Wrap your mind around how much $$$ the Ontario Liberal's have flushed down the toilet?

Official Statement on Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) from The White House

Worldwide Anti-BSL Peaceful Protest

This past weekend on July 13th a Worldwide Anti-BSL Peaceful Protest was held. I unfortunately could not attend but have watched numerous videos, looked at pictures and read statements from around the world. 

This event brought tears to my eyes. Those of us who've been out slogging for years are witnessing a ground swell of people who are standing up for their dog owning rights and saying ENOUGH is ENOUGH! 

The WORLD is saying NO to DISCRIMINATORY laws! Laws such as breed specific legislation (banning breeds and appearances of dogs), mandatory spay/neuter, pet limits and other oppressive laws. Laws such as these do nothing to contribute to public safety. If they did, bites and attacks would decrease however overwhelming evidence demonstrates the opposite. 



Here is a short video from the gathering in Toronto, Ontario.

video by Beth Mischitelle

A great friend and fellow (Dog Legislation Council of Canada) member spoke on our behalf at Toronto's gathering. 

Video by Dave Nicholson

Ottawa had an impressive turnout for their gathering.

Photo by Holly Michael Photography Ottawa

Edmonton also held a successful gathering.

Protests were held in Belfast, Ireland where blue ribbons were placed on the gates to City Council in memory of Lennox.

Brisbane, Australia

Perth, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

London, England

Cologne, Germany

Michigan, USA

And many many more...

Way to go world! Stand up and protect your dog owning rights. 

People often ask how they can help.  The best thing to do is to contact your Member of the Provincial Parliament, preferably by phone, mail or fax, to ask them to vote in favour of any Bills that seek to remove Ontario’s breed-specific legislation.  This is important regardless of the party of your MPP and especially if they are in Opposition.  If you can book a meeting to speak with them in person, so much the better.  Beyond Breed has a great post 10 Tips for Speaking with a Legislator.

It is also very important that signed, hard-copy petitions be sent in to MPPs so they know that people in their riding want the breed ban removed.  Those two things, which cost almost nothing and require only minimal action, are the best way to help at this time.  Since the legislature is closed until the Fall, and there is currently no Bill to remove BSL on the table, we are in a bit of a holding pattern.

Fighting to restore civil liberties is a tough business and not for the faint of heart. We will succeed in overturning the breed ban in Ontario. We will succeed in overturning breed bans worldwide. We confidently say this because there are a group of dedicated, passionate dog owners who will not quit until BSL is repealed. We hope that all dog owners and others who are concerned about their property rights will stand with us to right this terrible wrong.  

Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport - the support of caring people is needed if we are to prevail.

Discrimination is alive and well

Yesterday morning I was listening to CBC radio and they interviewed Harvey Brownstone, the first openly gay judge in Canada. He married Edith Windsor (who successfully had the Defense of Marriage Act overturned in the US) and Thea Spayer. 

He was speaking about the case in the US. One of his statements was "This issue is the last civil rights battle." It wasn't a main portion of his commentary but it certainly stood out like a sore thumb (in my mind).

Ummm Harvey I don't think so man! For a judge, and a GAY judge at that, to say something like this is rather narrow, don't you think? 

As far as I'm concerned, as long as there are ways, in people's pea brains, to judge and discriminate based on any factor "they" decide to be "different" or somehow against their moral compass... There will be a need to fight for civil rights! Propaganda is alive and well.

It always freaks me out when those who have been discriminated against or for that matter someone who is a lawyer/judge cannot extrapolate beyond the situation at hand.

Take away from this; be careful not to see the world with narrow vision when you have experienced the wrath of discrimination! Victims of discrimination come in many shapes and forms and as humans, sadly there will never be a lack of discrimination. 

Dog owners who own dogs of a certain shape or appearance are one of the  target groups de jour. When one group has a win another is ready and waiting to become the next target. It is human nature and not a pleasant characteristic. 

Talk about an uphill battle.

Advocacy Tips for Building Safe and Humane Communities by Kim Wolf

When BSL is proposed in your municipality/province/city/state, emotions run high and it's tempting to get angry at politicians. Circulating hateful messages only hurts the dogs/owners, pushes people further from the facts and are counter-productive to your goal. 

We need to work with legislators, not against them, to find a solution. We all want safe communities and want substandard owners punished but that rule applies to ALL dog owners regardless of the breed or appearance of their dog. 

Here is a link to a short presentation on effective advocacy tips for challenging BSL. 

http://pblnn.com/resources/for-advocates-2/223-advocacy-tips-for-building-safe-humane-communities.html

(Note: Click the black toolbar for audio, which corresponds with the slides below it.)

