog owners (again) within the city of Sarnia. Targeting owners of short haired mutts based on looks not behaviour. If a dog is acting in a dangerous manner, no matter how it looks, the owner should be dealt with. If your dog accidentally gets loose well, as they say (shit happens). If it is chronic there may be a problem. To kill someone's dog while hiding behind the BS the Fib's have brought to this province is despicable.

CGN Day Sept 19th at Beeton Fair, Beeton, Ontario

Lori Gray — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:34:27 -0400

CGN TESTING

The Dog Legislation Council of Canada is offering a Canine

Good Neighbor Day at the Beeton Fair September 19th, 2009.

Canadian Kennel Club certificate test - conducted by a CKC CGN Evaluator.

Fee for CGN is $35.00 per dog.

Saturday, September 19th 2009 - testing will be held on the grounds at the Beeton Fair.

This test is available to purebred and non-pure bred dogs. There will be an entrance fee to gain access to the Fairgrounds. Please keep your dogs leashed to comply with municipal bylaws at all times.

For more information about the CGN testing criteria please contact Lori Gray dlccevents@gmail.com

The Town of New Tecumseth offers a half price reduction to dog tag costs for dogs with a Canine Good Neighbour Certificate.

Directions:

From Hwy 400, go north to exit hwy 88 to Bond Head. Go west to Bond Head to stoplight at hwy 27^th. Turn north to 8^th line 1.5 km. Turn left or west toward Beeton 8.8km. You will now be on the Main St of Beeton. At 2^nd St N in Beeton, turn right or north to Prospect St. You will be at the fairgrounds in Community Park.

Pre-book CGN testing by contacting:

dlccevents@gmail.com

Dogs must be 6 months of age or older

PC Volunteer Appreciation BBQ and Canvass a success

Lori Gray — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:45:49 -0400

The PC volunteer appreciation BBQ and canvass was a success, as reported by one of our members who was in attendance with his dog Abby. The BBQ was a great chance to meet the St Paul's candidate, Sue-Ann Levy, who will be running in Bryant's former riding. The Liberal's are not confident they will hang on to the seat in St. Paul's. The by-election is coming up this Thursday Sept 17th.

Following a day of canvassing, Leader Tim Hudak, Sue-Ann Levy, Party Executive, PC Caucus, volunteers, families, and friends of the Ontario PC Party had their annual volunteer BBQ.

Here are some comments from our member who was there...

Abby attracted a lot of favorable attention. I didn't meet one person who had anything good to say about the pit bull ban. Among the people coming over to greet Abby was a teenage girl with a little girl about 1 or 2 years old. The little girl liked petting Abby.

Later when I finally got a chance to speak to Tim Hudak the first thing he said was "your dog really hit it off with my daughter". It turns out that the little girl was Tim Hudak's daughter. I asked where he stood on the pit bull ban and he called it a ridiculous law. He suggested that once elected that they need to bring in a new law that will actually be effective in protecting people from dangerous dogs. He commented that when he was a kid it was German Shepherds that people were afraid of. He did say that it wouldn't be a campaign issue, but he seemed well informed on the issue and definitely opposed to the pit bull ban.

Thanks for the report Bryan and thanks for mascot duty Abby!

Remember to begin researching which party has the best chance of beating the Liberal in your riding for the next provincial election (Oct 2011). The countdown is on! If the next election is likened to a game of bowling, we are long over due for a strike to knock those Fiberal pins out of the way and get this province back on track!! Time to restore the sanity.

Good luck to Sue-Ann Levy this Thursday! Paws crossed for you..

WHAT IS AN ONTARIO 'PIT BULL'?

Selma Mulvey — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:05:08 -0400

In Ontario these days, it's hard to say. It seems as though any short-haired dog can be turned into a 'pit bull' with no effort at all.

Of course that's what happens when a law is 100% rigged against a citizen in favour of the government - fairness flies out the window. Every dog is substantially similar in physical characteristics to every other dog, isn't he? Of course he is. Note the law doesn't say 'physical appearance' or 'breed', then run that around in your head for a second or two.

