September 1, 2010
Dog owners want same laws for all breeds
 Ontario’s controversial ban on pit bulls — now five years old — is under fire once again as a coalition of dog-loving groups rallied Sunday to support a local MPP’s efforts to have the law changed.
“They’re ripping family pets away from people based on very vague legislation,” said Rui Branco, who successfully fought the City of Brampton earlier this year by proving his dog, Brittany, was not a pit bull.
The American bulldog-boxer mix was seized and held by the city for three months before an independent veterinarian was able to determine it was not a pit bull.
“An animal control officer looked at her and said she was a pit bull. Then she was taken away from us.”
A few hundred people and dozens of muzzled pit bull-type dogs gathered at Coronation Park on Lake Shore Blvd. W. Sunday afternoon to protest Ontario’s ban on pit bulls and to demand the repeal of “breed specific legislation.”
The Dog Owner’s Liability Act was amended in 2005 to ban the breeding, sale and ownership of pit bulls. But since “pit bull” is not a specific breed of dog, the province’s definition includes pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and any dog “that has an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar” to those breeds, such as large heads, broad shoulders and muscular builds.
Dogs deemed pit bulls born before Nov. 26, 2005 are allowed to live, but must be sterilized, and muzzled and leashed in public. Any born after the ban took effect must be put down.
Once bylaw officers have identified a dog as fitting the province’s description of a pit bull, the onus is on owners to prove otherwise, which can be difficult if the dog was adopted from a shelter and its lineage is unknown.
Critics of the current law say its description of pit bulls is too vague, gives bylaw officers too much power and leads to harmless pets being removed from their homes and held at taxpayers’ expense. They want the province to go after bad owners, rather than target any specific breed.
“You can’t tell a dog’s breed by how it looks,” said Kelly Turnbull, a member of Stop K9 Profiling, the group that organized Sunday’s event.
After a series of legal challenges, the group contacted the MPP for Parkdale-High Park, Cheri DiNovo, who owns an English bull terrier herself. Earlier this year DiNovo tabled a private member’s bill calling for the repeal of the breed-specific aspect of the Dog Owner’s Liability Act.
Named “Hershey’s Bill” (for a pit bull that was barred from continuing its therapy work with seniors when the current law came into effect), Bill 60 received its first reading in the Legislature in May.
“This isn’t about the dog, it’s about the owner,” DiNovo said, adding the law has been ineffective in curbing the number of dog bites in the province.
A study by the Toronto Humane Society released earlier this year found that the number of dog bites in Ontario had changed little since the ban was put in place.
DiNovo said she would like to see more responsibility and liability for dog owners, without targeting specific breeds. She said the Dog Owner’s Liability Act would be more effective if it targeted all aggressive dogs and abusive owners equally.
The Ministry of the Attorney General stands behind the current law, saying it ensures fewer opportunities for pit bull attacks and its true impact cannot be measured in only five years.
One of the most anticipated speakers of the day was Bill Bruce, director of Calgary’s Animal Control Services, widely heralded for its education and training approach to animal control, which has drastically reduced the number of dog bites in Calgary without breed-specific by-laws.
“All dogs bite,” Bruce said. “I don’t care what kind of dog it is. If the dog is aggressive, it needs to be corrected.”
Bruce said the best way to do that is through education, proactive training, early intervention and stiff penalties for abusive owners.
Sunday’s rally was followed by a march along Queens Quay and a candlelight vigil at the Ontario Legislature to acknowledge all the pit bull-type dogs euthanized under the current legislation.
Please click here to read the original article online at thestar.com
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September 1, 2010
Thorncliffe Elementary School Kids
Visit The THS
 Yesterday the THS was pleased to host a visit from the kids from Thorncliffe Elementary School's summer program.
These inquisitive, fun-loving kids enjoyed visiting the cats in our Cat Sky House. They were also very interested in the African Grey Parrots, that are here visiting the THS as well, and are even learning to speak, thanks to some more lessons from the kids!
The THS is proud to host and teach school children about humane animal care and the workings of the shelter. The kids were certainly not short on questions, and when young children learn to love animals, it is something that carries with them for life. We are very happy to be a part of this learning process.
From everybody here at the shelter, (including the parrots!), we'd like to say a big "Thank you!" to the kids from Thorncliffe for their visit and love of animals. Thanks kids!!
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September 1, 2010
You are invited to a fundraising event being held for The Toronto Humane Society:
Cuban Dance Party
Monday, September 13, 2010 from 7:00 PM - 11:55 PM (ET)
The Boulevard Club, 1491 Lakeshore Boulevard West, Toronto, Ontario
Cuban Dance Party: A great way to end the Summer and help the animals at The Toronto Humane Society.
WATCH colourful Latin dance performances and then take in a salsa dance lesson
DANCE to the rhythm of Cafe Cubano, Toronto's best Cuban band.
ENJOY tasty hors d'oeuvres prepared by The Boulevard Club chef.
SIP a mojito on the patio overlooking Lake Ontario
You can dance the night away or relax at your table and enjoy the spectacle
Click here for more information or to purchase a ticket. |
