Brampton, Ontario has been added to the latest edition of the trying to kill some dogs for no reason club.
Officials in Brampton seized two dogs, Rambo (Left) and Brittany (below left - both pictures) from their homes say thing ""rambo had been confirmed to be a pit bull by his parentage as well as the characteristics as defined in the city of Brampton Dog By-law..."
Uh, ok. But Rambo looks to me to be purebred Boxer -- and Brittany, well, a mixed breed dog of some type. They are siblings, so likely Brittany is at least half Boxer. Both dogs were licenced by the city, and ID'd at the vet, as Boxer/American Bulldog mixes.
Now they reside on death row at the city shelter under Ontario's Breed ban that bans 'pit bulls'.
Neither dog did anything wrong -- neither escaped. Neither has acted aggressively. Neither even had a complaint filed against them. But now, two dogs that were part of families are tearing up these families.
Now, 75 year old Maria Gaspar, Rambo's owner, is in tears every time she talks about her dog.
"Now I no have dog, I no have money, I no have nothing...it's not fair." (Editor's note: English is not Gaspar's first language, so forgive her sentence structure).
Brampton's situation is just another in a long list of problems Ontario's Breed Ban has caused. London, Ontario continues to get calls about people who are fearful of 'pit bull'...however, officials say they've really not had any problems with 'pit bulls', only people who fear them and are calling in complaints about other types of dogs being 'pit bulls'. Pit bull complaints make up about 20% of the calls animal control there responds too...even though most of the cases end up being mistaken breed ID. Ottawa's second largest city, Ottawa, has long since decided to quit enforcing the ban in the provence because of problems with breed identification.
The case in Brampton represents basically everything that is wrong with breed specific ordinances:
1) Breed identification is not easy -- particularly for mixed breed dogs - (coupled with the reality that many animal control officers lack the basic training to even tell a pure-bred Boxer from a 'pit bull'.
2) Most of the people affected by breed specific laws are not criminals and gang-bangers -- most are good people, good members of society, often senior citizens, who are having a family member ripped from their home.
3) BSL is such a huge waste of taxpayer money by spending animal control resources, kenneling spaces, and legal services time defending the law by focusing so many resource on dogs that WERE NOT A PROBLEM. No bites. No aggressive activity. No complaints. No running at large. And yet a huge amount of city resources are being used on these dogs instead of actually focusing on dogs that are a legitimate problem.
4) Why would taxpayers WANT to fund this type of activity in their government?
For more info on the Brampton Case:
Social Mange - the Backwater of Brampton Strikes Again
One Bark At A Time - Brampton Animal Control Wants to Kill Senior's Dog
Brindle Stick - Brampton Situation Tidbits and Brampton Animal Control is At It Again.
To sign the petition to save the dogs, go here.
And by all means, if you live in Ontario, please support Cheri DiNovo's proposed bill that would eradicate BSL from Ontario.
If anyone knows an org on the ground in CN that is helping Maria find a lawyer please post. Someone needs to help her get a lawyer and people can help her with the costs.
Posted by: MichelleD | February 02, 2010 at 11:44 AM
This just puts a "pit" in my stomach every time I read about these types of incidents as I know it could happen to me, except that I am fortunate to live in an area that I don't believe would institute an all-out breed ban.
It is so outrageous as to be unbelievable that in this day and age our pets can be confiscated in this manner and that it continues despite all the information out there as to how wrong it is. What is wrong with officials? I intend on writing letters and signing petitions, that's for sure.
Posted by: Jennifer Brighton | February 02, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Yes, breed ID is hard.
Except when it isn't.
Like when a dog is an obvious boxer.
Posted by: H Houlahan | February 02, 2010 at 01:43 PM
MAYBE I NEED TO MOVE TO OTTAWA IN FEAR OF MY BOXER/AMERICAN BULLDOG BEING TAKEN.....