Get it?

Check out my PowerPoint presentation. It's modified from the wildly successful display I did for our booth at the All About Pets show this past Easter weekend.

It's attached as a file - just click on the paper clip or hit the linked title to view it.

I haven't used PowerPoint for years, so it's kind of basic. Any and all suggestions/tips welcome!

Follow up: Nackawic, NB gives BSL the boot!

Lori Gray — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:20:45 -0400

h/t Chicobandido

Remember the story a few days ago about Dr. Mary Ann Bramstrup, who with held some services from the town of Nackawic, NB (where she works and lives)? She took a different approach to get the town to wake up and smell the common sense.

Well the town of Nackawic, NB injected some common sense into the dog bylaw.

From the Bugle Observer today:

Nackawic passes amended dog bylaw, removing breed specific as a vicious dog

At Tuesday evenings regular meeting – after public consultation and revision – the town's council introduced and enacted its purposed amendments with the third and final reading.

Council removed breed specific classifications – pit bull terriers, Rottweilers and mixed breeds of either – from the vicious dog classification and based the bylaw on if a dog bites, attacks or aggressively chases a person or another animal. The $250 vicious dog fee was also removed.

Kudos to Dr. Bramstrap and the town of Nackawic, NB!

May all jurisdictions who currently have BSL follow your lead and do the right thing.

The Origins of Breed Specific Legislation

Lori Gray — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:18:32 -0400

h/t Social Mange

Sarnia's horrifying update

Lori Gray — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:47:40 -0400

City now holding three suspected pit bulls

The city has impounded yet another dog based on the belief it is a banned breed in Ontario and must be euthanized.

A complaint prompted Sarnia officials on Friday to pick up a dog, which they were told fathered two puppies already being held at the Sarnia and District Humane Society.

All three dogs are boxer mixes, according to one owner Korinn Seabrook. However, city animal control officers say they are Staffordshire bull terriers and are illegal.

Sarnia is well on its way to topping the list of being known for most dog unfriendly city. Way to hurl Sarnia!

If only more people were un-neutered...

Lori Gray — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:50:25 -0400

There is an interesting article at the Globe and Mail today.
A quick thinking MD in Nackawic NB, a small town west of Fredericton, had the knackers to with hold some services until common sense prevailed with the town canine bylaw. Dr. Mary Ann Brampstrup found out about the small town deeming dogs vicious based on breed rather than responsible ownership when she was asked to pay $250.00 for her dog tag for her Rottweiler-Lab mix, Jessie.

Calling the bylaw akin to "racial profiling," the doctor decided this summer she would stop providing some extra services. She would no longer volunteer for committee work, participate in mock disaster exercises or see patients she did not know at her home office outside business hours.

Within weeks the town was drafting a new bylaw.

Kudos to you Dr. Brampstup!

Come on Canada, wake up! Targeting breeds and deeming them dangerous/vicious based on breed is outdated and shows a lack of understanding of not only human behavior but dog behavior. With nearly half of Canadian households owning a dog, it is time to wake up and smell the facts. Dogs are here to stay.. Let's follow what works, shall we. Google Calgary Responsible Dog Bylaw..

Bill Bruce speaking in Nanaimo, BC

Lori Gray — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:00:19 -0400

NANAIMO KENNEL CLUB

Is pleased to present a public forum on

"Putting a Muzzle on Dog BITE Incidents in your Community" and "Responsible Dog Ownership"

Speaker: Bill Bruce, Director of Animal Services and Bylaws, Calgary

DATE: Wednesday, September 23, 2009

LOCATION: Beban Park Auditorium

TIME: 7 pm to 9 pm

COST: No charge to attend

Bryant's legacy... death and destruction

Lori Gray — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:45:31 -0400

Pitbull law unevenly applied

ANIMALS: Two dogs to be euthanzied this week

Posted By CATHY DOBSON, THE OBSERVER

If Maddi and Carter lived in St. Clair Township they probably wouldn't be on death row.

