Quitters Never Win and Winners Never Quit! Act NOW to end the Ontario Breed Ban

Late last year, an unfortunate dog bite situation made headlines once again, and advocates were asked to take a temporary step back. While most accepted this request, some continued working silently in the background with the Ontario government to repeal Breed Specific Legislation in Ontario. We were consistently assured we had Premier Doug Ford’s support in our quest. As the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party had always said they were against the breed ban, and indeed voted against it many times, we honestly and sincerely believed the promise of repeal would occur – we had no reason not to - even though the PC's had done nothing for the first four plus years in government.

 One week ago, we were told Premier Doug Ford 

and the PC Government no

 longer considers ending Breed Specific Legislation

 to be a priority and are

 NO LONGER CONSIDERING REPEAL!

   Thus, a recent call to action went out to Ontarians - contact Doug Ford directly, and ask him, and therefore the government, to keep a promise made to responsible dog owners almost 18 years ago when the ban on “pit bull” type dogs was first implemented.

This statement is not only directed to our government, but to also to our fellow advocates. Our plea for help to animal advocates has all but been ignored. The response and shares of our request to contact Premier Ford has been dismal and a spirit of defeat seems to now be the consensus. This in itself is more disappointing than the government believing the issue is not important – and our own advocates seem to be proving government right.

This is the statement we put out! 

We are now BEGGING people to act on contacting Ford and the government! 

We are also requesting people to participant in the 2023 "Have A Heart" campaign on February 14th.  There will be many photos to choose from, which can be digitally saved and sent. The link to the online event is #HaveAHeart2023.  PLEASE put the date in your calendar and ACT on it February 14th.

   #HaveAHeart2023

 

Thanks Andy.

 

FINALLY

 

 

A few years ago cartoonist Andy Donoto put out a cartoon of what he thought then was a average "pit bull" owner.  It generated hundreds of emails and letters to both Andy and the Toronto Sun. 

 

People sent in pictures of their dogs and of themselves.  Some with talent sent Andy their cartoons and this time they projected positive images of owners.  I believe Andy finally got that owners of these dogs are everyday people;they are neighours, teachers, graphic artists, doctors, civil employees, realtors, business owners, caregivers etc.  Just because these people don't make the papers does not mean they don't exist and by the thousands if not tens of thousands in Ontario. 

 

Thanks for including the "pit bull ban" in the cartoon Andy and for putting it on the top of the heap.  The ban woke up alot of people as to just how bad laws could affect so many individuals and their family members.

One can view Andy's cartoon at the link below.  The other cartoon mentioned is not worth a view.

October 23, 2012 | Cartoons | Opinion | Toronto Sun

OPEN LETTER TO JOHN MILLOY

 

GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER

 

October 4th, 2012

 

Dear Government House Leader

 

In the last three days during legislative question and answer period you personally have accused opposition parties of promoting "guilty until proven innocent".

 

How hypocritical as THAT is exactly what you, your party members and Dalton McGuinty did to thousands and thousands of Ontario citizens when your party passed the 2005 New Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act (DOLA).  It was your party that actually legislated "reverse onus" and took away presumption of innocence.  

 

Sir do you have any idea how many responsible citizens have gone to court to save their non-offending family pets lives since 2005?  Ontario citizens automatically guilty when no crime  committed?  Yet you have spent days in legislature lamenting the possibility of same for a single person because he is a colleague of yours?

 

We know from one web site alone Queens Park Liberals have received over 223 THOUSAND emails demanding "guilty until proven innocent" be amended in DOLA by removing the breed discriminatory portions in DOLA. Still your party continues to do nothing to right that injustice?   

 

Three bills have been put forth to correct this injustice for Ontario citizens.  Bill 16 has passed 2nd reading AND committee meetings and is currently waiting for you to call it forth yet you cry out for a single person to not be assumed guilty?  You as our government house leader dare to ignore the call demanding ALL citizens be presumed innocent and NOT automatically "guilty" under current Ontario law? 

 

Under the freedom of information act in 2007 it was found ONE Ontarian EVERY 3 days received a provincial offence for owning an assumed "illegal dog".  The crime being what the family pet looked like? These citizens also could lose professional status and their ability to earn an income as they are currently guilty in law. Going to court their only recourse to prove innocence.

 

Citizenship should never be a two-tier system. The justice system is for all people. This can end for many when you call Bill 16 for 3rd reading. Let legislative democracy occur and give Canadian Charter Rights back to THOUSANDS of non-offending Ontario citizens.

 

Do your job as government house leader for all citizens of Ontario.  

 

Call Bill 16 forth for 3rd reading now.   

 

Sincerely,

Fran Coughlin

Advocate for Responsible Dog Ownership

Activist Against Breed Specific Legislation

Co-Founder of Hersheys Anti-BSL Group

http://www.supporthersheysbill.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 



 





 

 

Is there a Difference Between Delibrate Deceit and LYING? Dalton McGuinty; "We Got The Best Advise We Could"

On Wednesday November 18th, 2009 at 9 am about 100 people stood out in the cold in front of Toronto's Queens Park building to support Cheri Di Novo's private members "Bill 222". Some came from as far away as Sarnia, London and Owen Sound.

In the press conference with Cheri was renowed lawyer Clayton Ruby and Cathy Provo from the Dog Legislation Council of Canada.

These warriors for democracy want to see an end to legalized discrimination and profiling within the Province of Ontario. They want to maintain "innocent until proven guilty" and the removal of"reverse onus" or "guilty and must prove innocence". They want the freedom for Ontarians to travel freely across Canada and an end to warrantless entry; all as stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and last but not least; an end to killing dogs based only on looks. They truly believe that ALL people in the province of Ontario should be treated fairly and equally under law.

