Earlier this year, I introduced someone to the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. When we got to the Witch scene, I was struck by the similarities between a “witch hunt” and a “pit bull hunt”.
It seems that George Jonas is more than willing to take on Barbara Kay about breed-specific legislation.
I originally wrote this article in August 2006. I’m reposting it after my radio interview today because the whole process of preparing for the interview has revived some of my thoughts on the role of media in breed-specific legislation.
Enjoy.
Thomas Walkom was outspoken against the Ontario ban in 2004 and 2005 and was one of the voices of reason in the media at the time. It’s nice to see he’s still speaking out. Thanks, Thomas.
A satirical look at the Toronto Star’s “pit bulls are dangerous” editorial.
So let’s see how much airplay/newsprint this story gets, since the attacking dog clearly can’t be reported as a “pit bull”.
Bet that got your attention! That’s the headline of a February 26 Toronto Star editorial to which I respond here.
The government of New Brunswick has decided to start enforcing a law that prohibits tenants of provincial housing from owning pets, even though many of these tenants have had their animals for years. They have cracked down on two Moncton housing complexes and have given the tenants one week to get rid of their pets!
Randy Hillier, one of the sponsors of Bill 16, left a comment on my last blog entry that significantly increases my optimism about this bill’s potential to become law, so much so that I decided to write an updated article about it.
What’s the big deal with Bill 16 in Ontario? Why is it important to dog owners and why is it important for you to show up at Queen’s Park on February 23?
I have to say, I cannot recall ever seeing a city do this before. The City of Brampton has taken out a full-page ad in their local newspaper in order to “defend” their employees’ actions in seizing two family pets and scheduling their destruction. So, not only does Rui Branco (the owner of one of the dogs) have to pay for his own lawyer, but his (and many other irate dog owners’) taxes are being used to help the city try to kill his dog and to try to hoodwink the public with cover-their-butt propaganda!
Here are all the news stories I can find about the two dogs seized in Brampton. I have also included info for writing letters to the editors of the major Toronto and national newspapers, as well as the Brampton Guardian.
Brampton, Ontario, has really put their foot in it this time! These are two more cases that really need both media and public attention, ASAP.
Here is a great article by LeeAnn O’Reilly, president of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada, with whom I have worked for six years.
Some good news out of Ontario for two condemned young dogs. They’ve been shipped to the SPCA in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It’s a shame that Shawn Berry from the Daily Gleaner felt it necessary to end the story by quoting from the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeals judges. In my opinion, it is probably one of the most inaccurate and inflammatory statements ever put into print by a judge about “pit bulls”.
Somehow, Ozzy Osbourne has morphed from bat-eating heavy metal rock star (who I thought was great) to reality TV family man to now self-appointed expert on dog breed identification and dog behaviour.
I was in a bookstore yesterday browsing the pet section and came across Ingrid Newkirk’s book “The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights”. I didn’t buy it, although I still may. What I did do, however, was collect all my earlier articles on animal rights organizations. Here is what I’ve collected to-date.
I sent a letter to CBS about David Letterman slamming pit bulls. Not that I hope to get past the first level of their screening machine, but who knows?
Kyra Sedgwick was on David Letterman on December 11 and mentioned the pit bull puppy that she and husband Kevin Bacon have adopted. Letterman then proceeded to “joke in all earnestness” about the killer nature of these dogs.
Here is a letter sent to Nike by a friend. I’d like to see the company’s response!
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