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

 

 

A Review of BSL in Ontario 

Better Yet

How Did BSL Happen In Ontario Anyway?

November 29th, 2021 begins the 17th year of breed-specific legislation. On this day in 2005 it was illegal for three different breeds of dogs and mixed breed dogs deemed "substantially similar" to be born in Ontario as a vast array of dogs had become officially illegal.  

I remember having to put a muzzle on my 14 year old dog.  It tore my spirit apart when she glanced at me looking bewildered and confused. Putting that muzzle over her devoted, sweet, obedient and trusting face was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.

WHY was I, a responsible dog owner, forced to do this? My Glory girl had been the mascot for the kid's baseball team at the 12th Street park for years. I was filled with grief and fury.  It was inconceivable blanket discrimination could be passed. Why were dogs deemed public enemy number one when it was guns and gang shootings that were making the papers on a regular basis in 2004/5?  Ontario citizens weren't locking their doors at night because they were afraid of dogs... 

Ontario's dog owning citizens lost the "presumption of innocence" and in spite of "reverse onus" being against section 11 in the  Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it was now legislated in Ontario.  The Canadian Charter is considered essential in preserving Canada as a free and democratic country, but now thousands upon thousands of Ontario citizens lost freedom of choice along with the "presumption of innocence".  How did this happen? 

 43 out of 44 experts spoke against the ban at the hearings for Bill 132 and to quote Michael Bryant, the ban's architect, "YOU DON'T ASK AN ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BE THE DOG EXPERT ... THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE EXPERTS". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVaJpFHed9A

Dr. Tim Zaharchuk was president of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association then and testified on behalf of the OVMA. The link to his testimony is below. When speaking about Michael Bryant in 2012 for a documentary "A Dying Breed" Dr. Zaharchuk reiterated, "I was absolutely shocked at the lack of consultation. He (Bryant) said he consulted with our provincial organization, which he did not".    https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/committees/legislative-assembly/parliament-38/transcripts/committee-transcript-2005-jan-24#P672_181318

In 2007 a study entitled "Panic Policy Making: Canine Breed Bans in Canada and the United States" conducted by the department of political science at West Virginia University hints at ulterior political motives why Bryant and the AG's office made an issue out of dogs. An excerpt from page 16 of Panic Policy Making; " In late August 2004 the Ontario Liberal Party's Attorney General, Michael Bryant, decided to legislate a ban on the ownership of pit bulls. Critics of the Liberals– the majority party in the Legislative Assembly or “the government”--have suggested that the ban was a tactic manufactured by the Liberals to deflect criticism of the growth of crime and gang activity, especially in Toronto (confidential Interviews). Opposition Progressive Conservative and New Democrat legislators also thought that he proposed the ban to deflect media attention from other issues and unpopular policies bedeviling the Liberal government. In their eyes, the identification of the pit bull problem was “all political.” It was a manufactured intrusive event.  NOTE: Every Liberal in the house voted for the breed ban yet not a single member of the Progressive Conservative or NDP voted for the ban. Legislation was NOT left to experts as Bryant stated it would be.   "https://supporthersheysbill.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Panic-Policy-Making.pdf

During the Bill 132 hearings, the vast majority of 106 witnesses, or sets of witnesses, representing organizations and all of the groups associated with animal welfare, animal rescue, animal training as well as kennel clubs along with all veterinary associations opposed the ban. Ontario media outlets quoted Bryant when he called 3 breeds and "lookalike dogs "inherently dangerous" and "ticking time bombs" but no quotes were reported in media by the vast majority of professionals, experts and animal organizations speaking against the ban. In the link below is a concise summary of testimonies given for and against the breed ban. The testimony given by experts in 2005 remain as true today as they were at that time. Breed bans don't work.   https://supporthersheysbill.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bill132.pdf  

Reliable data is important in forming good policy. The Ontario government does not collect data on dog bites or even dog related fatalities. Since enactment of breed-specific legislation (BSL) no record keeping has been implemented and no Ministry has published information on the success or failure of BSL or how many citizens family pets have been seized, killed, sent to research or sent out of province. The devastating emotional, mental and financial costs to Ontario citizens along with the huge cost to taxpayers has ever been disclosed - despite analysis of monetary costs estimated to run a hundred million or more.  Public health information however showed dog bites increased by 138% in the first 12 years after the ban, proving the experts to be correct.  