This presentation was put together by Kim Wolf. 

Our message in going forward to repeal BSL in Ontario

The campaign to "change the public's opinion" is not required at this point. Public opinion has no bearing on getting Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) repealed in Ontario. I guarantee you; the government is not getting bombarded by people asking to keep the ban. Once the ban is repealed there will still be people who will be discriminatory, but the difference will be you will have a better ability to protect yourself from nutters and low information people. 

Here's what I believe our messaging needs to be going forward to repeal BSL. 

"Pit bull" is NOT a breed. A dog is either registered purebred or it isn't. (Emphasis on the period). 

Hershey's Bill passed second reading with a wide majority, supported by all three parties. Committee hearings were held for a second time since the original Bill and not one presentation was in favour of the ban! Hershey's Bill just needed to be called for a vote when Dalton McGuinty prorogued. All Bills died on the floor. PC MPP Randy Hillier has tabled a motion to have it brought forward for a vote. 

Kathleen Wynne has stated she has no intention of calling the Bill for a vote. 

Jurisdictions continue to fall like dominoes, repealing existing BSL with fair, enforceable laws that punish negligent owners, regardless of the appearance or breed of their dog. The Ontario Liberals are behind the 8 ball in their views toward animal welfare. Their understanding of effective and fair legislation is obviously flawed. It is common knowledge that "banning" or targeting/discriminatory laws only punish those who abide by laws. 

There is NO evidence to support that dogs are dangerous based on their breed or appearance. (Emphasis on the period). To support otherwise is ignorant or propagandised. 

We want negligent owners punished! Negligent owners not only do a great dis-service to their dog, they also are bad for business for those of us who are good dog owners. We want to see people and their pets as well as those who do not own pets live as harmoniously as possible.

Let's talk about Calgary's Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw. The Liberals were given alternatives but they continue to choose to ignore them.

What people can do to help? Call or write your MPP and simply let them know you support Hershey's Bill, want it brought forward for a vote and want them to support it on your behalf. 

Print off petitions and get family/friends to sign then mail to your MPP. Sheets do not need to be full to be sent in. One signature is fine but more are better!

Topics to avoid;
Dog fighting has nothing to do with BSL. Dog fighting is and has long been a criminal offence in Canada. 

"Pit bulls" are NOT "the most abused". There is no evidence to support this and this statement does not garner sympathy as some believe. 

"Pit bulls" need a special owner. (This is utter BS dogs are individuals). 

"Aggressive people are attracted to 'pit bulls'". Again there is no evidence to support this statement. A negligent owner is a negligent owner regardless of breed. 

I know there are quite a few more topics to avoid but if topics that are on message are discussed, this would be helpful. 

The above topics were basically all we talked about at the All About Pets Show this past weekend. People "got it" and the (8 total out of thousands) naysayers got flustered and angry. They couldn't back up their emotional response to the propaganda machine. We cannot change their beliefs. What we can do is provide the facts. We have that area more than covered since the other side has no evidence or facts to support their beliefs!

I have been asked several times in the past week, "How do I feel about the children getting ripped up by 'pit bulls'?" 

Answer; The same as I feel when people or domestic animals are hurt or worse by any shape or appearance of dog. Why would it be extra tragic if the dog has short hair? That is horribly unfair to those bitten or attacked by other shapes of dogs! How would you tell them that they don't matter because all the media or you personally care about are so called "pit bulls"? 

Remember * Media reports do not equal data! Where dog bites are concerned in the media they should either ALL be reported or NONE at all!

Keep emotions in check. I feel it is best to refer ALL media requests to PC MPP Randy Hillier or NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo at this point. It is not helpful and it is very risky, going forward, to speak with media. MPP's are trained.

Peter Kormos will be sadly missed

Peter Kormos was a champion to the underdog. His strong defence of our dog owning rights was greatly appreciated. He sat on committee in 2004/05 and blasted the Liberals for their narrow minded, discriminatory legislation. He spoke with us individually and encouraged us to continue on.

Peter Kormos will be sadly missed. Condolences to his family. There aren't too many politicians like him. Thanks for your contribution to public service. RIP Peter.. 

Does this make sense to you?

Calgary's Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw

Calgary has one of the most efficient animal control bylaws in the world. Thank you Calgary for paving the way to sanity. 

Mark Beuhrle sporting his DLCC Hershey Shirt at interview

Mark, Jamie and Slater (Beuhrle's dog that is not welcome in Ontario thanks to the Ontario Liberal Government) were interviewed this afternoon on Sports Net, on Blue Jays Central.

Mark was sporting a DLCC (Dog Legislation Council of Canada) Hershey Tshirt. 

You did a fine job and wore the shirt well Mark!