Well folks, Faith has left Brantford!

She flew out of Ontario yesterday afternoon to Calgary, the first stop on her journey to freedom. As we speak, she is starting the final leg to her new home in BC. BSL will not be hanging over her head anymore.

From Faith’s perspective, she is a dog like any other. Well actually, from the stories I have heard, she may not realize she is a even dog. And that’s what she should be from our perspective, too.

Faith is a good dog who was living in a province that has bad legislation: Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). It’s legislation that unfairly targets any dog that even resembles a Pit Bull; any dog with a muscular build and a square head. More specifically —

• A Pit Bull Terrier;
• A Staffordshire Bull Terrier;
• An American Staffordshire Terrier;
• An American Pit Bull Terrier; or
• A member of a class of dogs that have an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to the four types of dogs that have been identified.

Because she was born after the legislation was enacted, Faith is not allowed to live in Brantford… or anywhere else in Ontario for that matter.

But Faith is every bit what people have always loved about Pit Bulls: they are faithful, reliable, trustworthy, and extremely tolerant. Lest we forget, Pit Bulls were known as “Nanny Dog” for 150 years.

“One dog breed became so trusted that despite the fact that no Kennel Club or Association recognized it, despite the fact that it could be found on the poorest farms and bleakest city neighborhoods with kids who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from, rich people acquired them in droves because they were simply the safest, most tolerant breed to have around their gilded progeny.

“Rich, poor, and everything in between, until recently [owners] agreed that there were only a CERTAIN TYPE of people who would own a Pit Bull… PEOPLE WHO LOVED THEIR CHILDREN.

“… Nanny Dog is the victim of a smear campaign that has turned common sense upside-down and robbed us of our historical memory. The dogs that we trusted with our children’s lives are now deemed too vicious to live among us. The dogs that in two World Wars were the symbol of the United States military itself are now ordered off its bases. The Pit Bulls haven’t changed at all. Only the owners have.” [1]

From her demeanor, it’s obvious that Faith was raised in a caring home where she was much loved. I hope the folks who raised her find this message. I hope their loss will be eased knowing she will be living BSL-free in a wonderful home on acreage in the BC countryside.

Imagine if YOU were not allowed to live in your community simply on the basis of how you looked. That is the heart of BSL, and it wrongly condemns many wonderful, happy and healthy dogs to death across the world every year. Read about the world wide failure of BSL. Learn the truth and step up for targeted dogs. I encourage you to support Cheri DiNovo in removing all aspects of BSL in Ontario.

In closing, I extend my heartfelt thanks on behalf of Faith — and myself — for all the efforts of everyone involved in her rescue. And a very sincere “thanks” to the Brantford SPCA for restoring my faith. Under the compassionate management of Robin Kuchma, the shelter has not killed a healthy animal in more than five years! This group works tirelessly to uphold the original intent of SPCA. It is these shelters we want to support.

Please opt to adopt. Be part of the 3% solution*.

* Statistics show that, on average, if 3% of a city’s population would adopt from their shelters, there would be no need for healthy animals to die. In larger cities, this number actually goes down. Another fraction of a per cent would save the cats and dogs in rescue/foster. We CAN do this!

If you were in a life-or-death situation and someone came to your rescue, would you turn them away because of how they looked? Or would you be grateful for the kindness of a stranger to risk their life to save yours? And what if you could help them in return? Maybe your lives were meant to collide.

Saturday, July 23 at around 11pm, I was crossing the street on my way home from Tim Horton’s. I have a rare heart condition which branches off other medical issues. I was three houses away from my home when, according to bystanders who watched in amazement (but never helped me), I passed out on the road. This street is very busy.

Bystanders say a dog appeared almost out of nowhere and stood over me barking at cars as they honked their horns and drove around this dog.

My husband, wondering what the commotion outside was all about, came outside to see a Pit Bull cross standing over me risking her own life to save me. He lifted me into the house giving me my medication and I was fine. The pup followed. She stayed by my side for 3 hours getting alone fine with my other two dogs and when she went to walk past my 7 pound cat, he swapped at her. She ran in the corner with her tail between her legs. The dog was horrified of my cat.

Due to the Breed Specific Legislation that Ontario ridiculously clings to, this 10-month old heroine is not allowed in the town, much less the province… even though she is essentially a mutt, a Pit Bull mix. I wonder why she is not called a Lab mixed with Pit Bull. Seems as legitimate a claim as labeling her a “Pit Bull mix.”

But she is also a whole lot more. Faith, as Kalena started calling her, is little more than a puppy yet had the wherewithal to recognize that Kalena was in distress and needed help. Bystanders saw her fall, yet they did not leave the sidewalk. However, this dog not only left the sidewalk, but stood over her barking at the cars coming down the street!

Facing a minimum $5000 fine and a minimum of 30 days in jail because Pit Bull cross’s are illegal in Brantford and Ontario unless they were born before 2007, my husband called the emergency line to the SPCA who told him they don’t deal with strays at night; to call the police.

I wanted to keep her so bad as she cuddled with me on our couch. I named her Faith.

A really nice Brantford police officer came out. At first, he was leery of her but then she jumped up on him and licked his face. He was so gentle with her and talking to her as he put her in the car. I cried as he left with my Hero who saved my life and risked her own.

I believe the powers that be can create an exception to the rule regarding BSL and I believe this dog has shown that she deserves to be that exception.

I ask everyone reading this to email the Brantford SPCA and the Mayor of Brantford and ask them to pardon Faith. And let her go home to Kalena and her family. I also ask everyone to please share this story with all your friends and family and ask them to email the Brantford SPCA and the Mayor.

I am doing everything I can because I want my baby back. She saved my life and is my Hero. It was Love at First Sight. If not for her, the cars would have not seen me at night and I would not be typing this (in tears). The SPCA changed her name to Casidy and she is only allowed to be adopted out of Ontario. If not she will be….. I can’t even type it.

All I know is Faith, as I still call her, is a Hero and to her I owe my life. I am trying to get the Brantford government to make a exception for her because she saved my life. If anyone you know lives outside Ontario and can temporarily take her until I have gone through all this red tape, please contact me through here or at our new email: Saving-Faith@hotmail.com

PLEASE HELP ME SAVE FAITH! I will pay any cost involved with traveling and getting her out of the SPCA, as well as her expenses for food, etc. I just need about a month. PLEASE HELP US!

Together, we can save this dog. And together, perhaps we can get her placed with the woman whose life she saved. Please step up and be a voice for Faith.

Ciao, Holly

ps… the photo at the top of the page is NOT Faith. I have requested one from the SPCA but have not received it yet.

And let me close with at least 12 reasons to oppose BSL or BDL (Breed-Discrimination Legislation).