I have spent the past twenty years of my life rescuing animals. Usually I take them in, rehabilitate and retrain them, make sure they are healthy with a visit to the vet, and find them good homes. Many animals have passed through my doors over the years. Every once in a while an animal comes along that for one reason or another proves to be unadoptable. I strongly believe in NO KILL so when this happens the animal stays with me for life. It is for this reason that I now share my life with eight dogs and six cats. This is the normal course of life for my husband and I, so we never gave a second thought to how many there are. We take full responsibility for each and every one of them. They are properly vetted and cared for. They are family.
Now the city of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, wants to make five of our dogs homeless, and they want US to choose which will stay and which will go to a shelter. If placed in the shelter system most of them will be labeled unadoptable and euthanized. Seems they have some silly bylaw that says a person may only keep three dogs. They say that any number over and above that three are extra dogs and must be disposed of. What I ask you is an “extra” dog? They act as if I have too many pairs of shoes.
I am obviously not willing to allow this to happen, and plans are in motion to sell our home and move where our dogs will be safe from ridiculous arbitrary legislation that treats them like possessions instead of living things. Our first court date comes up next week, and we intend to fight for the lives of our dogs.
We need the help of fellow Canadians in that fight. We need you to write to Barrie city hall and tell the Mayor that our dogs do not deserve to be ripped from the only loving home they have ever known. Tell him that his city’s dog limit laws put innocent well cared for animals in danger. Let him know that dog limit laws DO NOT WORK! What is needed is tougher animal welfare legislation and prosecution of offenders. Tell him YOU as a Canadian will not stand by while the city of Barrie makes homeless pets out of animals with loving homes. Stand with us and fight for 5 animals whose only transgression is the fact that they have a loving home. They can not speak for themselves they need you and I to raise our voices and speak for them.
Here is Mayor David Aspden’s email address:
officeofthemayor@barrie.ca
Here is the email for city council>
deputations@barrie.ca
Please let him know that you do not agree with Barrie’s bylaw that makes animals with homes homeless. Tell him the Hamilton (our last name) dogs are not hurting anyone, they are simply living life with a family who loves them.
Until Tomorrow Remember,
BE THE CHANGE
Janette
25 Comments to “Barrie, Ontario – Making Homeless Pets out of Pets With Homes”
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Sheila White says:
OMG Janette! I so get this! I do the same with cats! I am on my way out of town for a couple of days. I will share this, and will write to the Mayor as soon as I can. How unutterably sad!
Diane Cartwright says:
Letter sent
To the Mayor of Barrie, Ontario:
Please do not make five of the Hamilton dogs homeless.
I recommend to you that you reference the Calgary model of Animal Bylaw Services as precedent. Calgary has no limit on companion animals per household. Each animal is licenced and as long as the animals are well cared for, Calgary Animal Services believes it has no place regulating animals in the home.
The Calgary model, has incidentally, resulted in an absolutely huge decrease in dog bite incidents (58 for 2009 for a population of 1.2 Million) and via licencing is able to return a huge majority of the dogs picked up to their owners.
The Hamiltons are saving your city quite a bit of money that you will otherwise be spending on picking up, housing and ultimately likely euthanizing these dogs.
If there have been any complaints, perhaps there would be justification for action, though not removal of the dogs. I consider it terribly inhumane to the people who love their dogs and have worked for decades to rescue and save dogs. Over these two decades how much do you think has been saved for the City of Barrie in its animal control budget by voluntarily rescuing animals?
I think it is time to acknowledge this is a special case, the first of many, I hope, where the City evidences its gratitude for the work of volunteer rescues by not breaking hearts, by refusing to cause anxiety, grief and depression in both animals and humans.
I request a reply as quickly as possible so that I can take further steps if the City of Barrie is determined to perpetrate this sorrowful mistake of seizing dogs.
Diane Cartwright
City of Toronto
Janette Hamilton says:
Thank you Sheila! Please encourage as many Canadians as you can to do the same. In a time when the OSPCA is having to turn away owner surrendered animals because they are over-run, it makes no sense for any Canadian city to impose limit laws on pets. They would do better to maintain the enforcement of our animal welfare laws, and impose stricter penalties on offenders than to take loved and cared for animals out of their homes. Making pets with homes homeless over silly pet limit laws only perpetuates the problem of homeless animals in this country. My neighbor down the street has eight kids that cause far more trouble in the neighborhood than my eight dogs, but no one comes and tells them they have to get rid of five of their children.