As Ontario began its 17th year of systemic profiling of peoples family pets it did not matter what race, profession, religion, age, culture or gender citizens were -  if their family dog has a certain LOOK they are now second class citizens. Based on the science and expert opinions heard during the hearings, BSL should never have been legislated in the first place. 

There are numerous studies on dogs and information on how to improve public safety. Not a single study has recommended BSL but all recommended educating people on how to be better dog owners.  Myths of old have been discredited but due to sensationalized reporting, manage to live on in media and thus in public opinion.  Education, rather than discrimination brings about safer, kinder communities.  Breed banning is both overly and under inclusive. BSL is unscientific, costly, ineffective, cruel and unjustified - as the above photo demonstrates. 

To date, 24 US states debated the issue and  now have state laws against breed bans. In the last five years, 120 cities, towns, municipalities and counties throughout North America have repealed BSL. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/ba1a575c-3b16-40fb-afaf-a1ca0039dcef/downloads/BSL%20Repeals%20LIST%202016%20-%20present.pdf?ver=1632488339260

Ontario has seen 6 private member bills put forth to remove breed-specific language in the Dog Owners Liability Act. Many of the bills have been lost along the way and mostly due to the proroguing of  different governments. 

https://supporthersheysbill.com/ontarios-bsl/about-hersheys-bill/

It's time that expert opinion, scientific studies and professionals were listened to. Politicians are NOT dog experts and neither are journalists.  Many in the Ontario legislature today do not even know what BSL is. Dogs should not be used as political pawns or when a dog bites be overly sensationalized in media. Around the world, dogs are deemed to be an important and integral part of families.  Looks do not determine behavior in people - nor do they in dogs. It has been found that even 20 minutes of teaching young school age children how to properly approach and interact with dogs can reduce dog bites as much as 80%. Just once I would like to see media mention something that would be educational rather than sensational when reporting on a dog related incident.  

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/legislation-concerning-dangerous-dogs-position-statement

Below is a detailed report put out in the Canadian Veterinary Journal. The title is "Breed Specific Legislation: Considerations for evaluating its effectiveness and recommendations for alternatives" and published under Animal Welfare, volume 46 in August 2005. It projects a realistic approach to the reduction of dog bites through alternative strategies. The most valuable strategies include educating dog owners on the importance of not breeding aggressive dogs, early socialization of young puppies; providing adult dogs with adequate care, training, and exercise; along with maintaining control of their dogs at all times. The UK has had a breed ban for 30 years. Since 2005 dog bites increased by 81%. and have increased by 177% since the ban was initially instituted.    https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/breed-specific-legislation-considerations-for-evaluating-its-effectiveness-and-recommendations-for-alternatives

I have a bookshelf full of studies, and over 100 more on my computer on this issue. Before 2005 the Dog Owners Liability Act (DOLA) was two pages long. Since BSL, the DOLA now mostly consists of breed-specific terminology and the term "pit bull" is used no less than 69 times. Meanwhile there exists no descriptions as to what a potentially dangerous or a truly dangerous dog is, nor is there a single description of what constitutes a reckless or irresponsible dog owner.  DOLA needs to put in stiff progressive fines for careless, reckless dog owners in lieu of overburdening the court system. 

