This emaciated puppy named "Faith" by Durham Regional Shelter workers, is now recovering from the horrible treatment she received at the hands of someone who will more than likely never be charged with their crime.

October 16th, 2010

A four month old boxer puppy was brought in to the Durham Ontario Regional Animal Shelter.  She was severely dehydrated and so emaciated she could not stand.  The pup was dropped off at the shelter by a woman who said she found her in a crate in a park somewhere in Oshawa or Ajax Ontario. Shelter officials believe the pup was confined to the crate for some length of time due to the sores on it’s feet and legs. The crate was feces encrusted, and the pup was wedged inside it with a large filthy blanket. The pup could not move in the crate. It is believed that the dog had had no water for days before it was found, and had to be given IV fluids to help it recover from severe dehydration.

“It takes a very long time for an animal to deteriorate to this condition,” commented one shelter official. “Someone has mistreated this dog on an ongoing basis for quite some time for it to be in such horrible condition.” Shelter officials have named the puppy Faith, and she is on the road to recovery. Police are asking citizens to call in if they have information, but there are no suspects, and the case will probably go cold long before there is anyone to charge with the crime.

October 16th, 2010

A four year old husky named Kumo is shot with a crossbow while on an outing with his owner on their own 100 acre property. The dog was brought to the emergency veterinary clinic in Barrie, Ontario, but died on the operating table while vets were attempting to save him.

Although the dog was shot at close range and police are asking the public for tips, the incident is being treated as a hunting accident. At time of writing no other information could be found about this very recent abuse case. The case remains open, but more than likely no one will ever be charged with the crime.

There are other cases, many of them, and all have two things in common, they are all open with no suspects, and they will more than likely never be closed because beyond asking the public for information, nothing else is being done. Which of course begs the question, why?

There are laws on the books in just about every country in the world to protect animals from abuse. However, laws are worth about as much as the paper they are written on when they are not enforced properly. We as animal advocates are constantly lobbying our governments for change, but will changes to existing laws help when existing laws are not being enforced and incidents are not being investigated properly? When cases of abuse in which the abusers are known are not prosecuted, how can we believe that changing animal welfare laws will change anything? We must demand proper enforcement of existing laws before we can hope to lobby for tougher legislation.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE

Janette

If you have been a Let’s Adopt Canada member for any length of time, you have probably gotten used to the way you have received our blog postings in the past. You are also probably used to the flagging of Let’s Adopt blogs as abusive or spammy. You have probably sent me a private message at least once informing me that you can not access the blog posting for the day. We have heard you, and that is why I am here to inform you that there is a better way to receive our blog postings. It’s not complicated, you don’t have to jump through hoops, just know your email address.

Next time you visit the daily blog (no matter how many Let’s Adopt blogs you read) you may notice that something has changed, on the top right hand side of your screen, there is a form that asks for your email address, simply type your addy in the box provided, hit send, and you will have subscribed to the blog feed. Every time the blog is updated, you will receive the blog posting by direct email. This will ensure that those of you who enjoy reading our daily blog postings will receive them without content being blocked by Facebook. Do this for every Let’s Adopt blog your read, and you will never miss a posting again!

For those of you who have already subscribed, thank you! Now please do me a favor? Forward this posting to your friends so they can subscribe too!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE

Janette

Voices raised for the voiceless.

Last week in Turkey a street cat was murdered. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident in Turkey, it happens far more often than we would like to think. So what was so different about this time? This time the crime was caught on video for all to see. Turkish citizens reacted! Thousands of people took to the streets demanding change to animal welfare legislation. In a larger than life show of support, the Turkish people raised their voices to speak for those who can not speak for themselves.

This past August my husband and I attended a BSL rally in Toronto. At the time I remember thinking that the protest was well attended. A fewhundred people and their dogs came out to support the cause. I no longer feel that way. On the weekend photos of the Turkish protest came across my desk, as I stared in shock at the sheer number of people who answered the call in Turkey, I came to a sad realization about my fellow country men. Canadians are woefully lazy when it comes to standing up for what they believe in.

