City of Brampton hires an outside lawyer
Written by Steve Barker on February 24th, 2010
The city of Brampton has hired an outside lawyer to continue to persecute the owners of docile family pets, including a 75-year-old lady on a pension.
Category Archives: News
Unbelievable misuse of taxpayers’ money
Written by Steve Barker on February 13th, 2010
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!
News articles about Brampton dogs and letters to the editors
Written by Steve Barker on February 3rd, 2010
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.
Two boxer-crosses seized as "pit bulls" in Brampton
Written by Steve Barker on January 30th, 2010
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.
Toledo’s "pit bull" law unconstitutional!
Written by Steve Barker on January 22nd, 2010
Great news! Portions of Toledo Ohio’s pit bull restrictions have been struck down by a judge.
Great article on responsible dog ownership
Written by Steve Barker on January 16th, 2010
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.
Journalist with good news story ends on a sour note
Written by Steve Barker on January 16th, 2010
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”.
British Columbia: Langley City pet shop dogged by parvo virus
Written by Steve Barker on January 14th, 2010
A Langley City pet shop appears to have a lot of sick dogs!
Ozzy: Musician, reality TV star, and now DOG BEHAVIOUR EXPERT?
Written by Steve Barker on January 11th, 2010
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.
No animal cruelty charges?
Written by Steve Barker on December 18th, 2009
An emaciated pit bull and her eight neglected puppies, whose teenage owners advertised them for sale on craigslist.org, are recovering at the Nanaimo SPCA. No charges are expected to be filed.
Welcome to Tom Skeldon’s nightmare!!
Written by Steve Barker on December 16th, 2009
A puppy Monday escaped an almost certain death at the Lucas County Dog Warden’s Office and is now in the care of an animal rescue group after a rare transfer of a “pit bull”-type dog out of the county’s pound. Under traditional circumstances, the puppy could have soon faced euthanasia under Dog Warden Tom Skeldon’s longstanding policy against adopting or transferring out any “pit bulls” from the pound. Once a “pit bull” dog reaches 3 months of age, there are no restrictions against Mr. Skeldon’s practice of killing all adult “pit bulls” regardless of behavior.
Kerry and Preacher still going!
Written by Steve Barker on December 7th, 2009
Kerry Pakarinen and his dog, Preacher, are still walking across Canada and are still in Ontario.
Attention politicians! Dog owners DO vote!
Written by Steve Barker on September 30th, 2009
The former mayor of Paradise Newfoundland found out the hard way yesterday that not only do dog owners vote, they don’t forget.
Maddie, Carter, and Capone are going home!
Written by Steve Barker on September 21st, 2009
The city of Sarnia has issued a press release saying that the three dogs from my earlier story are going to be released to their owners. Great news!
The story of Maddie, Carter, and Capone
Written by Steve Barker on September 19th, 2009
UPDATE Sept 21 2009: All three dogs have been determined to not be “pit bulls” and have been released to their owners.
ORIGINAL STORY September 19 2009: The Dog Legislation Council has been dealing with an issue that, up until yesterday, was kept under the radar in the hopes that things could be worked out amicably between the dogs’ owners and Sarnia Animal Control. Since the story hit the local newspaper yesterday, September 18, I feel it’s necessary to let everyone know what’s going on.
Detailed version of Antonia’s column
Written by Steve Barker on September 18th, 2009
Further to my entry about Antonia Zerbisias’ column in the Toronto Star, her blog has the same text, but with all the links to various stories kept intact. Makes for a more interesting read. Facebook users, click “View Original Post”.
Bryant and bike courier a class issue
Written by Steve Barker on September 18th, 2009
Antonia Zerbisias, columnist for the Toronto Star, focuses on the stark contrast between the public “spin” afforded Bryant (thanks largely to his public relations firm) and the virtual demonization of Sheppard by the same mainstream media outlets.
Kudos to Nackawic! No more BSL!
Written by Steve Barker on September 12th, 2009
Congratulations to Nackawic town council for listening to your dog owners! There are plenty of other places in this country that could learn a thing or two from you.
Congratulations to Kris, Cheyenne, Dakota, and Tahoe!
Written by Steve Barker on September 12th, 2009
Congratulations to Kris, Cheyenne, Dakota, and Tahoe for being presented with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Just stay away from Ontario as you travel the continent saving lives.
HSUS killing dogs again!
Written by Steve Barker on February 16th, 2009
You’d think that, after the Michael Vick debacle, the so-called “Humane” Society of the United States might reconsider their blanket belief that all dogs seized from dogfighters should be killed. Well, apparently not!