Brampton protest had 200 in support of Brittany and Rambo's owners

From the Brampton Guardian

“We want to let the citizens of Brampton know what their tax dollars are going to— to support a system that is not in the best interest of animals,” said Ciaron Lewis, Peel resident and animal rights advocate who organized the weekend protest.

Follow this link to view the video from yesterdays rally in Brampton. Rui Branco (Brittany's owner) was interviewed by the Brampton Guardian. The city of Brampton has denied both owners access to their dogs by either dog experts or veterinarians.  The dog owners are trying to get Brampton council to look into this case further. So far the city has dug in their heels and stuck to their Neanderthal ways in keeping both dogs on death row. The placement on death row is not because of any wrong doing, but based on their own flawed, so called "breed identification process". Animal control seized both dogs as a result of trolling the neighborhood conducting their witch hunt. They spotted Rambo standing on top of his dog house, in his own fenced in backyard. No complaints were ever made against either dog.

Dog protesters rally

 From the Brampton Guardian February 20, 2010

Close to 200 protesters rallied outside Brampton City Hall Saturday afternoon to support the release of Brittany and Rambo, two dogs— alleged by the city to be pitbulls— who were seized from their homes Jan. 13.

Supporters say the city’s actions, and bylaws, are largely flawed and together with the dogs’ owners challenge the city’s lineage assessment of Brittany and Rambo. Rui Branco, owner of Brittany, is prepared to fight the city in court to prove the two dogs (who are brother and sister) are boxer/American bulldog crosses.
The protest was planned to keep the pressure on the city and to drum up support from local politicians.

“The mayor, city councillors...are stating legally they can’t interfere because it’s before the courts, but a court date hasn’t yet been set,” explained Branco, who is leading the fight against the city. “I’m hoping what will happen today is that cooler heads will prevail.”
Branco said if the matter does go to court, he’s optimistic about the outcome; he’s confident he’ll “overwhelm” the city with documentation and expert opinions proving the dogs are not pitbulls.
Protesters, however, fear the city will continue to tear dogs away from their families until municipal legislation changes. Brampton’s bylaw currently defines a pitbull as a pitbull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire bull terrier, American pitbull terrier, or “a dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to those dogs.”

The city’s initial plan was to euthanize the dogs— but Branco stepped in with a lawyer to fight for the return of both families’ dogs.
Picketers carried signs reading “Stop the mass murder of mutts” and “When we kill any innocent being we lose our humanity.” One advocate carried a megaphone and played the recorded message “City of Brampton hear our cries, why do good dogs have to die?”.
“We want to let the citizens of Brampton know what their tax dollars are going to— to support a system that is not in the best interest of animals,” said Ciaron Lewis, Peel resident and animal rights advocate who organized the weekend protest.

Sarnia resident Graham Emslie made the trek to Brampton to show his support. As a pitbull owner, he can sympathize. “We want to try to get those two dogs back to their homes, and then get an amendment to the bylaw,” he said.

John Perlanski of Brampton feels the city’s actions are “excessive”, and the drastic measures applied to Brittany and Rambo will only perpetuate and escalate public fear about pitbulls.

The two dogs have been in the care of a municipal animal shelter, where city spokesperson Gordon Smith said the canines are in good care. The families, as well as their pets’ veterinarians, have been refused visitation.

The protest ran from roughly noon to 3 p.m.