  A quote from the study Panic Policy Making: "Fear and injury can induce policy action, but the framework ignores the ability of one or two powerful people to manufacture a danger and push legislation through a municipal or even a provincial government with little real evidence to support the need for the policy".   https://supporthersheysbill.com/peer-reviewed-studies/

In April of 1998, eight-year-old Courtney Trempe was killed by a Bull Mastiff in Stouffville, Ontario and the Trempe family fought for a coroners inquest to be held.  A panel of select jurors heard 14 days of evidence as 29 witnesses were called and 63 exhibits were presented. In the end the inquest resulted in 35 recommendations. The 35 recommendations were dutiful, unbiased and fully supported by the animal welfare community. Similar recommendations have also been made by other DBRF coroners reports in Canada. As a vested individual Courtney's mother, Donna Trempe testified at the Bill 132 hearings. This is her testimony.   https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/committees/legislative-assembly/parliament-38/transcripts/committee-transcript-2005-jan-24#P889_245675

 Quote from Donna Trempe during a city TV interview in 2004. "He (Michael Bryant) didn't even know what he was. talking about. I don't think he's even read the coroner's recommendations.".

Advocates and vested stakeholders called for the Trempe recommendations as they do today. If the public, politicians and media are interested in improving public safety especially in relation to dogs and dog bites; media sensationalism should be ignored when an individual dog bites.  Gathering reliable evidence based data both evokes and elicits good policy making. Selective and sensationalized reporting does nothing to enhance or improve public safety. Public polices need to be dictated through intelligent, thoughtful and realistic methods as was done and achieved during the Trempe inquest.    https://canadiandogs.com/trempe-inquest/ 

 The Ontario government must order a full and complete review of the DOLA which includes the breed-specific language portion of the act.  Heed the Trempe inquest recommendations along with professional associations and experts instead of an overly zealous Attorney General whose one and only goal was a breed ban. DOLA is the only mechanism through which compensation for a victim of a dog bite or attack may be obtained in Ontario and includes the ability of destruction of a dog or prohibition on dog ownership. DOLA does not provide for provincial offense notices (tickets with set fines) and as such court summons remains the only option.  As 81% of dog bites have been found to cause little to no harm these type of situations are left to tie up an already overburdened court system in Ontario.    https://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/injurious-dog-bites/medically-attended-dog-bites/

In closing, Michael Bryant admitted in his book "28 Seconds" to being in a alcoholic state while Attorney General of Ontario and the ban was 50% ego.  His book was written after the vehicular death of Darcy Sheppard in 2009 when Bryant was initially charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. Darcy Sheppard's body was tested for drugs and alcohol, but no drug or alcohol test was conducted on the driver of the car, Michael Bryant. Nine months after Sheppard's death independent prosecutors Mark Sandler and Richard Peck withdrew all the vehicular charges against Bryant.   https://bryantwatch.wordpress.com/ 

The sad irony in all this, considering Ontario citizens lost presumption of innocence in a dog owners liability act,  Bryant later became executive director and general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.  

               

Fran Coughlin

Advocate for Responsible Dog Ownership

Activist Against Breed-Specific Legislation

Dated November 29th, 2021. 

A Dying Breed. 10 Minute Documentary on BSL in Ontario.

OPEN LETTER TO YASIR NAQVI, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

To:  Minister of Community Safety and Corrections;

March 23, 2016.

Yasir Naqvi;

You recently received thousands of letters and emails as the Minister in charge of the portfolio who can help Ontario dogs.

Over the last decade you received a minimum of a hundred thousand plus letters and documented emails asking your government to remove breed specific language in the Dog Owners Liability Act (DOLA) and help Ontario dogs.

Your government has seen numerous protests at Queens Park and received countless petitions and pleas over the past decade demanding an end to the discriminatory breed ban only Liberals voted for in 2005.  There has been bills put forth by different parties to end the breed ban. One bill passed 2nd reading and committee meetings but was not called for 3rd reading and lost months later due to prorogation.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-BexqKh900

Recently one newer petition with over 75,000 signatures again requested your government help Ontario dogs. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/705/334/229/do-not-euthanize-the-31-dogs-seized-from-alleged-fighting-ring-in-chatam-ontario/

Another recent petition from Change.org entitled "Save The Chatham Dogs Seized From The OSPCA" is closing in on 40,000 signatures and every signature generated an email to the Premier, executives at the OSPCA and your office within the last month asking you, the Premier and the OSPCA to help Ontario dogs so we KNOW you are hearing us.
https://www.change.org/p/save-the-chatham-dogs-seized-by-ospca

