The true cost of breed-specific legislation
Written by Steve Barker on October 27th, 2012
For those of you who think breed-specific legislation is only about forcing irresponsible owners to control their dogs…
Category Archives: Politics
Bill 16 clause-by-clause: surprising events
Written by Steve Barker on May 10th, 2012
This is my somewhat detailed explanation of what happened during Ontario’s clause-by-clause hearings on Bill 16 on May 9, 2012.
Communites that rejected BSL in 2011
Written by Steve Barker on March 1st, 2012
In 2011, the following communities proposed and REJECTED breed specific ordinances because ordinary people like you and me took a stand against them.
Statistics correction to my Toronto Star letter
Written by Steve Barker on February 29th, 2012
I have a minor correction to the Canadian “death by dog” statistics that I quoted in my letter to the Toronto Star. The actual numbers are very similar, but I feel I should give you the exact statistics instead of my prior guesses.
Thomas Walkom: Why Ontario’s pit-bull ban should end
Written by Steve Barker on February 29th, 2012
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.
Bad news from Florida
Written by Steve Barker on February 29th, 2012
Discouraging news from Florida today. Looks like SB (Senate Bill) 1322,which would have repealed the Miami-Dade breed ban, has been stalled and perhaps even killed at the subcommittee level.
Teenagers are dangerous and Ontario is right to ban them
Written by Steve Barker on February 29th, 2012
A satirical look at the Toronto Star’s “pit bulls are dangerous” editorial.
Dog killed, woman injured in Hamilton dog attack
Written by Steve Barker on February 28th, 2012
So let’s see how much airplay/newsprint this story gets, since the attacking dog clearly can’t be reported as a “pit bull”.
Pit bulls are dangerous and Ontario is right to ban them
Written by Steve Barker on February 28th, 2012
Bet that got your attention! That’s the headline of a February 26 Toronto Star editorial to which I respond here.
Who voted and how at Bill 16 second reading
Written by Steve Barker on February 24th, 2012
Here is a list of every Ontario MPP and how they voted at the second reading of Bill 16 (including those who didn’t vote).
Bill 16 passes second reading
Written by Steve Barker on February 23rd, 2012
Great news! Bill 16 passed its second reading today in the Ontario Legislature!
How a Private Member’s Bill becomes law
Written by Steve Barker on February 21st, 2012
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 deal with Bill 16?
Written by Steve Barker on February 20th, 2012
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
Eagles name Michael Vick their Ed Block Courage Award recipient!!
Written by Steve Barker on December 23rd, 2009
The Philadelphia Eagles have named Michael Vick their Ed Block Courage Award recipient!
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.
Another tin-pot dictatorship I’ll never visit!!
Written by Steve Barker on October 1st, 2009
Neguac, New Brunswick (Canada), has passed a bylaw banning “pit bulls”. The town has NOT included a grandfather clause, which means that all existing dogs that fall under their definition must leave the town immediately or be confiscated.