Wag the Dog

Today is Remembrance Day, an important day.  It's the anniversary of the end of WW1, 90 years ago this year.  Canadians died, in that war and in others, defending freedom and democracy, and standing up against oppression and tyranny.  As a country, we collectively remember those people who sacrificed their lives on this day each year.  The lives of some given for [...]

If the Ontario law stands, it could very easily spread like wildfire.  Even if you don’t care about “pitbulls” ANYTHING can be banned if the courtdecision stands, with no evidence of “apprehension of harm”.   Warrantless Search & Seizure – Replace “Pitbull” with any other item or any breed of dog.  Is it okay in [...]

I must say, I am breathing a sigh of relief today. The election south of the border is over and Obama slid in no problem. I was one of those who used to sort of like McCain (pre election campaign) but the choice of Palin as a running mate and selling his soul did me in. [...]

When I was a little girl, I thought that this country, Canada was fair, honourable, democratic, and a great place to live.  I guess I'm a bit jaded now.  I want to love my country; really I do.  I was brought up that way, by parents and especially a father who loved this country, were [...]

'Twas a month before Christmas and Santa was sad. It was looking to him like the world had gone mad. Instead of his usual naughty and nice list. He was perusing papers saying Cease! Stop! Desist! He didn't get letters asking him “Please”. Instead saying things like, “animal enslavement, abuse, you old Geeze!” That left [...]

October 30, 2008 PEI Veterinary Medical AssociationThe Farm Centre Building420 University AvenueCharlottetown, PE C1A 7Z5 Thank you for your recent e-mail to the Prince Edward Island VeterinaryMedical Association (PEIVMA) concerning elective surgeries such as earcropping, tail docking, and dewclaw removal. I ask that you bear with me with regard to this 'form' letter in response [...]

  I saw the subject title come up in my mailbox, “I Lost my Girlie” and I got chills. The AmStaff is one of the breeds included in the breed ban in Ontario; this title could mean one of two things, neither one good. To have your AmStaff wander off or escape the confines of [...]

Imagine the Attorney General of Ontario sees some news stories about red cars involved in accidents.  Imagine that he notices that the news media seems to cover more stories about red cars being involved in accidents than any other car colour.   Now imagine that he speaks to a mechanic who says that red cars are [...]

Rambo, the red dog from Mississauga who went for a jaunt last Christmas day, has bid his last farewell to this ban ridden province. There is a great article, by John Stewart, at the Mississauga Blog. The article is entitled “Rambo finds the open road”.

All dog owners beware.  When the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the Dog Owner’s Liability Act, it also brought back the portions of the law that had been struck in the lower court ruling.  Why does this matter to all dog owners?  The substantially similar clause has been reinstated.   If you have an unregistered [...]

Just when you think things can't get any further from the common sense factor, they do. Let's recap the week. Tuesday Oct 24 Mississauga formally announced they have changed policy toward enforcement of the ban. Animal control in Mississauga, population 650,000 people and it is Canada's sixth largest city. It is also worth noting it [...]

It's a sad day for rights in Ontario, and in Canada.  Here is the ruling: http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/decisions/2008/october/2008ONCA0718.htm So Ontario continues to ban a breed that does not exist, as well as three rare breeds that do exist, and anything that is substantially similar to those breeds.  Substantially similar.  If you own a dog with short hair, [...]

There's a good article in the Ottawa Citizen today (thanks to Lori for sending it along). It explains why the City of Ottawa, our nation's capital, is ignoring the provincial ban on the much-mythologized but nonexistent 'pit bull' type of dog. Provincially banned canines common in Ottawa Officials will act against dangerous animals, but lack [...]

I think you are all acquainted with the Rambo case in Mississauga, where the dog went for a harmless romp last Christmas Day and wound up in the pound. Hot on the heels of Rambo was another example of profiling in Mississauga. I guess the AC department didn't learn their lesson with the Rambo case [...]

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada is having a photo contest fundraiser. www.staffordcanada.com All proceeds go to the SBTCC legal defence fund. It is $3.00 to enter for your first entry and $10.00 for 5 entries. There are 10 photo categories and a panel of judges. Go sign up your pictures NOW! Contest closes this [...]

“Pit Bull” Awareness Day Hosted by the “Pit Bull” Co-op When: Saturday, October 25th 2:00pm Rally and “dress up dog walk” Purpose: to raise awareness for “pit bull” type dogs and their responsible owners Where: Coronation Park (Lakeshore Blvd West between Strachan and Bathhurst) Contact for further details: Debbie Black at rockapuppy @ yahoo.ca (no spaces) [...]