The breed ban has NOT decreased overall dog bites and has NOT improved public safety.  You are aware of those facts but still your government attempts to deceive the public by continuing to justify this ban?   You fully understand people and dogs are being unfairly stereotyped and profiled and this Minister is NOT acceptable.
http://globalnews.ca/news/2527882/torontos-pit-bulls-are-almost-gone-so-why-are-there-more-dog-bites-than-ever/

Your government ignored expert testimony against the breed ban when former Attorney General Michael Bryant decided he wanted to ban certain dogs and ignored the 32 recommendations made from the Courtney Trempe inquest.
http://www.dlcc.ca/public/about-the-dlcc/courtney-trempe/
http://www.dogwatch.net/bill132.pdf

The now disgraced former attorney general Bryant (when he killed a man in a road rage incident) has admitted to being a active alcoholic during the time of the ban and stated the ban was 50% ego. Thus this blatantly discriminating legislation should be removed and instead the Calgary model, which experts advised your government to use, should be put in its place.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUo_ryYxQo

Yasir you have a rescue dog.  The type of dog you have is a dog type involved in the last four documented fatal dog attacks in Canada, and in fact been involved in more fatal dog attacks than any other type of dog in Canada.  Surely YOU must get responsible dog ownership is key to decreasing not only dog bites but also rare dog bite fatalities?  http://www.chicobandido.com/2012/03/dbrf-201202/

NOTE: If someone came into your home seized your well socialized non-offending dog because another dog who LOOKED similar had an incident, would YOU fight for your dog in court? 
How many court cases and how much money time and effort has been spent forcing innocent Ontarians to legally fight for their non-offending pets?  Surely YOU have "some" knowledge of this and hold "some" empathy for responsible Ontario dog owners who have found themselves caught in the horrific web of discrimination that is BSL.

Time and money wasted by animal services looking for certain types of dogs has NOT been effective and deflects from animal services protecting the public from truly reckless dog owners. Ontario NEEDS breed neutral legislation so irresponsible dog owners are held accountable no matter size, breed or type of dog an individual has.

 The 21 Chatham dogs OSPCA wants euthanized are VICTIMS of BSL.  The dogs did not choose to live a life of brutality. The assessments of OSPCA are questionable. The public wants the 21 dogs to be reassessed by outside third party professionals. Thousands of dollars have been donated to give these abused dogs a legal chance to be reassessed and a second chance for a decent life.  At the very least allow the dogs to go to a rescue sanctuary during the interim where they will receive tools needed for socialization and rehabilitation. Do not stand in the way of this being done.

You have said many times now there is nothing you, the Minister with portfolio, can do to help the dogs. THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE.  Under the Dog Owners Liability Act there ARE regulations that allow you to act. The sections are 20. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the control of pit bulls. 2005, c. 2, s, 1 (16) (e) designation bodies referred to as designated in this Act; The Lieutenant Governor in Council in de facto is YOU as Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODvql2SdyEU
https://www.facebook.com/Supporting.Hersheys.Bill/?fref=ts

You have also stated numerous times your government does not have legislative or regulatory authority to do anything about the OSPCA. The link below shows the press conference in 2012 for a bill your government voted down that would give oversight of the OSPCA.  Yasir was it not your government who gave a CHARITY police powers, with NO oversight, and then voted down oversight in 2012 but still YOU use no oversight for inaction to this day? Combine this mess with OSPCA being exempt from the freedom of information act and no wonder people of Ontario are up in arms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGvWzfywXlg

Minister Naqvi;  WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE for your government to acknowledge Ontario's breed specific legislation has NOT worked and punishing good dogs and responsible dog owners is NOT unacceptable? The good people of Ontario want fair, just and reasonable legislation for both themselves AND their animals.

TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW.  NO MORE EXCUSES.