But they live in Sarnia where animal control officers say they resemble Staff ordshire bull terriers or pitbulls and are illegal.

Both 11-month-old pups are scheduled to be euthanized this week unless their owners can prove they aren't a banned breed.

Sarnia is only following provincial legislation that binds the municipality, says Mayor Mike Bradley.

"We didn't ask for it but we have to deal with it," he said. "The city doesn't agree with banning by breed and I've been opposed to it since day one. But we are doing what the provincial law requires."

The 2005 Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act says any Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staff ordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and any dog that looks "substantially similar" is illegal.

In Sarnia, animal control offi- cers don't require a complaint to pick up a dog they believe is banned. If the officer deems it a pitbull, the onus is on the owner to prove otherwise.

Here is the original article from this week.

Suspected pitbulls on death row

CATHY DOBSON The Observer September 2, 2009

Korinn Seabrook and Sonya Pimentel are desperate to stop Sarnia from euthanizing their puppies, but neither is optimistic they can be saved.

The women, who are friends, each adopted an 11-month-old dog they believe are boxer mixes from a mutual friend.

“Both the mom and the dad are boxer mix. My friend has the papers to prove it,” said Seabrook.

But Sarnia animal control officers say the puppies look like Staffordshire bull terriers, a breed that’s been illegal to own in Ontario since legislation was passed in 2005 to ban so-called pitbulls.

Seabrook’s dog Maddi went missing Sunday night near her home on Michigan Avenue. She believes the 30-pound pup escaped through a hole in the screen door.

“I stayed up all night looking for her,” she said. In the morning, she discovered Maddi at the Sarnia and District Humane Society.

In the media ruckus about the mastermind behind this bullshit legislation, I didn't post this case.

Sarnia Animal Control seized these dogs which the owners stated were NOT a "pit
bull" nor did these dogs have any "pit bull" in their genetic make up..

It is not the first time puppies were seized by this city.They will be killed if
we as responsible dog owners don't write to stop this madness.

These dogs were seized despite the fact that the Ontario Superior Court ruled
that the definition of pit bull as written was unenforceable.

How was this determination of breed made? It is impossible to determine proof of breed makeup in mixed breed dogs. Only the breeds of pure bred, registered dogs are identifiable without doubt.

Under the Dog Owners Liability Act , the city of Sarnia does not have the right
to seize ownership of ANY dog. It only has the right to lay charges under the
Act .

In the recent case of a Mr Philip Huggins, the city of Toronto found itself in a
rather unenviable position of being in violation of DOLA regulations.

In this case as with Mr Huggins, the dogs pose no immediate threat to the
public, the owners did not relinquish the dogs nor did the owners at any time
refuse to meet certain criteria for ensuring that these dog's would be properly
contained.

I ask the Honourable Mayor and Councillors of the City of Sarnia to step in and
stay the order for the death of these puppies.

Please share your feelings with the Sarnia mayor and council about this situation.
For your convenience the emails are provided below. Please remove spaces prior to sending email. The titles of each person directly follow the addresses.

mayor @ sarnia.ca
d.boushy @ cogeco.ca
andybruziewicz @ hotmail,com
terry @ terryburell.ca
jimfoubister @ sarnia.ca
annemariegillis @ sarnia.ca
mike @ mikekelch.com
bevmacdougall @ ebtech.net
jonmceachran @ hotmail.com

Mayor Mike Bradley

City/County Councillor Dave Boushy

City Councillor Andy Bruziewicz

City Councillor Terry Burrell

City/County Councillor Jim Foubister

City/County Councillor Anne Marie Gillis

City Councillor Mike Kelch

City/County Councillor Bev MacDougall

City Councillor Jon McEachran

Michael Bryant victim? Navigator Ltd. runs the spin cycle on high

Lori Gray — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:45:48 -0400

Even if I were hypnotized I wouldn't believe Bryant isn't a douchebag!