Pause for Rescue   When: Saturday October 25th 11 am – 4 pm   CGN Testing -  Cost $30.00   Tester:   Laurie Roseborough – North Shore Canine Training              DOLA Dogs are welcome! Set a community standard. Get certified.   (Nylon or leather lead required. No choke, prong collars or halties allowed during the testing.)   Location:  [...]

I received this today:   Dear Ms. Gilbert, I apologize for the length of time that has passed since your request for information. I am including the press release regarding the cosmetic surgery bylaw. This bylaw was voted on and passed at our recent Annual General Meeting. Veterinarians, if reported to be in violation of [...]

As I await the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision on the legal challenge to Ontario’s breed ban, I find myself reflecting on our journey thus far.  I still have so many unanswered questions.    If I could ask Michael Bryant some questions, and before you tell me, yes, I know he is no longer the [...]

I heard from a dear friend Marsha this morning. Marsha, her husband Stephen and her “new guy” Monk have been busy in NYC. I had to share with you the accomplishments of Marsha's shelter work through Wally's World. This past week was “Wally's Week” in NYC. In co-operation with the NY ASPCA they have drawn [...]

I feel the need to focus on something positive, and give credit where credit is due.  Back in 2006, Calgary created a new law in response to concerns about pet issues.  The law is called the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, which in itself is a great improvement over Animal Control Bylaw, as they are called [...]

I happened to catch a news story this morning interviewing Richard Paquette from the Greater Sudbury Animal Control. Greater Sudbury animal control shelter has now adopted a no kill policy. Kudos to the Greater Sudbury community. I thought it was important to help spread the word this is achievable and success comes easier and quicker [...]

Recently the New Brunswick Veterinary Association held their AGM.  Apparently in very close vote it was decided that cosmetic surgeries being performed by veterinarians are to be deemed unethical, and veterinarians who perform such surgeries risk losing their licenses.  I own dogs which traditionally have cropped ears and I have chosen not to crop them.  I consider [...]

A comment generated by my last article prompted me to write this.  While Dalton McGuinty moans about the possibility of reaching the status of a “Have Not” Province in Ontario, he and his buddies have been quietly spending a fortune on DOLA and defending the bad law. Not only are dog bites, by all breeds, still occuring in [...]

I can't go home.  Well, I can go home but I have to leave two members of my family behind if I do because of bsl.  I certainly can’t consider ever moving back to Ontario, but even to visit is complicated.  I would like to take a road trip there with the dogs, but that's [...]

I haven't been posting in the last couple weeks. I have been too busy to tell the truth. A lot has been happening on the ban front. Last week we were in court of appeal at Osgoode Hall, Toronto. Court was a day and a half long. The court room was full, mostly p****d off [...]

Today is the 3rd anniversary of the Ontario ban taking effect. The good news is we are only a couple weeks away from our court of appeal date. We managed to get significant portions of the law struck as unconstitutional in our first ruling. I am optimistic about appellate court. I personally think we have [...]

Is it a Listeriosis outbreak or a Hysteriosis outbreak? The MSM is getting super annoying. So let's get this straight now, listeria is a bacteria that is common and found in food and elsewhere in nature. Animals and humans can carry it and not know it. Yes it can be fatal in people who have weakened [...]

  CGN TESTING     The Dog Legislation Council of Canada is offering a   Canine Good Neighbor Day at the Beeton Fair   September 13th, 2008.   Canadian Kennel Club certificate test – conducted by a CKC CGN Evaluator.   Fee for CGN is $35.00 per dog.   Saturday, September 13th 2008 – testing [...]

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada has a new contest/fundraiser beginning Sept 15th. Here is the link. Be sure to get your entries.. The prizes look great!

I am going to cheat a bit here, but there was an excellent editorial out of Vancouver this week. Kudos! I always feel faint when someone in MSM make sense or actually cough up some facts. Caveat had the skinny, so instead of commenting, I mirror the comments so am posting the link.

Saturday August 23rd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario. Banned Aid Coalition in conjunction with Pit Bull Co-op are hosting a vigil. Please come out and show your support. See attachment for a poster about the event.

Nothing surprises me coming from the sick minds at PETA, however they have stooped to a new low promoting a vegan diet in their latest ad campaign. Here is a link to the story.   Courtesy of PETA condensed version of a PETA advertisement meant to contrast last week's gruesome murder of 22-year-old Tim McClean [...]