Sincerely,
Fran Coughlin
Advocate for Responsible Dog Ownership
Activist Against Breed Specific Legislation


PS: BTW the form letter your government puts out year after year when pleas are made for better animal laws and to end the breed ban, has not changed in over a decade.   People are fed up with receiving the same old outdated messages again and again.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 



 





 

 

FIGHT For 3rd Reading of Bill 16

"EDUCATE DON'T DISCRIMINATE"! Wise advice but so far unheeded by many "Liberal" politicians in Ontario when breed specific legislation came to be under McGuinty rule in 2005.  Thus not only thousands of short haired smooth coated medium sized family pets became targets of canine racism but their human companions became victims also.

To end this stereotyping it's been seven long and difficult years of protests, court cases, petitions, fund raising, more court cases, dog shows, even more protests, rallies, special events, numerous amounts of petitions and two previous private members bills (thank you Cheri DiNovo) to get Bill 16 where it is today. A "Tri Party Bill" sponsored by PC MPP Randy Hillier, NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo and Liberal MPP Kim Craitor passed 2nd reading on February 23rd, 2012 by a vote of 51 to 26. Not an easy feat when Ontario's Premier continues to manipulate media, intimidate his caucus and whip votes. Before May 9th, of 2012 people had hope all committee members would be open, receptive and truly interested in insuring responsible, fair and effective legislation for the people of Ontario. Didn't happen. 

We live in what is supposed to be a free and democratic country but in "Dalton's Ontario" the CANADIAN Charter of Rights and Freedoms doesn't mean much and is given little credence. Since Bill 132 warrantless entry, reverse onus and even Canadian Charter rights to travel freely across Canada is the norm. Many people moved out of Ontario to save their family pets leaving jobs, family and friends to do so. Many former residents would like to come home. Even those travelling to Ontario from other provinces and countries are negatively affected. These are just some of the reasons why so many have fought so long and hard to have current legislation amended. Passing Hersheys Bill 16 will return equality to all citizens along with removing reverse onus and re-introducing freedom of unrestricted travel.  Getting Bill 16 where it is today has involved thousands and thousands of good Ontarians giving copious amounts of their time, effort and money.  It has been a blood, sweat and tears kind of scenario.

Don't let anyone tell you remaining a democracy in a democratic country is easy or comes cheaply. It does not. Many Ontarians know when you finally make Queens Park committee meetings the work done to get there needs to be taken seriously and deserves to be respected by all political parties and their respective politicians. Partisan politics should be left at committee meetings doorstep, a place where legislation usually becomes law.  With personal freedoms at stake, politicians who go into these meetings only to play a game for the benefit of "party popularity, power, prestige and perks" need to be voted out of office.

Why you ask if this important? Read the quote from the highest court in Ontario slowly and carefully. (Her Majesty the Queen and Phillip Huggins) "Anything enacted by legislature must be enforced however harsh, absurd or contrary to common sense".

 

Do you get how serious legislation is? I mean do you really get it"?  Ontarians are both appalled and offended at what happened in the committee meeting on May 9th, 2012.   Important and well thought out amendments were shot down without an ounce of serious thought or consideration after seven long hard years of extensive intensive work done by thousands of caring citizens; as those that have got there knows, getting through parliamentary committee doors is not a simple nor easy task.

Case in point. It has taken centuries, in some cases, for governments to acknowledge wrongdoings. The first human witch hunts in Europe and America occurred in the 16th century. Many of the real stories about the infamous SALEM WITCH TRIALS are still widely unknown. 150 people imprisoned, twenty innocent men and woman put to death (including a five year old girl). The underlying stories of deceit, power, financial greed and politics at the time are in fact even more intriguing than many of the old myths still told today.

 It took until October 31st, 2001 for the state of Massachusetts to exonerate the last witch killed in Salem.  That particular "witch hunt" took hundreds of years to finally, officially and legally be resolved.  When legislation becomes law, those laws should not be based on myth, hype, personal gain, propaganda, gullible votes or fear-mongering. Hopefully today's current governments will not be be so slow to right this current wrong.

Recent committee meetings were really NO different than those in 2005. All professional experts testified breed specific legislation (BSL) to be ineffective in lowering dog bites, costly to taxpayers and do not improve public safety.  Various experts cited recent worldwide studies showing banned breeds to be no more aggressive than any other type or breeds of dogs.  Countries, cities, towns, counties and one U.S. state have removed breed discriminatory laws based on documented evidence to its ineffectiveness.