Anyone want to chip in a few bucks to hire a PR firm to put out the real truth? I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult to round up a few (hundred thousand) pissed off citizens of Ontario that have found themselves on the short end of the wienie in the past 6 or more years... Why didn't we think of hiring a PR firm in 2004 whilst being thrown under the bus by Bryant himself? It is listed as one of the many things Navigator Ltd. does.

I am not sure what it costs to hire a "big shot" firm like Navigator Ltd. to run the spin cycle to makes things appear different than they are. I'm sure since we raised in excess of $750,000.00 (just from the dog owning community) for our court case, they may at least give us the gentle spin cycle for less?

One serious question comes to my mind while pondering spin city..

If Bryant is innocent, why does he need to hire a PR firm to make him "look" like he isn't a douchebag? Is this some sick twist on reverse onus?

.....I look like an asshole, walk like an asshole, talk like an asshole, I must be an asshole. I better hire a PR firm to make me not look like an asshole! Bryant says himself, if you are an asshole, you know you are an asshole!.....

The opening page of the Navigator Ltd. website states:

And although the specifics of our clients’ challenges are unique, there is one constant: the need to win in the arena of public opinion.

They are upfront about what it is they do.

Jamie Watt - Chair of the firm and senior partner

A highly regarded speaker, Jaime is a regular panelist on Canada's premier political affairs television programme, Politics with Don Newman. He also appears on CBC, Global, CTV, and TVO and in the National Post and The Globe and Mail as a commentator on public affairs issues.

Robin Sears - Senior Partner

For a global executive search firm, Robin managed regional and global practices in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Toronto. He was the first Asia president of the pioneering digital search firm, Futurestep, for two of those years. He is a senior writer for Policy Options magazine, Canada's leading policy journal, and a regular guest on CBC Newsworld's Politics.

From their webpage "What we do"

We start with the facts. Not as we might see them, or as our gut might tell us, but rather as the marketplace informs us, through focused research that drives to the heart of the issue. We employ research that is not afraid to ask tough questions, and sometimes deliver tough answers.

We then pass that information through the prism of our years of experience, to deliver an analysis that will illuminate the issue in new ways. Clients have praised us for our ability to take an issue that has been looked at, sometimes for years, and radically shift perspective to reveal new insights. These fresh insights are what our strategies are built on.

For example, the press release for Bryant's resignation was released by Dan Robertson at Navigator Ltd. Called a "leak" it delivers the message that Bryant quit his job (which he loved) and of course the REAL message they want to put in your thoughts is that; (he claims he is innocent of the very serious accusations made against him).

In an excerpt from an article by Rick Salutin (Globe and Mail) called "The problem with PR: let's speak for ourselves":

But there's one element that irritates me severely. It's the presence, since very early, of a public-relations firm aiding Mr. Bryant. Globe reporter Timothy Appleby says he was told outside the jail that morning that a PR firm was involved. Even Sherman McCoy didn't use his second call to phone a publicist. Tim says he doesn't know whether the company was already engaged for another reason, but they were apparently on Mr. Bryant's case.

The firm turned out to be Navigator Ltd., which acted for Brian Mulroney during the Karlheinz Schreiber operetta. This muddies everything that follows.

For instance, immediately on release, Mr. Bryant expressed condolences to Mr. Sheppard's family. As Susan Reisler of Media Profile, another PR firm, told the Toronto Star: “It's appropriate to apologize. It's not admission to anything …” This is stock PR wisdom in crisis management. You get out there fast with your top person and express regret.

Salutin makes a comment in another article in the National Post:

A PR firm taints it, says Salutin. “When a news story says, 'We have new information from a source …' is that source Navigator? Or someone egged on by Navigator?” Bryant's a smart guy, in other words, so why can't he speak (or stay silent) for himself?

