Would you not think Mississauga animal control would have learned a lesson in how to waste tax payers money, undue stress, anxiety and shame from the Rambo case? Well apparently not!
You would think MPP Bob Delaney would have filled them in by now that there is NO SUCH THING as a 'pitbull'; since he chaired the committee hearings and listened so intently >tongue placed firmly in cheek<.
Delaney certainly could have given Mississauga AC a direct quote from their lead counsel in court Robert Charney who announced to the
amusement of spectators in a packed courtroom on June 28, “There is no such thing as a 'pit bull'!” He
also said that the intent of the ill-conceived law was to “prevent 'pit
bull' bites – not dog bites in general” and later added “It is the
purebreds we want, we only threw in the substantially similar clause in
case someone had a purebred and lied”. Possibly he is throwing the Mississauga animal control under the bus along with Ontario dog owners.
Here is an excerpt from the article in the Mississauga News:
Danny Truong was charged with owning a prohibited animal just before
Christmas last year after he took his 10-month-old puppy Bowser to be
neutered at a veterinary clinic on Nov. 25.
The 21-year-old said he
was shocked three weeks later when City animal services officers came
knocking at his home near Square One, charging him under the Dog
Owners' Liability Act. Truong said the officers told him that the
veterinary clinic had made a complaint.
Danny feels he is being discriminated against based on his dog's appearance. Could this be a pattern of profiling? Is it possible people are being targeted based on race, neighborhood or other demographic based on the shape of dog they own?
Truong said he received Bowser as a gift from his niece and was told by the lady selling the pup that he was a Rottweiler-Boxer mix.
In a quote from Selma Mulvey, dog owners have no way of knowing whether or not they are breaking the law because the legislation is vague.
Vague? Ya think?
That bit of sarcasm was directed firmly at the incompetent Fiberal government, not the messenger..
Let's recap a sampling of some of the types of dogs that are being snagged by Mississauga AC.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
All together now, {clearing throat} repeat after me…
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A 'PITBULL'!
Vague doesn't even begin to describe what the poor targeted mutts are. Mutts would be the key word in this whole equation. I don't see any similarities of any of the targeted dogs to any of the purebreds and yes I have had my regular eye exam recently. I strongly encourage you to click on the “mutt” link. That Wikipedia page is littered (no pun intended) with “pitbulls”!
Footnote:
The usage of the word mutt is not used in a derogatory sense. I have utmost respect for all dogs regardless of lineage. In fact, I feel a dog is a dog is a dog is a DOG. Big, small, short, tall, long hair, short hair, long tail, short tail, curly tail, whippy tail.. Regardless of color or breed, all dog owners deserve to be treated equal under the law. Dog owners have rights; or at least we did until McGuinty began his ban-o-thon. We intend to get them back!
Caveat has more info too. Check it out..
So now we hear of another responsible owner who has done everything properly for Bowser and through no fault of his own possibly stands to lose Bowser to euthanasia or the dog being sent out of province. Not only does he stand to possibly lose his dog he, through taxes he pays willhelp the province do it.
Where is the logic, sense or heart in that
John
Let's not forget there are thousands of cases like this all over the province. Most people simply turn their dog over to the AC or peace officer feeling intimidated or that they have no choice. They likely do not know they are a target since there is no clear definition of what substantially similar is. I have talked to hundreds if not thousands of people at booths in the past 4 yrs. Very few people either know anything about the law or know it applies to them. They have no idea their dog is in danger. Dog forbid their dog gets accidentally loose one day, as in the case with Rambo. Then the dog is in AC custody. The person then has a tough time since the dog is away from them, sitting in a pound for Dog knows how long while things are figured out in court, if the person can afford a lawyer.
There were over 4000 dogs labeled as so called “pitbull” killed (according to OVMA records) as of last spring. We are nearly another year into this now. If the rate is constant the number will be nearly 5000 now! Puppies, old dogs, dog targeted for what they look like. Not that they have done anything wrong other than appear to fit the description of substantially similar by some over-achiever peace officer. In the last 2 cases we have spoke with the people both were minding their own business being a responsible owner. One was out for a walk with their two puppies and picking up dog poo when AC pulled them over and said they were going to be charged for owning prohibited dogs. Danny was getting his pup neutered, all the while being told his dog was a Rottweiler/Boxer mix. Gabriella had guests over and her pup slipped out the door to go for a romp. He didn't threaten anyone, just happened to get caught (Christmas day) no less!
Don't ever try to apply logic to the bull**** of breed bans. You will go crazy! The sense and heart, well sociopathic tendencies come to mind and logic and politician never belong in the same sentence! Doubly when there is a Ontario Fiberal included.