 

 In spite of  new evidence given at two of the Ontario committee meetings, in the third meeting all   six amendments were rejected quickly, harshly and absurdly by the four Liberal representatives sitting at the table. Shades of committee meetings in 2005!  Facts and studies given by experts again ignored. Is all testimony given by so many credible professional experts to be disregarded again? Will current legislation stay in place though "public safety" has not improved? Will people continue to stand by while innocent and beloved family pets continue to be seized out of good and responsible homes and killed based only on appearance? Are "Canadian Charter Rights' to remain compromised?

NOT ON OUR WATCH!

How can discrimination and profiling continue to be sanctioned by government?
Why are we teaching childen to profile based on appearance?  How can myths and misinformation win over facts and studies given by professional experts?
How can decent politicians remain silent when current legislation needs to be corrected? Why are some media outlets still promoting hype while ignoring studies? How is it one single politician can whip votes, disrespect proper political procedures and subvert the democratic process?

Enough IS Enough!

 

1. CALL and personally talk to your elected representative insisting Bill 16 be called for 3rd reading
2. ASK your place of business for a letter of support and deliver or fax it to your MPP's office.
3. CONTACT business associates, educate them and ask for their support. Give educational tools.
4. Contact your friends and family and ask them to contact their MPP on your behalf.
5. Put up posters/flyers at dog parks, pet stores, grocery stores; every place you can think of.
6. Visit http://www.supporthersheysbill.com  Have friends join the page and keep up with events.
7. SHARE this blog and pass the messages of this blog and others speaking to Hersheys Bill 16.
6. Look up "Bill 16-Committee meeting" on YouTube. Listen to the experts see what really happened
8. Visit http://www.bringbackthebulls.com/  to document and make public your MPP's letter.
9. Attend and promote the many protest walks and rallies against BSL going on all over Ontario.
10. Contact Ontario's Minister of Tourism and let the Minister know you will not be visiting.

    Lastly please consider donating to the cause.  Materials and major events cost money to produce.

WE HAVE COME THIS FAR.  WE CANNOT FAIL NOW.

NOTE:  To work around the program as written, some sentances are off or grammatically incorrect.

Why Ontario Elections Matter

Politicans make legislation and Ontario courts have deemed The Legislature does not made mistakes". Those are the words from a 2011 Ontario Appeals Court hearing. The final judgement continued; "ANYTHING enacted by legislature must be enforced however harsh or absurd or contrary to common sense". Maybe the prelude to the actual judgement was written because one of the three judges made this statement during the proceedings,"the law does not have to be wise".

Those words and the words from the judgement should strike abject fear and dismay in the hearts and minds of Ontarians if they really think about what it takes to get there and the cost incurred to be heard in the highest court of Ontario. If not, then I will repeat part of the judgement again. "Legislature must be enforced however harsh, or absurd or contrary to common sense".

Are YOU awake yet? Have you questioned what criteria was this legislation based on due to such a compliance warning? Did all the political parties have a say in it? Were the public involved and really listened to? Were professional experts consulted to advise on the matter? If so, were the experts listened to? How many letters were against the legislation and were they ever mentioned?

The simple and short answer to all the above questions is NO.

The legislation was introduced by a guy, who at the time, was a popular MPP within the Liberal party. The legislation was drawn up and ready for execution before experts could discuss with attorney general Michael J. Bryant, what advice they would give. (See link to Toronto Sun Article below.)

Oh, the experts were allowed to testify at the "kangaroo hearings" led by David Zimmer, but in the end, and after much of their expertise and time was freely given, none of their advice was taken. This after both media and the public had been led to believe differently, by Bryant himself during a CityTV interview. Bryant said, "you don’t ask an attorney general to be the dog expert. I want to put this in the hands of experts".

