I wonder if Judge Murphy knows the extended joy felt in waves around the world yesterday as news of her ruling circumnavigated the world faster than the speed of sound or light.

I wonder if she has any idea how much happiness she created within the hearts of more people than she can perhaps imagine. People from most countries of the world. People that have stood by for almost two years as Francesca Rogier has fought for the life of her companion, her dog Brindi.

Yesterday afternoon in a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia courthouse, Judge Alanna Murphy created just such a tsunami when she ruled that Brindi would be released* from the city’s relentless 20-month stranglehold.

Yesterday afternoon, Judge Murphy let us know that the light at the end of the tunnel was NOT yet another train coming, but an opening back into the life Francesca and Brindi had barely started together.

Brindi supporters from around the world are rejoicing as messages of happiness continue to pour in.

Thank you, Judge Murphy, for choosing life over death; for giving Francesca and Brindi the much-asked chance to shine in the community!

You are world class to us one and all!

To Francesca, Brindi and Amelia — best wishes for a long and wonderful future!

Ciao, Holly

* Conditions for the release include: Francesca and Brindi must take training courses, Francesca must ensure there is a secure enclosure for Brindi at her home; Brindi must be muzzled when she is outside.

Contact info for Judge Murphy if you want to send a thank you:
Judge Alanna Murphy
Dartmouth Provincial Court Administration
277 Pleasant Street
Dartmouth, NS, B2Y3S2 CANADA
Fax: (902) 424-0677

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Well, you probably know where the rest of that question is heading without me telling you. I heard that question posed as an analogy, a philosophy of sorts, many years ago. The answer is, “Because he can.”

I think that despite its rather crude exterior, the question makes a valid point: we CAN.

Beyond the daily tasks we do, it explains those less common behaviors like random acts of kindness: opening the door for someone, picking up a parcel that drops, or even something so simple as sharing a smile. Have you ever walked through a store with a smile on your face and noticed how contagious it is? It’s inspiring to see your smile appear on someone else’s face.

“CAN” may require a little effort, but the rewards are infinite and worthwhile.

For the various officials of the city of Halifax to say they CANNOT do anything for Brindi’s situation because the case is before the courts is just not correct. THEY CAN!

The city initiated this second attempt to kill Brindi. They CAN negotiate a resolution, but they have so far ignored offers to discuss any such option. So here we are almost 16 months after the Supreme Court declared certain portions of By-law A-300 invalid and quashed the decision to have Brindi euthanized still trying to free Brindi.

Elephant in the Room (photo by David Blackwell)

Both sides in this case can point to the other as reason for the delays, but overall, that is neither here nor there to this discussion. The bottom line right now and the most significant point, the elephant in the room with us, is that the city of Halifax CAN negotiate a resolution, but they choose not to.

Instead they hide behind the overused statement that “it’s before the courts.”

Why?

Negotiations on cases like this occur every month in the provincial courts. Even the fines are negotiated: owning a dog that attacks another animal may cost one person $330, but cost another $75. There is one case where the report shows a fine of $1 for owning a dog that attacks a PERSON. Yet Brindi sits on death row.

Brindi has caused no serious injuries and never bitten a person.

People who have repeatedly been charged with the same by-law offence — including owning an animal that repeatedly attacks — have repeatedly paid a fine. It’s reported on the Halifax Animal By-Law Violation report included on the city’s website every month.

So Halifax, why is this case different? Even the Criminal Code of Canada clearly states in section 718.2 (b) “a sentence should be similar to sentences imposed on similar offenders for similar offences committed in similar circumstances…”

Why is this case any different?

Please, Halifax… negotiate a resolution and send Brindi home to Francesca.

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Francesca makes her pre-sentencing statement before the judge on April 16, 2010.

Please call and/or email the contacts below. Do it often and do it regularly.

Ask them to let Francesca visit Brindi. And ask them to negotiate a resolution to this craziness so Brindi can go home to Francesca.

“Yes dear, someone’s turned the light out,
put the pieces out of touch.
Do we now try lighting candles?
Does it really matter quite that much?”
– author unknown

These are the words from a poem I read in high school. I can still remember them clearly thirty-some years later because I added music to them. Throughout high school and college, I played a LOT of guitar. But it’s not like Kevin and I got (m)any requests to play this “song” — it’s just four lines long. Maybe the shortest song in song history?

But I have never forgotten the words.

The poem comes to me in moments where a big decision needs to be made as a way for me to check my reasons for my decision. “Does it really matter quite that much?”

Francesca has likely never heard this poem… and definitely would have never considered that last line when Brindi was seized. Rather she immediately started lighting candles… everywhere she could. And over time, those candles have spread around the world creating an amazing lightfulness of support.

From those far-flung candles come letters and emails and phone calls. They offer support and sustained hope; they put forth wisdoms and tears and wonderful stories. By their light, she is better able to see her way.

They are the stuff that makes the darker days easier when the winds in Halifax blow down Francesca’s own flame.

So here on this Friday afternoon, I send out a “thank you” to all the wonderful people EVERYWHERE who have stayed the course with Francesca and Brindi on this incredible journey.

You are an astonishing lot!

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Francesca makes her pre-sentencing statement before the judge on April 16, 2010.

Please call and/or email the contacts below. Do it often and do it regularly.,

Ask them to let Francesca visit Brindi. And ask them to negotiate a resolution to this craziness so Brindi can go home to Francesca.

This morning, I spent a little extra time in bed snuggling. This time it was with a cat named Sebastian, and two dogs, Bosco and BooGee. This time, it was because I did not feel like starting the day.