What a roller coaster of emotions in this story. This week a dog, which was originally identified as a 'pitbull' in the headline, was shot and killed in Barrie. Apparently the family were moving, the dog slipped out the back door and went for a run. The owner who claimed the dog was not vicious [...]

Three days of committee hearings are posted on Hansard. There are 2 more days of hearings to be held which we will post here (once available) for your convenience. It is important everyone educate yourself on what is being discussed. The OSPCA Act has the potential to effect every animal owner in Ontario. July 21 [...]

April 2008 was the first reading of Bill 50 in the Ontario provincial government. The Bill seeks to amend the OSPCA Act with some disturbing and scary consequences. This Bill morphed out of Zimmer's Zoo Bill, which seemed to die on the table. Rick Bartolucci introduced Bill 50 instead, however there is no mention of [...]

KC Dog Blog has a really good post about what Kansas City is striving for in the shelter system. Here is a clip, No Kill relies on having un-restrictive animal control laws. Pet limit laws decrease the number of foster homes that are available.  Mandatory spay/neuter laws, Breed Specific Laws, and many tethering laws only [...]

    CGN DAYS   The Dog Legislation Council of Canada is offering   Canine Good Neighbor Days at the Barrie Kennel   & Obedience Club Inc. Show August 2 & 3rd,   2008.   Canadian Kennel Club certificate test – conducted by a CKC CGN Evaluator.   Fee for CGN is $35.00 per dog. [...]

Jim Wilson, MPP Queen's Park Report Let's Introduce a Ban on BansInstead of addressing rising costs for working families, our economy, healthcare, crime or transportation, Premier McGuinty chose to go down another path in the first spring session of the Legislature since the election.  I'm talking specifically about his propensity to bans things, because we [...]

FRISBEE FUN(DRAISER)!   Improve your disc throwing skills or learn a fun new sport with your dog! We are offering a seminar in the morning followed by a Fun Disc Trial for cool prizes. During the BBQ lunch clinician Katherine Ferger will wow us with a freestyle demonstration!   Katherine and her 3 year old [...]

Monday's New Tecumseth town council meeting brought disappointment to many who worked long and hard to bring common sense to the table, where the canine control bylaw was concerned. The canine control bylaw had amendments proposed over a year ago by a town appointed working group consisting of an unusual cast of characters. There appears [...]

A fellow Ontario dog owner wrote a letter to Attorney General Chris Bentley in March of this year. She finally received a response. I think you will be interested to read his reply letter, which I have permission to post for you all to see. Here's the letter that was sent to the Attorney General: [...]

The Fraser Valley in B.C. is currently a buzz over the numerous reports and references to the recent “pit bull” attacks which occurred in Surrey. The frenzy over the prospect of a demon to conquer overshadows any conscientious approach to public safety. Letters of discontent and demand flood newspaper editors and government officials. Schools go [...]

The predictability of BSL is like a poorly written screenplay. In BC over the past couple months, there has been an increase in articles related to 'pitbulls'. In an article yesterday the title speaks for itself. Rash of dog attacks across British Columbia is the title of the article. An editorial in early May was [...]

The DLCC would like to thank everyone who has written to government andexpressed their concerns…….. We have now entered into another phase of the process. Bill 138 is before the Law Amendments Committee. This committee is already aware of the public opinion about the amendments (fromthe MLA's) therefore it is NOT necessary to contact the [...]

Several months ago my husband and I had one huge dream dashed into the ground when we found out we could not purchase a home that we fell in love with, in Nova Scotia, due to the fact our dogs were banned. At that point I started to really read through the average dog bylaw [...]

Well, I am irritated again… go figure. Just in time for National Bite Prevention Week, Stanley Coren is leading the public to believe one of the most popular breeds of dog are a model for not biting.. Social Mange has a great post. Check it out!

Information about the health risks surrounding altering animals is hitting the MSM. Caveat had a post on this topic a while back. MSNBC published an article entitled “Pet sterilization laws raise health concerns”. Here is an excerpt from the article. As legislators push for more mandatory spay and neuter laws for pets as young as 4 [...]

Caveat has been keeping tabs on the discussion at Queen's Park about the proposed amendments to the OSPCA Act. Kudos Caveat for keeping up with this issue. I have Bell Express Vu so I don't get the Ontario Legislature Channel. I wonder if the Fibs are behind the lack of Bell customers not having the [...]

Author, (Lori's) comments first: I must tell you, the very first book I bought about the American Pit Bull Terrier was a book called The Truth About The American Pit Bull Terrier. This book was published in 1991 and was the best selling breed book in 1994. When I first joined the DLCC, one of [...]