I'll leave you with some pondering fodder. The Toronto Star had a decent article entitled "Spinning the first week of Michael Bryant's new life." Here is an excerpt:

It's a reasonable bet you, too, Toronto Star readers, have an opinion. But is it, you might ask, your own? Definitely not, says a veteran Toronto criminal lawyer, loath to have his name published. "Look, the headline on this story should be: `Navigator, changing your perceptions without you even knowing it.'"

He refers, of course, to Navigator Limited, the smooth public relations firm hired by Bryant (when exactly is unclear) to massage the message. He's said to be close to Navigator chair Jaime Watt, touted for knowing everybody in Canadian power circles. Senior partner Robin Sears most recently was spokesperson for Brian Mulroney during the parliamentary investigation into his dealings with deported German arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber.

and continuing...

Experienced legal and political hands see Navigator's fingerprints all over public opinion. Shortly after a noon strategy meeting yesterday that apparently drew together Navigator staffers and Bryant's criminal defence lawyer, highly regarded Marie Henein, Sears acknowledged a reporter's remark that things seemed to be going well for them.

"I'm glad you agree," he said. "We're working hard to ensure that it does. A big part of that is us staying out of the story."

I realize I am bias in my opinion of who Michael Bryant is as a person, a politician or a business man. Articulate, inspiring, showman and dynamic are NOT on my list of descriptive words for Bryant. I felt as though I wanted to throw up when I read the warm and fuzzy article in the Star September 2nd; hot on the heels of Sheppard's death. I guess that was another one of Navigator's releases to try to rock the public into thinking there is a "softer" side or somehow portray he can't be the sociopath many suspect.

"Collateral damage" is what Bryant does best. I can attest to this!

I can't help but think that somehow Bryant made a tragic choice and there very well may have been tragic choices made on both sides of the coin. What I know for sure is; it is utterly disgusting and vile to think that a public campaign to paint a "rosy" picture may influence the outcome of this tragedy.

Is Michael Bryant going to take up cycling?

Lori Gray — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:53:04 -0400

Former Attorney General Michael Bryant's conditions of his release were revealed today. Bryant was charged Tuesday with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death. The conditions for his release were; a driving ban, Bryant must remain in the province of Ontario, leave his passport with police and notify police of any change in address, employment or occupation.

This begs the question if Bryant will take up cycling?

Or at the very least ride the TTC. He won't have too many pressing engagements since he is now out of a job. Bryant, for reasons that are unclear, handed in his resignation on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Maybe he can hire a chauffeur.

Michael Bryant legal ethics test

Lori Gray — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:50:22 -0400

If Michael Bryant was a pitbull...

Lori Gray — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:45:25 -0400

Our friends over at the Dogs in Canada blog have an excellent post!

If Michael Bryant was a pitbull…

by Kelly on September 2, 2009

It’s certainly very distressing to read about the news that former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant has been charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

It is a must read...
h/t Kelly!

Inherently dangerous beast (Michael Bryant) charged in fatality

Lori Gray — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:21:09 -0400

I hate to say, I told you so... Now a Toronto cyclist is dead, following a vicious act last night when former Attorney General of Ontario (McGuinty Fiberal's) Michael Bryant, went off like a ticking time bomb!

The latest fatality stats were released early this morning for Ontario.

Fatalities caused by "pitbulls" 0
Fatalities caused by Michael Bryant 1

According to CBC news this afternoon;

"Michael James Bryant, 43 years of age, of Toronto, is now charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death," said Toronto police Sgt. Tim Burrows at an impromptu news conference outside the headquarters of the force's traffic division.

Bryant's future is unclear following the death of a cyclist on Bloor Street West near Bay Street on Monday night.

Not to appear to gleefully that Karma has taken a public form; but there are obviously thousands of people who feel a rush of enthusiasm at the thoughts of MB becoming someones "bitch" in Government Hotel. The hit counter hit well in excess of 260,000 this morning when the news broke.