When eventually, after consistent outcry from the public and the experts, numerous petitions (one with thirty thousand names), and regular protests, asked IF the legislation would be reviewed (as NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo had put a private members bill to repeal the "specfic measures"), the Prime Minister of Ontario again delibrately deceived the press and public as to what experts had advised. Dalton McGuinty said; "we got the best advice we could and put in legislation, we think, upholds public safety".

The legislaton became law because MPP's within the Liberal party were basically told to pass it or face the back benches of caucas. It passed because a few of the power brokers (Michael Bryant; David Zimmer; Dalton McGuinty being the main ones) decided the vote should be whipped and sadly, so many Liberal MPP's, decided not to do their due diligence and went along with it, rather than lose status and perks. Every single MPP at Queens Park that day from the other elected political parties voted against the legislation. They had no say in what was occurring in the House of Commons. Sadly this is, was, and has, not been the only occurance showing a total lack of regard and respect for democracy under the current Liberal government.

(Remember the G20? The "secret law" that very quietly passed in legislature, unknown to all the other political party members, which took away Canadian Charter rights of everyday citizens called "The Public Works Protection Act"? Ah, maybe now you are starting to wake up. I hope it's not the coffee.

What was also in the legislation was a little something called "REVERSE ONUS". WHAT you say, isn't that against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? The answer is yes. But, under this legislation (and now some others) you are automatically guilty and must prove yourself innocent - no matter what the cost to you or your family would be. (As anyone can accuse you of something, there is a reason why the Canadian constitution has "innocent until proven guilty" in it).

If you want to know about this legislation, a study was done by a university in the United States called "Panic Policy Making; Canine Breed Bans in Canada and the US". It more than mentions Ontario's passing of the legislation and compares the decison to places where it was rejected. While the whole study is well worth reading, the part about Ontario passing it starts at around page 16 and it is frightening. The fact that discrimination and profiling is now in law is frightening. The fact that a small handful of politicans, with a hidden agenda of their own, (see Panic Policy Making) can turn Ontarians into 3rd class citizens, no matter how responsible or respectable they are, is frightening. Warrantless entry into private homes and the automatic removal of ones property is frightening. All this and more is occurring all over Ontario thanks to legislation that need not be wise or "that is contrary to common sense".

When laws are passed that make all citizens pay because of a few bad apples, Ontario is in serious peril. Banning all kinds of things and attaching huge fines on the general polulous is now becoming quite commonplace under Dalton McGuinty. The Canadian Charter has been compromised on many different levels in various areas in Ontario, not just the one I speak of here. Why this election matters isn't just about the excessive debt Ontario is now under. It's not just about skyrocking taxes and hydro rates or the incompetent and wasteful spending of billions of hard earned tax dollars. This election matters because the leader in current power does not seem to value the democracy our forefathers fought and gave their lives for, nor the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When a leader or government does not look to, respect or inforce individual responsibilty and accountability, that leader or government becomes dangerous. It will compromise OUR individual rights and freedoms, as are "guaranteed in the Canadian Charter".

That so many thousands of innocent non offending family pets are now taken out of good homes, seized and killed based on a shoddy vague discription of what dogs look like is insane. That non criminals face penalties of six months in jail and a $10,000 dollar fine when they have raised well behaved, properly trained and socialized dogs, is insane. There is a stench coming out of "the house"; our house and this fall, on Oct 6th it needs a major cleaning job.

Where Liberals allowed a "FREE VOTE"?
http://www.advocatesfortheunderdog.com/downloads/freevote.pdf
SECRET LAW
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/828367--g20-law-gives-police-sweeping-powers-to-arrest-people
PANIC POLICY MAKING; CANINE BREEDS BANS IN CANADA AND THE US
http://www.polsci.wvu.edu/faculty/BRISBIN/Papers/2007.%20Panic%20Policy%20Making.pdf
NEW DOG OWNERS LIABILITY ACT
http://caveat.blogware.com/OntarioDOLA.pdf
TORONTO SUN ARTICLE: EXPERTS AGAINST THE BAN
http://www.advocatesfortheunderdog.com/downloads/tsun.pdf
SUGGESTED AMMENDMENTS. NONE ACCEPTED FROM OTHER PARTIES
http://www.chicobandido.com/2006/09/bill-132-amendments
ONTARIO DOG OWNERS STAND UP AGAINST BSL (video).
(Note the REAL Owners and NOT what you see in the tabloids!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkNqgqcUuGE
VIDEO below is a small segment of one protest walking from Queens Park.