Don’t get me wrong it isn’t that we don’t care, it is simply that no one wants to be the one to stand up and say so. Canadians are a passive lot. We are far too polite to get angry in public. We complain about the state of things, but when it comes to taking action we want someone else to do the work.

If we are to make a difference, we can not stand idly by and expect others to do the work for us. We can not continue to sit back and wait for change. We MUST actively pursue the change we seek.

This coming weekend, Ontario’s pit bull lovers will meet once again in Coronation Park, Toronto to mark the end of pit bull awareness week. Activities are planned for this weekend as dogs and owners meet united in their desire to see an end to BSL in Ontario. I will be there with one of my dogs, although none of them are pit bulls. If I do not support the pit bulls now, who will support my dogs when they come for them?

I will stand, together with my fellow animal lovers, and we will make known our demands. I challenge YOU, all my fellow Ontarians to come out and stand with me! Bring your dog, and join us in the fight against BSL in Ontario! BE THE CHANGE you seek. (Address information is at the end of this post.)

Don’t have a pit bull? The following video will make you see why you need to come out anyway.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE

Janette

Information on this weekend’s activities:

Sat Oct 23, the Pit Bull Co-Op will host the annual full costume Halloween Pittie and friends walk, starting from Coronation Park Toronto between 2-5

Sun, Oct 24. Bidding for Bullies will take place between 7-11, hosted by StopK9Profiling. This will include a muzzled auction. Items to be bid upon will include:
-original artwork
-portrait of your pet
-photo session with your pet
-cd’s from various recording artists
-jewelery
Proceeds from this event go to allow StopK9Profiling to continue to fight BSL, Bill 132, here in Ontario.

Coronation Park, Lakeshore Drive

When we first rescued Chloe she was pregnant. After her kittens were born she was fine for a while. Slowly she began to develop behavioral problems, her fosters sent this:

“Chloe is a lovable and affectionate orange tabby female who is approximately 3 years old. She loves to be pet and played with, and she very much loves a good cuddle every once in a while. However, Chloe was originally an outdoor cat and only made the transitsion to indoor cat last year when I moved to Toronto for college. Because Chloe is so used to being able to go out whenever she wishes, we have had some problems with her protesting her not being let out. Chloe gets very anxious and starts to circle my apartment in a hunt-like trance and often will howl to be let outside, but alas, I cannot. This has led to some urinating on items of mine, but would stop if I could let her outside once or twice a day. Really what I am trying to say is that Chloe is a great cat, she just needs a home where she can be outside just as much as she is inside, and where she will have someone to love her and take care of her until her day has come.”

The behavior described would make anyone second guess a decision to bring this little girl into their home. However, since Chloe was vetted and spayed, all her behavioral issues have disappeared. She no longer marks her territory by peeing in random spots around the house and she has begun to act like any other lovable feline companion. Chloe’s problem wasn’t behavioral, it was caused by a severe infection of the uterus which affected her bladder control. Since she has been given antibiotics and has had tender loving care from her new foster parents, Chloe is thriving. She will make a great addition to any cat loving home.

Chloe is still waiting for that special person who will take her home and love her unconditionally for the rest of her life. Perhaps Chloe is the right feline companion for your family.

All the usual Let’s Adopt Conditions apply:

1.) You must have another animal in the home.

2.) Chloe will live inside the home not in the garden.

3.) Chloe will be fed a raw diet.  Information on raw feeding can be found here.

If you are interested in adopting Chloe contact Viktor:

viktor@myletsadopt.com

or Janette Hamilton:

janettehamilton@bell.net

A U.S. county has passed a law this week to create the country’s first animal abuse registry, requiring people convicted of cruelty to animals to register or face jail time and fines.

The law in Suffolk County, on the eastern half of Long Island east of New York City, was created in the hope of preventing animal abusers from inflicting more cruelty or moving on to human victims.

“We know there is a very strong correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence,” said Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper, the bill’s sponsor. “Almost every serial killer starts out by torturing animals, so in a strange sense we could end up protecting the lives of people.”

