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: Ontario
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!
Can’t travel through Winnipeg with my dog, either!
Written by Steve Barker on February 7th, 2010
Some people made a suggestion to a friend of mine that, if she wants to move from the West Coast of Canada to Nova Scotia with her dogs, she should drive to Winnipeg and then fly the rest of the way in order to skip dog-hating Ontario. I investigated that possibility and here’s the (bad) news.
In case anyone was wondering?
Written by Steve Barker on February 6th, 2010
In 2005, a lady wrote to then Ontario Minister of Tourism, Jim Bradley, to find out if she could drive through Ontario with her dogs to get from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia. This was his reply.
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.
Complicit in their own diminishment
Written by Steve Barker on January 27th, 2010
In case you were wondering how anybody could persuade 70+ intelligent, rational, elected government representatives to define a dog as dangerous based only on they way it looks, here’s a Toronto Star article explaining how.
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”.
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.
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.
Best Ginger story to-date
Written by Steve Barker on June 18th, 2009
Thanks to Antonia for pointing me to this Toronto Star story which I consider to be much fairer and more accurate than the others.
City of Toronto granted appeal in Ginger’s case
Written by Steve Barker on June 17th, 2009
Unfortunately, the city of Toronto has been granted the right to appeal Ginger’s release and the dropping of charges against her owner.
Read more at http://www.chicobandido.com/2009/06/city-of-toronto-granted-appeal-in-gingers-case/
Ginger: Finally free or continuing saga?
Written by Steve Barker on June 17th, 2009
Ginger was in a Toronto animal services kennel for three and a half years, accused of aggression after defending herself against an unprovoked attack by an off-leash dog. She was freed in early June after a judge determined that she had been held illegally for that entire time. Today, we find out if the city of Toronto will be allowed to appeal that decision.
Read more at http://www.chicobandido.com/2009/06/ginger-finally-free-or-continuing-saga
Date change for the Toronto and Ottawa rallies
Written by Steve Barker on June 17th, 2009
The date for the Toronto and Ottawa anti-BSL rallies has changed to July 18. Stay tuned for more info.
For those of you who haven’t fled Ontario
Written by Steve Barker on June 15th, 2009
This was just posted on Facebook. Rallies in Toronto and Ottawa on Saturday June 20.
What’s it really like in Ontario?
Written by Steve Barker on January 20th, 2009
I originally wrote this article on the two year anniversary of the Ontario legislation, so that’s about a year and a half ago. Considering our fundraising efforts to get to the Supreme Court of Canada, I think it’s appropriate to re-use it now to try to give you some idea of what life is like for many dog owners in Ontario.