Dymond says:
Jannete, I will most certainly e-mail the mayor. I use to live in Barrie and I cannot believe that they would rather kill these dogs then let them live with you.
Just a thought, have you thought about making a petition on the care2 website? You could get thousands of signatures that way and the emails could go directly to the mayor. It’s just a thought that could help you with your fight.
I would really like to help with your fight, and please keep me updated.
Janette Hamilton says:
I had not thought of Care2 but that is a great idea! Thanks for mentioning it.
Yvonne Williams says:
I used to live in Barrie, and shipped out to Wasaga. They have the same bylaws here, but seriously don’t have the manpower to enforce them. I have 21 beautiful, healthy furkids (cats) that no one else wanted, they are indoors…and I agree, I see more problems and disruption from neighbourhood kids than my kitties!! A huge kudos to you and your wonderful heart…and I will write for you, and all your babies!! Why are we and these wonderful animals always bashed upon when we have a world full of problems that need to be addressed…if I had 21 human kids would they stop me??!! NO!!! And yet to me, my babies are my kids!! Best of luck, and I’ll spread the word!
Mary V. Shaw says:
This policy makes no sense if you are responsible pet owners who clean up after their pets and who do not allow their animals to be a nuisance to a neighbourhood. Some people with only ONE cat or dog have too many pets because they are NOT being responsible for them.
Nicole says:
I wrote to the mayor, good luck Janette. Good luck to you and your pets
Mary West says:
My “friend” had the same complaint and discovered that if you built a “kennel” , you can have more dogs. He was threatened and built a kennel of minimum requirements and was allowed to keep his dogs.
Might be something to look into…
Meanwhile I will send a letter as well.
Keep in touch
xox
Debbie Faria says:
I wrote too. Good luck Janette and keep us posted.
Linda Loftus says:
I also sent an email. Good to know the truly serious matters of governance are getting so much attention. This is likely a result of a few bad pet owners. Would love to know the background on taking this to such an extreme level. Anyone know?
L Loftus
two dogs, two cats and a bird, a few fleas, some fruit flies, five kids, a sister in law and niece all in one house. The more the merrier.
Leanne Tucker says:
Just wrote the Mayor and City Council. Referred them to the No Kill Advocacy Center’s position paper on Pet Limit Laws and also sent them the Companion Animal Protection Act while I was at it.
I hope you were successful today.
Janette Hamilton says:
We set a date for trial so far they have proven nothing and the dogs are still safe. However I may have to make a plea for temporary foster homes until our house is sold and we can move out of town. The fools actually expected us to walk in there and plead guilty! As if we have any intention of condemning five of our dogs to the shelter and possible death! The prosecutor was actually surprised when I told him I did not see his case as such a slam dunk as he did.
Deanna says:
Email sent … hope it helps though if Barrie is anything like Ottawa, I would suspect my email will fall upon deaf ears. Good luck with your mission and I truly hope you are able to keep your beloved fids.
Sugar Bouche says:
Done, good luck
Animals Alone says:
Calgary has no limits on the number of pets that a home can have – as long as they are taken care of – maybe educate Barrie Politicians with this Video by Bill Bruce, Head of all Bylaw departments and animal Control – - http://sbcounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=766&publish_id&event_id=%2F%2F
Janette Hamilton says:
With all the support and information still coming in on this post, I felt the need to take the time to thank ALL of you. It is empowering to know that there are people who support me in my fight.
I thank you all!
BE THE CHANGE
Janette
Colleen says:
OMG I cannot believe that !! How incredibly IGNORANT and CRUEL !! What the heck did they think you would do ?!?! Just say ok, ok… here you go ?!?! I am writing and will share on facebook and request my friends write also ! Good Luck Jeanette !!
Janette Hamilton says:
That is exactly what they expect Colleen. They expect us to just hand em over! That would be because the legal system views animals as property much like an old car or a used up pair of shoes. They figure they can pass ridiculous arbitrary pet limit laws and people are just going to throw away their loved pets in order to comply. They are barking up the wrong tree there, I refuse to give up a single one, and see no reason why I should have to. We are responsible dog owners who do not allow our pack to disturb the calm of our inner city neighborhood with excessive barking, our yard is kept clean, and our animals are properly vetted and cared for. Quite frankly that is the only thing they should be worried about.