Cheri Di Novo at the press conference;

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=216645254045&oid=168292380876

What Clayton Ruby said at the press conference;
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=217149794045&oid=168292380876

Later in the day, when the press questioned Dalton McGuinty on Bill 222; removing the breed specific aspects of Ontario's Dog Owners Liability Act, McGunity said "we got the best advise we could and put in place legislation which we think upholds public safety".

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/11/19/11804711-sun.html#/news/torontoandgta/2009/11/18/pf-11797561.html

Did Dalton NOT attend or read the debates or did he delibrately deceive the facts? He worded his response carefully and with reason. His statement was a hairline away from a bold faced lie.

There were 43 "experts" against the ban and the one "expert" for the ban was "English Nannies Dogs Inc." a dog walking operation from Michael Bryants riding.

When Dalton made that statement "we got the best advise we could", not a single reporter in the swarn asked the question, "did you LISTEN to the experts because the REAL answer was a resounding NO. The "experts" were totally ignored.

Ah, the Canadian media.

While the list of real "experts", which were AGAINST the ban is very LONG, I will mention a few here.

American Veterinary Medical Association

Animal Alliance of Canada

Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers

National Companion Animal Coalition

Ontario Society For the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals

Ontario Veterinary Association

Toronto Humane Society and.... the list of REAL experts goes on and on and on.

One can read the full list of experts in the link below.

http://www.dogwatch.net/bill132.pdf

I personally believe there is a very fine line between lying and deceit and if one would delibrately"misinform" the public on this issue, it really leaves the question as to how much deceit is being prepetulated on the people of Ontario regarding finances, business contracts, etc.

God help us in Ontario, each and everyone.

Quote by Michael Bryant, one of the main architect's of Ontario's BSL.

"You don't ask a Attorney General to be the dog expert....The bottom line is it's going to be up to the experts".

REALLY?

UPDATE: Bill 222 is NOW called Private Members Bill 60 and is also known as "Hershey's Bill.

Does a Pit Bull Type Dog "REALLY" have a 2000 PSI Bite Force?

Last week I was a caller on one of Spider Jones radio shows on CFRB. I knew Spider was doing a show on breed specific legislation, commonly known as "BSL". I had kind of assisted on getting the show on air. Dawne Sweeny, from the DLCC was Spider's "go to person" on the subject and did an outstanding job representing, "The Dog Legislation Council of Canada" and spoke of her twenty years plus "hands on" experiance dealing with dogs and especially pit bull type dogs.

While waiting "for my turn on air" to speak on Canadian fatal dog attacks and hopefully fit in that I have had pit bulls in my life for about 20 years, a woman came on and said she had read many books about dogs and put herself up as a "kind" of expert. Even I was "biting" into her self proclaimed credentials when she did it! Yes, I am talking about spewing off a study about "pit bulls having a bite force of 2000 per square inch (PSI). You've heard it said before and sadly, I've heard it said... way to many times.

Now is this possible?

Firstly there has never been a fully documented completed study on the bite force per square inch of domestic dogs that can be found by credible professors. The statement this woman uttered has been totally unsubstantiated in scientific literature. One domestic dog study was tried but never got past the pilot stage due to the difficulty in getting "accurate" readings from the 22 dogs tested. It was called "Measurement of Bite Force in Dogs: A PILOT STUDY.

So, considering the above, let's compare one of the strongest PSI's ever recorded and do some comparisons. University of Florida zoologist Kent Vliet, has been quoted as saying. "Bite force is linked to the size of the animal" and it sounds like just old "common sense" to me.

Now here is some FACTS.

A alligator named Hercules was clocked at 2,125 PSI. It's bite was compared to a mid-size sedan falling on top of someone. Hercules weighed 665 pounds and was 12 and a 1/2 feet long.
Now to put things into prespective here; an "average" pit bull type dog weighs in around 65 pounds and is normally around 3 to 4 feet long without the tail.


Is anyone paying attention here?

Now let's compare Lions. On average, a male lion can reach 6 to 8 feet long and weighs anywhere from 270 to as high as 500 pounds. It is "estimated" that lions have a average bite force from approximately 600 to 950 PSI. Quick, let's go back to that average pit bull type dog weighing around 65 pounds and being in or around 3 to 4 feet in length. Now, let's put our "thinking caps" on.

Considering the above, how can anyone, with even a quarter of a "working brain", even remotely contrive that a average pit bull type dog's bite is 3000 PSI or even 2000 or even 1000 PSI?

DUH?

Attached is a video showing three larger canine breeds being tested for bite force. This bite force competition was between a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler and a Pit bull type dog. Each dog was tested twice with the highest of the bite force used. The final results of this particular test will probably amaze many. The shepherd came out with 238 PSI, the rottweiler 328 and the pit bull? It's average was actually the lowest of the three dogs with 235 PSI.
http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/bite-force-competition-between-rottweiler-german-shepherd-and-pitbull/17469413

It is really time to dispel the many myths of pit bull bites. ( I'll go into the "locking jaws" myth at another time). Sometimes people just need to use plain good old common sense. Next time you hear someone repeating this myth, force them to really think about what they are saying and use the comparables given.

If we can't educate them, the least we can do is embarress 'em.

http://animal.discovery.com/reptiles/alligator/
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_has_greater_bite_force_tiger_or_lion
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wild-Animals-705/f/BITE-FORCE.htm