The online list will be open to the public, so that pet owners or the merely curious can find out whether someone living near them is on it. Some animal abusers have been known to steal their neighbours’ pets.

The law was passed unanimously on  Tuesday. A spokesman for county Executive Steve Levy said he intends to sign the legislation. It then requires a 30-day review by state officials before it goes on the books. Cooper is also pushing legislation that would bar anyone on the registry from buying or adopting a pet from a shelter, pet shop or breeder.

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will administer the database, to be funded by a $50 fee paid by convicted abusers. All abusers 18 or older must supply authorities with their address, a head-and-shoulders photograph and any aliases. Convicted abusers will remain on the registry for five years. Those failing to register face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

It all sounds wonderfully progressive doesn’t it? We are taking a giant leap forward in the fight against animal abuse, or so it seems. Are we really? While I will grant you that an animal abuser registry will go a long way towards the change we as animal advocates seek, unless the existing animal welfare laws are ENFORCED diligently, it will be a registry with a very short list of offenders. Authorities need to get tougher on offenders, charges must be laid in all proven abuse cases, and all complaints must be investigated thoroughly.

An animal abuser registry is a progressive move, but unless it goes hand in hand with enforcement of existing animal welfare laws, and prosecution of offenders, it won’t be worth the drive space it takes up.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE

Janette

The National Companion Animal Coalition (NCAC), of which the CFHS is a founding member, defines a dangerous dog as:

• A dog that has killed a person or domestic animal, regardless of the circumstances
• A dog that has bitten or injured a person or domestic animal. Exceptions may be made if the dog was teased, abused, assaulted or if the dog was reacting to a person trespassing on the property owned by the dog’s owner
• A dog that has shown the disposition or tendency to be threatening or aggressive an attack trained dog¹

Dangerous dogs are generally the result of an irresponsible owner and, contrary to popular belief, dangerous dogs can exist in every breed and breed cross. As well, the incidence of dog bites has not been shown to be reduced by restricting the ownership of certain dog breeds. Aggressive dog behaviour can be attributed to a lack of appropriate training and socialization, inappropriate breed choice for owner’s lifestyle, failure to spay or neuter and mistreatment on behalf of the owner or person interacting with the dog.
The issue of banning breeds that are thought to be more prone to aggressive behaviours has become the subject of debate – and legislation – at the municipal and provincial levels. Some municipalities have imposed tough by-laws against dog breeds that they have been deemed to be dangerous, such as pit-bulls. However, there are several reasons why breed-specific bans are problematic:

• There is no objective method of establishing lineage of cross bred dogs or dogs which are not registered with a national kennel club. In addition, many municipalities do not have access to qualified persons that could accurately perform breed identification.
• Dangerous dogs may exist in every breed and breed cross.
• Dangerous temperament and behaviour are products of many factors other than just breed.
• This type of ban will result in exclusion of some dangerous dogs, and inclusion of dogs that are not dangerous.
• The incidence of dog bites has not been shown to be reduced by restricting the ownership of certain dog breeds.

Other preventive measures: Should dog owners be licensed?

Maybe licensing dog owners would be a sensible approach, rather than licensing the dogs. We are required to obtain a license to drive a car and to have a gun because those things can be dangerous to us and to others. A dog can be dangerous too, so would it not be a reasonable requirement for dog owners to obtain a license and to meet certain criteria? This would be an effective way of ensuring people have adequate knowledge and reasonable expectations before getting a dog and are prepared to spend time and energy training and socializing the dog and being a responsible dog owner.

Breed Bans do not stop dog bites, diligence of owners, and proper training of dogs is what keeps dogs under control. Perhaps if we held owners responsible for the actions of their dogs we might get to the heart of the matter. Banning breeds only creates animosity toward those breeds. It also causes new breeds to jump to the top of the bite statistics, and therefore creates a false impression that more breeds of dog should be banned for aggression. If we continue to allow governments to ban breeds soon there will be no breeds left to ban.