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=278698079924#/group.php?gid=168292380876&ref=ts
Posted by: Another Pissed off Brampton Resident | February 02, 2010 at 04:38 PM
I did find out that these people have lawyers and execution day has been delayed. No word yet on if they need donations.
Posted by: MichelleD | February 02, 2010 at 05:37 PM
If this doesn't make BSL proponent's intention to kill as many dogs as possible plain, no matter their breed, what does?
And why are the mainstream media aiding and abetting them with their refusal to print/air the facts?
Posted by: Karen | February 02, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Not to mention that Rambo was licensed by the CITY for two consecutive years as a Boxer/American Bulldog Mix. Thanks for posting this.
Posted by: DogsDeserveFreedom | February 03, 2010 at 01:18 PM
Is that boxer definitely Rambo? It looks a lot like Brittany's owner's other dog (who appears to not have been seized): http://www.globaltoronto.com/video/index.html?releasePID=O_6smQwFIHU08OrHjCmI34p_5ptqdAs4
Posted by: Lori | February 04, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Growl!
Posted by: Cynthia Pearman | February 04, 2010 at 12:16 PM
What happened today? where your dogs returned back to you? Everyone, including myself, have prayed for them and your family!
Posted by: Chella | February 05, 2010 at 04:57 PM
Check out the great turnout for the BramHell protest, on a freezing cold day!!!
http://socialmange.blogspot.com/2010/02/great-turnout-for-bramhell-protest.html
Posted by: Social Mange | February 06, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Hi Lori
That is Rambo.
Here's another picture
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/article/604813--dog-fight-headed-to-court
Posted by: Angie | February 07, 2010 at 01:18 PM
I think for those people who had been associated with the BSL must be thinking of that the stories of the Rambo and Brittany were not that serious until some of the legal action were taken against there conduct,its really harassing and not tolerable at all.
Posted by: french mastiff | February 10, 2010 at 05:16 AM
Another waste of Brampton tax dollars. 2010 is an election year, time to vote some of these idiots out, starting with the mayor on down.
Posted by: apollo | February 10, 2010 at 02:28 PM
Once these people win their case we will have to concentrate on having BSL bill 132 recinded. Maybe we should just shock most Canadian by printing pictures of piles of dead pitbulls because of hysteria. And let the public know that none of those dogs ever hurt anybody and had good homes. We need to have children tell how much killing their dog affected them. People normally pay attention to children.
Posted by: Gisele Baka | February 19, 2010 at 09:36 AM
I rememebr recieving an email sometime back abotu something similar i think in England?? They were not even willing to allow the dogs to be placed in another state that had no ban as there was rescue willing to take them. I'm not sure what ever happened with that :(
But i guess there are ill eduacted people on dog breeds in other back-yards also:(
HOw rediculous!!
That is bunch of BS... saying he is pit -confirmed by DNA.ANyone can look and see he is a BOXER. I can't tell anyone how many times working in rescue that shelters will list dogs as certain breeds that are no where what they are!! But info on paper... doesn't make them who they are either! - I'd like to see that paperwork & tests!!! as an owner / their owner i'd be asking. I know there is a USA DNA site that you can request a DNA kit and they will test it for dog breeds- wonder if there is someone/ somewhere local that can help with that. Just found this link for the same company who is doing it in Canada now also. Please read for anyone who wants info- even to test your own dog,
http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=414
ANd even if they were- iT SAYS NOTHING OF THEM COMING AFTER THE BAN ????- I hope they were there before the law came into effect.
It is rediculus to target a dog- based on its breed OF ANY KIND . I have met more little dogs that were MORE TROUBLESOME dangerous than others.
Why does the AC not work with the owners to find a solution. Muzzles- even as horrid as that is for no reason!!- if that isn't an option- allowing rescue in another location who has no ban to take them! I would rather see my babies be safe with that as a last alternate than being euth! I am liking my pack more each day than these indiviuals that think they are dealing with an issue !
Anyone please post any current info on where things stand!
All my fingers & furry paws are crossed for them!
Posted by: R. | February 21, 2010 at 11:07 PM