I thought of Paketo. She had the funniest little quirk to her meow. She would open her mouth to speak, but there was a time delay between when she opened her mouth and when her voice actually came out. Maybe a half second.

And I thought of Francesca. Our lives seem to mirror each other’s right now. She, too, is unable to see her beloved one, her Brindi. But not for the same reason.

Brindi is alive and well and was recently transferred to the new pound facility — Homeward Bound City Pound. The Nova Scotia SPCA has lost their contract with the city to house animals seized by Halifax’s Animal Services.

In December, the city revoked Francesca’s visitation to see Brindi –  a once-a-week, half hour visit she had enjoyed for almost seven of the 20 months that Brindi has been impounded.

IN A NUTSHELL: Brindi was seized by the city of Halifax in July 2008 because they deemed her a threat to the safety of the community, a dangerous dog who must be killed. They handed Francesca a piece of paper that included the date she would be destroyed… August 7, 2008.

Fast forward 10 months to May 2009. Brindi is still alive, but still impounded. The SPCA sends Francesca a photo of Brindi taken with staff and volunteers as a birthday present… to let her know that Brindi is doing okay and that they love her. Brindi is eating birthday cake in the photo.

A threat to the safety of the community? A dangerous dog who must be killed?

Fast forward again to a couple months ago when the NS SPCA releases a letter they have submitted to the city suggesting an alternative to killing Brindi, their beloved mascot. Let’s “re-home” her.

Re-home her?

Let’s not return her to the woman who knows her, the woman who has made several unanswered attempts to mediate the situation with the city, the woman who has built a fence and offered to solicit more training, the woman who has made it quite clear that she will do what she needs to do to have her dog returned to her? The woman who has endured this struggle each and every day for 624 days?

C’mon folks. This train is way off track. This can be negotiated. We need to work this out. These are lives we are talking about… living, breathing beings. Not used towels or old cars.

I again ask everyone in Halifax involved in this situation to step back for a minute. Those closest may need to take a few extra steps back to see the whole picture because maybe you are just too close.

Imagine this happening to someone you know: your mother, your sister, your uncle, your grandfather. I ask this so you can separate the specifics from the person at the center of the ruckus because from where I sit, the city’s beef seems to be with Francesca and not Brindi. So replace Francesca with your aunt, your grandmother, your best friend. And perhaps you will see what the rest of us see.

Perhaps then you will see the absurdity.

Francesca Rogier is an American citizen wishing to emigrate to a small rural coastal town outside Halifax in Canada. She is a Fulbright scholar; a university professor of Architecture; a giving person who has donated her time as a volunteer in the community. She became the guardian of a senior dog to save him from a neglectful home; she nursed him back to health and had him until passed a few years ago. She moved Rudy, the cat she adopted when she was teaching in Germany, back to the States with her and then here to Canada; and she adopted Amelia, a companion for him. (Sadly, Rudy passed away a few weeks ago after a long illness.) Her pets have been regularly vetted. They live inside. They are fed every day. They have water to drink. And they are loved. A wonderful home.

Brindi broke away from her. Yes, three times. And she was taken away.

There were no serious injuries and no person was ever bitten.

And the fence she has offered certainly gets to the heart of things.

Lest you have any concerns, Francesca is aware of all of this. She has learned her lesson in a very hard way and has promised she will do better. I think it is in the best interest of the city to work with its citizens and support them, especially those who wish to do better.

There is still time for the city to negotiate an amicable resolution. Hiding behind the statement that “it’s before the court” is not quite right.

Halifax city officials, please… give peace a chance. Negotiate.
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Francesca makes her pre-sentencing statement before the judge on April 16, 2010.

Please call and/or email the contacts below. Do it often and do it regularly.,

Ask them to let Francesca visit Brindi. And ask them to negotiate a resolution to this craziness so Brindi can go home to Francesca.

As we head into a new week and as we head into the two weeks leading up to Francesca’s next court date — April 16, 2010, I am reminded of the words Apple‘s Steve Jobs authored. It speaks to those people who inspire us and motivate us. Those who go out on a limb for what is right.

They change us as they are changing our world.

“…You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.”
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things…”

“…While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

Let’s recognize the change Francesca is making and stand with her. Let’s tell Halifax that in the court of public opinion, we feel Brindi should be released and sent back home to Francesca. It’s not too late for them to correct the inappropriateness of their actions.

Francesca makes her pre-sentencing statement before the judge on April 16, 2010.

Please call and/or email the contacts below.

Do it often and do it regularly.

Kindly ask them to correct this iniquity and return Brindi to her owner, Francesca Rogier.

Hug a rescuer. Donate to animal advocacy. Join Let’s Adopt!

“It’s common among animal lovers to think of themselves and others as parents to their pets. I don’t have children; [but] I do call Brindi my baby girl… most of the time, I think of my animals as companions and adults in their own right. Brindi was already four when I adopted her and after a period of clingy-ness she soon gained confidence to become who she is… “

“The idea of being a mother to your pets does make sense in some ways; we care for our animals, nurture them, love them, teach them how to behave, take them with us on our journey through life. They never leave home of course, unless they are taken by illness or get lost or as in Brindi’s case… just taken.” [May 2009]

Francesca makes her pre-sentencing statement before the judge on April 16, 2010.

Please call and/or email the contacts below.

Do it often and do it regularly.

Kindly ask them to correct this iniquity and return Brindi to her owner, Francesca Rogier.