Michael J. Bryant is responsible for ruining the lives of Ontarian's during his unstable, sociopath behavior and crazed run as Attorney General of Ontario. He was responsible for legislation banning "pitbulls" and using the legislation that banned the fictitious breed of dog to crush the cars of street racers, among other things (list far too long). Uncanny really how he would find himself charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of city courier, 33-year-old Darcy Allan Sheppard of Toronto. The victim is also the father of an infant son.

The witnesses said it appeared as though Bryant was attempting to knock Sheppard off the car by brushing against trees and mailboxes on Bloor Street approaching Avenue Road. Burrows said Sheppard was "essentially a pedestrian," having left his bicycle.

Police said Sheppard sustained severe injuries after striking a mailbox and a tree while still hanging on to the car. He was dragged and then run over by the rear wheels of the vehicle. He was rushed to Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital, according to police.

Sheppard was pronounced dead a short time later.

Getting back to the dire warnings we tried to warn people of going back as far as early 2004. It is a matter of public safety! Nobody listened to us. The picture below is of a poster I carried around Queen's Park August 29th, 2005. We knew then what this man was capable of but no one listened.

I along with countless other citizens of Ontario, wish to express our voice, that the full measure of the law be used to give this man what he deserves. This man is a danger to public safety and must be locked up. Everyone deserves fair and due process, but then again those of us on the receiving end of bullshit legislation did not receive fair and due process.

As they say, a picture says a 1000 words.... Jury selection for Bryant's trial.

Is the kettle about to boil over in Surrey?

Lori Gray — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:20:45 -0400

It is absolutely beyond me why people entertain the thoughts that banning breeds or fictitious breeds of dogs? If they have their thinking caps on at all or have learned the art of "google" they will find plenty of evidence that cities, states, counties and countries are repealing bans and substituting with common sense. Holland executed a detailed study to prove breed bans do nothing to decrease bite incidents. In an article this week...

Surrey City Councillor Barinder Rasode says she is ready to re-evaluate the rules surrounding dangerous dogs in light of recent dog attacks in Surrey.

Rasode says she could see tougher legislation, or even a ban on certain breeds in Surrey. “If the SPCA came forward to council with a proposal we would certainly not only discuss that proposal but send it out to public consultation…and maybe a ban is what we need to look at."

Give your head a shake Barinder!

Google the "Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw" in Calgary.

I feel like a broken record.. record.. record... record... record... record...

Upcoming Seminars

Lori Gray — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:52:11 -0400

The Earlybird deadline: September 15th, 2009 is fast approaching for the Fox-Fire Publishing Inc fall seminars. This is a small venue so seating is limited.

SEMINAR 1

October 3, 2009

Beeton, Ontario

"Energetic Healing Therapies for Pets"

with Sheila Trecardin (RP CRA, C.R.H.P.) and Susan Trottier

Reiki and energy transference/healing
Colour Therapy
Vibrational Essences
Holistic Laser Therapy
Animal Communication
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

-----------------

SEMINAR 2

October 4, 2009

Beeton, Ontario

"Dietary Landscape"

with Monica Segal (AHCW)

Also a book signing for her two books which you may preorder to assure availability. See website for details.

----------------

Each event will offer goodie bags to all attendees. Anyone is invited to include literature, samples and/or coupons. No limit to the number of items you may include. Please contact me privately for delivery instructions. Many discount options available as well.

All details of these events, including discounts, registration forms, speaker bios, maps, etc can be found at http://www.foxfirepublishing.com

If you have any questions, please contact me at bev@foxfirepublishing.ca or 905-775-6320.

----------------

Fox-Fire Publishing is also happy to continue to include our popular New Page: "Other Events" service/ links on our main page. See the website for details of your entitlement as a host or hostess of upcoming events.

---------------

Please do share this information with upcoming even planners, other groups or commercial interests who may wish to take part in goodie bags.

---------------

Bev Lewis

905-775-6320

Bev@foxfirepublishing.ca

http://www.foxfirepublishing.com

Need a laugh?

Lori Gray — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:49:22 -0400