Ontario's BAN on Dogs Hits a Milestone

Who would have ever thought five years ago, come August 29th of this year, Ontario would make dogs Public Enemy Number One? However, that is exactly what happened when the Liberal government put a ban in place putting all short haired medium dogs at risk of being taken out of good, loving and responsible homes and either killed, sent out of province (if they were lucky) or as bad, sent to research facilities.

Their crime? Looks and looks alone. The owners crime? Loving a pet with no regard to what their pet might LOOK like.

Records show that in 2007 alone one Ontarian every 3 days was charged with a provincial offence for owning an "illegal" dog and sadly these are owners who decided their family pets were worth fighting for and did not give in to the usual "give us your dog and you will not be charged" intimidation being spoken by so many animal control officers today.

These owners then would be made to do something that is against the Canadian Charter of Right and Freedoms and that is to prove themselves innocent.

"Oh Ontario, I hardly know ye".

Please join dog owners on August 29th, 2010 at Coronation Park in the City of Toronto as we attempt to end this senseless and darconian legislation?

Has Ontario's pit bull ban proven to be a good law?

The Toronto Sun ran a poll on April 29th, 2010 and the results are below. This was after the Toronto Humane Society made public that since Bill 132 (aka Pit Bull Ban) there has been NO decrease in dog bites or attacks. Scroll down to BREAKING NEWS! THS Study Finds Breed Specific Legislation Has Not Reduced Dog Bites.
http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/

It is TIME that Dalton McGuinty ended legalized discrimination and profiling by recinding the darconian law put in place in 2005, in spite of 43 out of 44 experts being Totally AGAINST the Ban.

Archive Poll Toronto Sun: "Has Ontario's pit bull ban proven to be a good law?
Yes
31%
No 69%
Total Votes for this Question: 3848"
NOTE: I have the the screen shot of the vote being 69% although the Sun link now shows 62%.

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

Pit Bulls and Locking Jaws! Real or Myth?

I am losing count of the number of times I have heard people say, or sadly repeat, that some dog types have "locking jaws" so decided to go on a fact finding mission to see if animals, any animals, have the ability to lock their jaws.

Onto the internet I go. What comes up? Many links about pit bulls. Being the astute reseacher, I have become, I delve deeper and actually "look" at the links.

Lo and behold, I find not a single credible source documenting pit bull type dogs as having locking jaws. Good thing I learned to "click", as there was a time when I blindly repeated what I was told by others.

I had heard pit bulls had locking jaws and at one time, caught myself going as far as to describe how their skulls were different from "other" dogs. Not a single soul called me out or YEARS, therefore, I babbled on unchecked. God only knows how much damage I did. It seems that stupid really is as stupid does.
http://en.wilipedia.org/wiki/Pit_Bull

Finally getting my act together, I researched skulls of dogs finding there are some slight structual variations from breed to breed. But alas, nothing about pit bull type dogs having "unique" locking jaws. The myths regarding these dogs, can be quite bizarre and are usually perpetulated by media looking to sensationalize for the sake of readership.
http://www.boneclones.com/catalog_dogs.htm

Surely their must be ONE animal with jaws that lock? Back to square I go and rummage through different links and sites looking for something credible. One can find the "term" locking jaws but in reality there are NO jaws that have a locking and therefore an unlocking mechanism. If one thinks about it, and if Darwin is to be believed, a animal would have starved while attempting this particular metamorphosis.

However, I did come across this professionial link which is detailed, informative and indeed closer to reality regarding bite force.
http://glapbta.com/BFBP.pdf

Lock jaw however is a reality, does exist and can develop into a serious "condition", called tetanus. Tetanus occurs in any human or animal and can lead to death.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tetanus