Eva McDowell says:
I will write tonight Janette. Do you mind if I post your story on our FB site “Stop the Slaughter..” I can probably get a few more people to write to the mayor on that site.
Pat Goldberg says:
I have had something like this happen to me., Its horrible. I had 10 dogs and 7 cats. Some of the dogs were fosters. 5 were mine. I got reported by a neighbor and had ACC coming . I hid them places accept for the 3 I was allowed. It was hell. I did have to give 2 back to the rescue I worked with. Sad for me. They would be in crates now/ here they could go to the yard and all slept in the same room with me.
Also a rescuepeke friend online is having this problem. She rescues small dogs/ Rescues from puppy mills. She won the Animal Shelter challange for her state 2X … but “they” were taking the dogs away… even personal dogs. Treating her like a hoarder ….. She has a 501 c…… She adopts out about 150 dogs a year. I know this is not exactly the same thing… but same sick pain. Hope you get the new place where you can all stay together
Dianne says:
Hi there…just wondering what is the update on your situation. Hope you and your pets are doing okay.
brian says:
i hope things are working out i moved here 2yrs ago and barrie has crazy bylaws i brought with me 6children should i get rid of some i think not also 2dogs a cat and a red tail boa constrictor i have had my snake for ten yrs bought her in pjs pet store in toronto when i moved here i didnt know there was a bylaw that says u cant own a constrictor but u can go out and bye a 7foot king or milk snake so should i get rid of a pet that i have owned or maybe a few of my kids or maybe we dont live in a free country anymore.politics should get back to the basics and let the ppl of canada be free thanks.
Janette Hamilton says:
I hear ya my friend! My neighbor down the street has eight kids she can’t keep track of, my dogs never run at large, but no one tells her to get rid of a few children! (I wouldn’t want anyone to get rid of their children of course but you get my point)
Maryann Bortolotto says:
I live in mississauga, ontario and we r allowed 4 dogs, didn’t know there was a limit and our vet never told us, we have 5 and had 5 for over a year. They r always under control, they r out side when we r. When they bark we stop them, we clean up after them, feed them (not over or under weight) groom them ourselves now. Because when we used to take them to groomers they would be cut and have razor burn so we learned how to do it ourselves. One of our nbrs has 3 children aged 3, 6, & 7 since they have been walking they have been on the road, playing on a ladder the parents left out, in the backyard (with a small kiddie pool filled with water) and the front yard unattended. We have pulled the children off the road and ladder and have watched them when they were alone. These children r not being taken care of at all. But because we rent the house we r living in the nbrs look down on us and have made a complaint to the city about the dogs (the landlord is fine with the dogs and never complained). We were told on Monday May 30, 2011 that we have to get rid of a dog we could give it away or they would take the dog away. We have until Monday June 13, 2011 or else we will be charged. The woman from the city said that they can see the dogs r well taken care of but we have to get rid of one anyways. We don’t know what to do, we have been saving up to buy a house and I have now been laid off so we cannot get a mortgage. We r looking into moving but we will have a problem if the landlord complains. The thing is that we have to get rid of a dog that we take care of and the nbrs get to keep their children and their dog that they leave outside all day, we have even feed it. The dog whines and cries he is always trying to get into our yard and house. And they have an illegal basement apartment ( the cars r parked everywhere even blocking our driveway and we never complain ) They believe that they r above the law cause they own their house and have a friend in city hall or parking control, they never get a ticket even when everyone else on the road does. Everytime we have a party all our guests get chalked and if the car is not moved ticketed but their cars r left alone. I really don’t care just trying to show how everyone is not equal in my area. But my whole family has stopped talking to their children, we used to talk to them and befreindly cause even if u r having a problem with the nbrs u should never involve the kids, because the 3 year old told us on Tuesday that they r “taking away r dogs and going to kill them cause their bad.” She is only 3 and doesn’t really understand y we were upset and she is just repeating something she heard from someone else. We believe it is better to stop talking to the kids and ignore the nbrs. We r either going to move or settle this matter. I wanted to know what happened in your case if u were successful in keeping the dogs?
I would also like to know if anyone knows if u can get an exemption for the dog rule? We were also looking into getting a boarding license but our area is not zoned as a commercial area and the said no. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks