Santa, didn't you hear me last time?

A rerun from 2007.....how sad that nothing has changed.

=====================================================

Dear Santa:

I haven’t asked you for anything in a long while because I have so much.

Well, I have a BIG list this year.

I want all Ontario dog owners to be full citizens again. Not the second-class citizenship slapped onto dog owners of all breeds by the Ontario McGuinty Liberals, but full citizenship as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I want every dog owner to be free of fear of malicious persecution. I want every dog owner to be free of the fear that their dog will be seized and killed just because of its shape.

I want people to stop judging dogs and their owners by the shape of the dog. Judge by deed, not by breed.

I want government officials to properly and responsibly inform themselves, rather than relying on media reports and people with hidden agendas.

I want government officials to stop exercising their ambition on the backs of responsible dog owners and dead dogs.

I want the courts to take dog attacks seriously and impose severe penalties, because the owners must take responsibility for their dogs. Breed is irrelevant.

I want journalists to ignore their masters’ call for “more content, dammit, there must be more content!” and instead take the time to properly research their subject and educate the public.

I want dog and cat and ferret and rabbit and anyotheranimalorbird owners to WAKE UP to the fact that pet ownership is under siege. I want them to get involved, rather than sticking their heads in the sand (or snow).

I want people to spay/neuter their pet animals, because there’s no reason to breed while animals die in shelters and pounds. Breeding for money or through negligence (aka irresponsible ownership) is no way to ensure a loving forever home for the animal, and backyard breeding is no way to bring animals into this world.

I want twits who buy puppies and kittens from pet stores, to stop. I want the pet stores to stop selling puppies and kittens. Breeding for money is no way to ensure a loving forever home for the animal, and puppy and kitten milling is an abusive and criminal way to bring animals into this world.

I want all animals in shelters to find loving forever homes, with love, companionship, food, water, warmth and medical care for the rest of their lives.

I want animal welfare to be in the forefront of the news next year. Not animal rights, and puh-leese not Alec Baldwin or any other celebredope. If we are the advanced species we claim to be, we should be responsible for and act responsibly to improve the care and wellbeing of the other animals on the planet.

I want all dog owners who leave dogs out 365/24/7 to spend a few nights on the cold ground with no companionship, chained up and unable to move freely, sometimes without water and food. Let’s see how those owners like it when the tables are turned.

I want people who fight dogs to be put in the pits themselves, to fight to the death with bare hands. It could only improve the gene pool.

I want people who maliciously hurt animals to receive the same treatment, right down to death. Eye for an eye works for me.

I want people to stop thinking their cats should “roam free”. Give me their addresses, so I can drop their dead cat’s body on their doorstep when it’s been hit by a car, killed by another animal (including a sub-human), or died from disease.

I want the human species to get two brain cells, rub them together and start thinking. If we don’t, we are not what we claim to be.

Think you can fit that in the sleigh, Santa?

Regards, Social Mange

A trip to sorrow and sadness

Pound Dogs has just returned from a rescue run to Quebec, and has many pictures and a few words to explain the feelings it evoked.

Road Trip 1

Road Trip 2

Road Trip 3

Road Trip 4

Road Trip 5

Road Trip 6

Road Trip 7

Road Trip 8

Road Trip 9

Caveat has a chart you should really view....

And MPP Randy Hillier has a petition you should really sign....

So Ontario can be free of unfounded, unjust, vague, shoddy, ineffective and fiscally irresponsible statutory provisions....

So law-abiding dog owners are no longer legislated into second-class citizenship....

And so thousands of unoffending dogs are not killed solely because of their shape.

Tri-party introduction of Bill to end Ontario "breed" specific legislation!!!

A Bill was introduced in the Ontario Legislature today by MPP Randy HIllier, co-sponsored by NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo and Liberal MPP Kim Craitor, to repeal Onscario`s unfounded, unjust, ineffective and fiscally irresponsible `breed`specific legislation. My deepest thanks to these people for their intelligence and courage.

You can watch video of Mr. Hillier introducing the Bill here.

Ms. Di Novo, the originator of the Bill, Mr. Hillier and Mr. Craitor deserve thanks for putting aside their political differences to work towards repealing legislation that made second-class citizens of law-abiding people and killed thousands of unoffending dogs solely because of their shape. that made second-class citizens of law-abiding people and killed thousands of unoffending dogs solely because of their shape.

You rock!

Can`t wait for February 23, 2012 when the Bill will be debated in the Legislature.

Caveat bites Global TV - a provoked and well-deserved bite!

I see that Global TV has its head up its digital butt again...Caveat does a nice dissection of the nonsense Global tried to feed the public on dog bites.

I personally avoid Global News since they're so Liberal fixated, I don't trust their news.

On a happier note, Yvette Van Veen wrote a great article asking where is the data to prove the "pit bull" ban is working.

And on a sickening note, YesBiscuit! reported on a Harrisonburg, VA police officer who beat an injured cat to death with his baton. There aren't words.
Avoid Harrisonburg, VA if you value your life and the lives of your animals.

Readings for the strong of heart

YesBiscuit has the Rotary Club report on Memphis Animal Services, and it's ugly.

Dogs being sold out the back door for fighting, "supplies" (probably drugs) being sold out the back door, truly inhumane practices, management attempting to cover its fat, lazy butts by having the webcams (public scrutiny) removed...it's appalling.

Tennessee is ranking very low on my estimation of the percentage of human genes in its population.

===================================

Beyond the Myth was a smash. Brindle Stick has the details.

Brindle Stick also has a link to a great article on breed-specific legislation in Cottage Dog magazine authored by Selma Mulvey.

====================================

A couple has been sentenced to jail time for animal cruelty and a ten-year ban on owning an animal. Thank heavens, and bless the judge who imposed the sentence. This is a huge step forward in law vis-a-vis animal welfare.

==============================================

Good reading on the Ninth Life Cat Rescue blog. Had to laugh about some of the incidents that happen when one is in rescue/volunteering.

Beyond The Myth - Be there!

Media Contact Selma Mulvey
Phone: 519-449-9404 Email: selma@tdc.on.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Film to Make Canadian Premiere at Fox Theatre November 5th

[Toronto] Oct 19, 2011 The Dog Legislation Council of Canada, a not-for-profit corporation that has been at the forefront of fighting Ontario's dog ownership ban, is delighted to host the Canadian premiere of the documentary film Beyond the Myth on Saturday, November 5 at the Fox Theatre in Toronto.

The film—which has been screening across the U.S. to rave reviews and high praise—aims to educate the public about the discrimination unfairly placed on Pit Bull-type dogs and their owners, as well as underscore the ineffectiveness and harmful impact of breed specific laws. Beyond the Myth is a film about dogs commonly referred to as “pit bulls” and those who love and defend them. It intelligently explores the contributing factors behind the public’s fear of the dogs, and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed discriminatory laws. It investigates the myths associated with "pit bulls", challenges the idea that they are inherently vicious, and presents eye-opening research regarding the media’s role in influencing people’s opinion on dangerous dogs.

Libby Sherrill, the filmmaker and former producer for Home and Garden Television (HGTV), first decided to tackle the film as a grad student at the University of Tennessee. Three years later, her theme has been honed to reveal the perils of breed-specific legislation as carried out in three cities that ban "pit bull-type" dogs: Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati—along with San Francisco, which requires the animals to be spayed and neutered. Denver enforces their ban more stringently than most, killing more than 4,000 dogs since 1989.

Sherrill has poured energy into a film she hopes will bring about awareness to both the cruelty and ineffectiveness of Breed Specific Legislation, as well as debunk the myth that pit bulls are inherently more dangerous than other dogs. “I along with every major animal organization in this the U.S. who know something about dog behavior believe every dog, like every person, should be treated as an individual and given a legitimate chance for a great life with a responsible human”, says Sherrill.

General Admission is $10 with advanced tickets available at www.beyondthemythmovie.com

Beyond the Myth at the Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen Street East Saturday November 5th at 7 pm and Sunday November 6th at 4 pm.

Members of the media may attend for free. Please contact Selma Mulvey for more info.

Save Lennox

Beyond the Myth coming to Toronto November 5, 6th

From Brindlestick....you MUST buy your tickets in advance, this is going to be sold out fast.

The Dog Legislation Council of Canada, along with Cover Y'All Productions are pleased to announce the Premiere screening of Beyond the Myth November 5, 6th at Fox Theatre in Toronto.

Fox Theatre

2236 Queen Street East

Screenings
November 5, 2011 7:00 pm
November 6, 2011 4:00 pm

Tickets are $10.00

Purchase tickets here

Beyond the Myth is a film about 'pitbulls' and those who love and defend them. It explores the contributing factors behind the public's generalized fear of 'pitbulls' and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). It also investigates the myths associated with the breed and asks the question, what exactly is a 'pitbull'?


Viewers are taken on a journey to four U.S. cities where Breed Specific Legislation focusing on "pit bulls" has profoundly
impacted people and animals: Denver, Miami, Cincinnati, and San Francisco.


Beyond the Myth Canada Premiere is Sponsored by Soft-Pull Leashes and the Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC).

The documentary intelligently explores the contributing factors behind the public's generalized fear of "pit bulls", and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed discriminatory laws, commonly referred to as breed bans. It investigates the myths associated with these breeds, challenges the idea that they are inherently vicious, presents eye-opening research regarding the media's role in influencing people's opinion on dog attacks.

Both before and after the film you may mingle in the lobby with members from both organizations, purchase merchandise and pick up informational materials. Please plan to arrive early (doors open at 6pm Saturday and 3pm on Sunday) as we are expecting a large, possibly sold out crowd.

Stop spending on education in this province...

...because stupid can't be cured, and the voters of Ontario are obviously stupid to have put any Lie-beral back in office.

How appropriate for Thanksgiving weekend.
A bunch of turkeys back in Queen's Park.

Gonna go upchuck my cereal.
Again.

Upchucked my cereal again....

....because the Toronto Star just had to run an article about Michael Bryant's dating woes. In which he offhandedly references the Liberals' unfounded, unjust, vague, shoddy, ineffective and fiscally irresponsible"pit bull" legislation which has killed thousands of dogs and puppies and legislated law-abiding dog owners into second-class citizenship. If he's such a private citizen now, why is he always in the damm paper? If Bryant keeps showing up, I'm going to consider it open season on him, he's making himself a public figure.

Now, why the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is this puff piece appearing the day before the Ontario election?

Hmmm. Speculation time.

My thoughts....if the Ontario Liberals don't get a majority, McGuinty should step down as leader. Well, who then to lead? Does Michael Bryant want to get back in the saddle, take a seat from a backbencher (if there is one) and be anointed as party leader?

Is this why we can't escape Bryant's mug, always showing up in the papers?

What's your guess?

New Lie-beral tax a'coming....

I wasn't aware of this because I don't have a smart meter....read the Ottawa Citizen September 22 and September 21 .

"Ontario homeowners can expect to see another fee added to their hydro bills in 2012 as the province begins billing for the costs associated with rolling out and maintaining millions of smart meters."
"The fee has already been approved by the Liberal government, who introduced the smart meter initiative in 2007."

Remember Mr. No-New-Taxes McGuinty on Thursday, October 6th and reward him accordingly.

This is the only question you need to ask yourself...

...before voting on October 6th in Ontario.

Are you better off now than you were eight years ago?

I certainly am not, and here's why.

1. I and thousands of other law-abiding dog owners were legislated into second-class citizenship by the McGuinty Liberals. Solely for optics.

2. Despite raises and bonuses (I have a wonderful employer), I am not as well off financially as I was eight years ago due to new/increased provincial taxes imposed by and increased electricity costs caused by the McGuinty Liberals.

3. I see no respite from the crippling tax burden caused and imposed by the McGuinty Liberals since they have spent Ontario into a huge f*cking hole (think eHealth, Ontario Lottery Corp, Children's Aid, Municipal Property Assessment Corp., Ontario Power Generation, out of control Sunshine List, Cancer Care Ontario, unsolicited and undocumented grants to special interest groups, 25% MPP pay raises, lawsuits for cancelled projects, the Mississauga and Oakville power plant debacles, the green energy debacle, funding transexual surgery but crapping out on autistic kids, the nursing home mess, the health care mess) and wasted billions of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars.

4. The provincial debt is now in excess of $236 Billion Dollars. That's $236,300,000,000.00.

Think about where you stood financially, legally and medically eight years ago, and where you are today.

That will tell you how to vote on October 6th.

Just because the Saudis sabre rattled at a CANADIAN broadcaster....

...and the broadcaster, CTV, has caved (more on that later)....

I present with pleasure the EthicalOil.org advertisement.



Take it viral, make it universal.

Argue amongst yourselves about ethical vis-a-vis oil, the oilsands, the environment, blah blah. Enjoy your right to free speech while you can.

What enrages me right now is the attempt of a foreign body to muzzle Canadians.

More on all this later...my head is about to explode. I really, really want to know what Canadian law firm took on the job of interfering with the Canadian Charter right to free speech.

In the meantime....

I exercise my right to NOT watch CTV until it grows a pair and runs the ad.

Afterthought:

Anyone remember when in 2004 McGuinty wanted to put shari'a law into Ontario law? Until (as rumour has it) a few female cabinet ministers finally stood on their hind legs and said "Nay"?

A quote from then has McGuinty saying, “There will be one law for all Ontarians”. Well, he's just full of it, since he and his government legislated thousands of law-abiding dog owners into second-class citizenship based not on their actions but on the appearance of property they own - their dogs.

CTV, McGuinty and Ontario Fiberals:
I divorce thee.
I divorce thee.
I divorce thee.

Let's hope it sticks with McGuinty and his Fibs.

TAS not out of the woods, and tie-ins

First, thoughts on the Quebec puppy mill bust.

Then, a plea from TAS to adopt cats and kittens as they are swamped.

Then, the e-mail message from Animal Alliance about the continuing threat to TAS (at the end due to length.

================================================================

1. Pound Dogs has quite a bit of information on the big Quebec puppy mill bust this week.

These dogs will need loving foster homes to acclimate them to life "on the outside" and loving permanent homes to erase the years of suffering. Many may be dispersed to GTA shelters and rescues. Please find it in your heart to give a puppy mill dog the best chance for a good life.

Adopt, don't shop.

==========================================================
2. Toronto Animal Services South has many lovely cats and kittens for adoption. Please think about giving a cat or kitten a loving forever home.

The shelter can also use donations of canned cat food, any brand. You can drop it off at the shelter, Exhibition Place, seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

=======================================================

3. From Animal Alliance

I am writing to update you on the status of Toronto Animal Services. The City’s Core Service Review has been completed and the City Manager held a press conference on September 12 to release the results of the report. The information below provides you with a summary of recommendations affecting Toronto Animal Services as a result of the Review.

Positive aspects of the report: There are two good news items in the City Manager’s report. The first is that Toronto Animal Services is recognized as a core city service. As a result, the City Manager’s only standing recommendation to the Executive Committee being held on Monday September 19^th, 2011 is to eliminate animal pick-up and delivery of owner-surrendered animals except in emergency situations (exact wording below). The second is the inclusion by the City Manager of the recommendations from the Licensing and Standards Committee (see Appendix A) to improve the licensing of dogs and cats in the City and to work with the community as to how improvements might be achieved.

Negative aspects of the report: In Appendix E, the City Manager leaves open the possibility of privatization when he recommends the following: “Request the City Manager to review the remaining efficiency related opportunities as set out in Appendix E, to determine whether and in what manner implementation is appropriate through the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Operating Budget.” But, in the same chart, he acknowledges that there are four significant challenges if privatization of part or all of Toronto Animal Services was considered. The challenges include:

• loss of internal control resulting in a challenge to mitigate public response if service levels drop;
• no business or organization in Toronto currently has capacity to take on animal care and enforcement delivery;
• no other organization currently has a bylaw enforcement capacity relative to animal well-being; and
• the City would need to establish a mechanism to manage risk associated with third-party enforcement.

In addition, the proposed 10% across the board cuts to all services will dramatically affect Toronto Animal Services. While there is not a direct correlation, 10% reduction in funds will result in higher euthanasia rates in the City shelters and this is not acceptable. So we recommend that TAS face no budget cuts because the resulting impact of more animals dying will be greater than the savings realized from the 10% cuts.

What we need you to do: We need you to continue to pressure the Mayor and Members of Council to make sure that Toronto Animal Services is protected throughout this service review process which will continue for several months.

I have included a sign-on letter that you can send to the Mayor and Members of Council. However, it would be more powerful if you use the information to draft a letter of your own.

Thank you so much for your help in protecting Toronto’s animals by protecting Toronto Animal Services.

Please feel free to call me or Lia Laskaris for any advice. And if you could, please sign up to depute at the City Executive this Monday. Contact: Frances Pritchard, 10th floor, West Tower, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

email: exc@toronto.ca, phone: 416-392-6627 fax: 416-392-1879.

Sincerely,

Liz White

*** Sign-on Letter Below ***

Dear Mayor and Members of the City Executive Committee and Council,

I am writing to urge you to ensure the protection of Toronto Animal Services (TAS) and the animals in its care.

I was very pleased to see that the City Manager recognized TAS as a core service and highlighted the need to determine the emergency situations in which owner surrendered animal might have to be picked up by the City.

In addition, I was pleased with the City Manager’s inclusion of the recommendations from the Licensing and Standards Committee that would improve the licensing of dogs and cats in the City and that would facilitate community involvement as to how improvements might be achieved.

I oppose the recommendation in Appendix E, where the City Manager leaves open the possibility of privatization when he recommends the following: “Request the City Manager to review the remaining efficiency related opportunities as set out in Appendix E, to determine whether and in what manner implementation is appropriate through the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Operating Budget.” However, I was pleased to note that he acknowledges that there are four significant challenges to the privatization of part or all of TAS, including the loss of internal control resulting in a challenge to mitigate public response if service levels drop, that no business or organization in Toronto currently has the capacity to take on animal care and enforcement delivery, that no other organization currently has a bylaw enforcement capacity relative to animal well-being, and that the City would need to establish a mechanism to manage risk associated with third-party enforcement.

In addition, I oppose the 10% budget cut to TAS services. Any reduction in funds will result in higher euthanasia rates in the City shelters and this is not acceptable. The TAS budget should remain intact because the resulting impact of more animals dying will be greater than the savings realized.

Sincerely,

Signature

Name

Address

City Postal Code

Date

*** Core Service Review - Report ***

Core Service Review

Final Report to Executive Committee

(EX10-1) September 19, 2011

Areas of the report affecting Toronto Animal Services

Appendix A: Positive recommendations in the report (from Appendix A, Final Report, pgs 10-11):

“Additionally, the Licensing and Standards Committee established the Problem Property Sub-Committee on June 29, 2011 to implement a cooperative, multi-jurisdictional, community approach in identifying and referring problem areas to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.

b) The possibility of expanding animal licensing in Toronto.

c) The possibility of updating an online licensing system.

d) The possibility of maximizing online donations to Toronto Animal Services.

f) The feasibility of requiring micro-chipping of dogs and cats as a requirement of licensing.

g) A review of pet licensing options, including the option of a lifetime licensing system to replace the current annual licensing fee, with micro-chipping dogs and cats as a requirement.

The Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards will undertake a review of animal licensing including recommendations from the Licensing and Standards Committee and report back in 2012. Enhancements to the E-Pet system and the Municipal Licensing and Standards case management system are being reviewed and will be submitted for consideration through the 2012 Capital Budget.

e) The possibility of establishing an animal services sub-committee of the Licensing and Standards Committee.

A Council Reference Group for Animal Services was established by City Council at its July 15, 2008 meeting to provide advice to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards on the development and implementation of a strategic plan for Toronto Animal Services. The Reference Group included four Council members appointed on the recommendation of the Striking Committee. The Reference Group completed its mandate and City Council determined not to re-establish the Reference Group for the 2010-2014 term at its May 17 and 18, 2011 meeting.”

Appendix E: Leaves open the option in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for privatization possibilities.

#	Service	KPMG Opportunity	Implications	Recommended Action
50	Municipal Licensing and Standards	Consider outsourcing some or all of animal care and enforcement delivery.	Loss of internal control will make it a challenge to mitigate public response if service levels drop. No business or organization in Toronto currently has capacity to take on animal care and enforcement delivery. No other organization currently has a bylaw enforcement capacity relative to animal well-being. Additionally, the City would need to establish a mechanism to manage risk associated with third-party enforcement.	Request the City Manager to review the remaining efficiency related opportunities as set out in Appendix E, to determine whether and in what manner implementation is appropriate through the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Operating Budget

Liberal leadership = oxymoron

When I think of Liberal leadership in Ontario, I think....

Bullship.

'Nuff said.

Read Blowharder for the reason a day until the election that McSquinty and Minions should not be re-elected.

Follow the 50 reasons why the Ontario Lie-berals must go!

Keep up with them on Brindle Stick....already up to 10 and going through to Election Day!

An interesting twist of fate...

After talking about puppies and puppy mills (and kitten mills, which do exist)....

For those of you with HBO (apparently not in Canada, write and call HBO and ask why, 1-877-HBO-5551 or the contact page here)....

You might want to watch Madonna of the Mills, about a woman who rescues puppy mill dogs that are "used up" and can't breed anymore (therefore, can't produce money and are killed).

Hat tip to Pet Connection.

PJ's Pets to stop selling puppies...and...

PJ's Pets is a national chain of Canadian pet stores (known as Pets Unlimited in the Maritimes). I must admit that I haven't been in one in years because they sell puppies. And kittens.

Make that "sold", partially. PJ's Pets has announced that their stores will no longer sell puppies.

This is a good thing. A very, very good thing and I applaud them.
As is PJ's announcement that they will partner with shelters and rescues to promote adoption. Again, a very, very good thing.

The stores will, however, continue to sell kittens.

The thing that’s keeping me up about this…well, several things.

What will happen to the puppies currently "in stock" at the stores?

What will happen to all the puppy mill dogs that are no longer ATMs for the despicable owners? Will there be shelters and rescues full of those unsocialized and potentially unadoptable dogs? Or will these poor dogs just be shot and dumped in a ditch, or just dumped? Who will deal with the aftermath of the years of puppy milling?

N.B. PJ's news release says (which I missed because of bad eyesight), "Pets Unlimited had stopped selling puppies in all of its stores earlier this year, while PJ's Pets will wind down sales by September 1st. Between now and October 1^st, PJ's will be working with their private kennels to help find adoptive homes for their breeding dogs and any remaining puppies." Ummm, how many breeding dogs? How many remaining puppies? Is this being done with rescue and shelter partners?

When will PJ’s stop selling kittens, stop keeping them in fishbowl cages, work with rescues and shelters to get the kittens properly socialized in foster homes before adoption?

I know. I'm a spoilsport, or a doom 'n gloomer, or something like that. Maybe PJ's will have to take one step at a time, rather than going the whole nine yards.

PJ's - C'mon. You can do it. I have faith.

Let's go for the whole nine yards.

Then, let's go kick butt and close down the disguised millers and the backyard breeders on Craigslist and Kijiji.

YO, Mayor Ford! What are you doing on September 30th?

Here is a session that the Mayor and all city councillors as well as TAS management should attend.

Shelter Reform expert Bill Bruce is coming to downtown T.O. on September 30th!

Event Information: On Friday, September 30th, ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals will be hosting a special event featuring an exciting lecture by Calgary’s Director of Animal Services and Bylaws, Bill Bruce, at the Intercontinental Hotel’s Portman Room at 220 Bloor Street West.

Perhaps the most prominent example of successful animal services reform in Canada can be found in the accomplishments of Bill Bruce and his team at the Calgary Animal Control. When Mr. Bruce took over a struggling animal shelter for a city with over one million residents, he developed and implemented a reform program which lead to phenomenal success in a short period of time. In addition to no limit by-laws and no breed-specific legislation, Calgary currently boasts high licensing compliance rates for both dogs and cats, returns the majority of lost pets to owners, and has substantially lower euthanasia rates than any other pound in Canada.

On September 30th, Mr. Bruce will happily provide a wealth of proven examples and information to local animal caring politicians, pound managers, advocates, veterinarians and anyone willing to participate in actively helping to stop this complacent killing of animals in Greater Toronto Area shelters.

Everyone is cordially invited to attend!

DATE: Friday, September 30, 2011
LOCATION: Intercontinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel, Portman Room, 220 Bloor Street West, Toronto Ontario M5S 1T8 Canada
TIME: 7:00 PM
Tickets are $11.30 (tax included). Advance sale only. Call 416-726-5762 to purchase. ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals

http://ora-animalsrescue.org/

by: ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals

Finally, MSM coverage of the fight to save Toronto Animal Services

Toronto Star covered it, read it here.

If you haven't already, please sign the petition to save TAS.


Completely unrelated:

FrogDogBlog has one of the cutest photos I've ever seen, with great captions. Check it out.

Great overview of the City Hall Pajama Party

Laura at Feathers, Fur & The Occasional Fang gave a deputation at the marathon City of Toronto Executive Committee session on July 27-28, read her post about the event here. Great summation of the political nonsense, Ford and his minions being very rude to deponents.

Makes you wonder if Ford & Co. have taken a page from the McGuinty Fiberals playbook - have everybody in so they can say "you got to speak and we listened", then do precisely as they planned, regardless of the facts.

Enquiring minds want to know....

...when the manufacturer of Red Bull is going to pony up some cash for all the free advertising in the articles about the July 27-28 City of Toronto Executive Committee meeting. It didn't feel like journalism, it felt like product placement.

And Red Bull? Donate it to Toronto Animal Services, okay?

Toronto Animal Services - Preliminary decision is out and it sounds very bad for the animals.

Update: The Ford Nation is apparently not a democracy and citizens' voices are not welcome. Sounds like our Charter right to free speech is curtailed in Toronto.

Councillor Doug Ford (brother of Mayor Rob Ford) on a citizen exercising her right to free speech - "She’s not down here, she’s not dealing with the problem. Tell her to go run in the next election and get democratically elected. And we’d be more than happy to sit down and listen to Margaret Atwood.”

See? Ya gotta be a politician to get Doug to listen. Citizens don't count. Who else in City Hall has that attitude?

=========================================

And if anyone has the time to connect the dots in this document, please let me know what the h*ll it says. Why are government documents never written in plain English? Insurance policies are, surely to God someone at the City can write in English.

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2011.LS6.1

I have a BIG question. I picked up this link with the preliminary decision at 5 p.m. Toronto time and it may have been up before that. At exactly what time did the Committee meeting end?

===========================================================

Everyone I've talked to has the impression that there is a pre-ordained decision to scrap TAS.

IF SO, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Got the following from a friend today. It's time to get loud. Polite, respectful and LOUD. We've got to be heard.
For the animals.

========================================

Please read/educate yourself/crosspost and see at the bottom, how you can help.

Toronto City Council is very seriously proposing basically scrapping Toronto Animal Services ('TAS') and privatizing the services. Why should you care? It's important we all understand the repercussions if this goes through.

Taken from https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Toronto-Animal-Services/205537276161749?sk=info

WHAT EXACTLY DOES TAS DO?

* TAS is a city service responsible for enforcing animal-related bylaws in Toronto.

* Pick up injured animals and provide either veterinary care or humane euthanasia

* Pick up dead wild/domestic animals

* Accept surrendered or stray animals and shelter them; if a dog or cat is deemed available for adoption, they are spayed/neutered, microchipped, dewormed, treated for fleas, vaccinated and licensed

* Run four animal shelters that adopt out animals In 2010, just ONE of these shelters adopted out:

391 dogs

287 small animals

1029 cats

* Provide low-cost euthanasia to the public

* Reunite lost pets with owners

* Deal with animal-related complaints

* Work with local rescues to place certain animals in a more appropriate environment

* Operate a spay/neuter clinics for cats

* Provide Dog Bite Prevention programs to elementary schools

* Respond to animal-related complaints such as dog bites

SO WHY SHOULDN'T TORONTO CONTRACT OUT ANIMAL SERVICES?

* There is no accountability when a private company runs animal services.

* A for-profit company has very different motivations than a city shelter or private rescue. It is ALWAYS cheaper to kill animals than to shelter them, provide vet care and adopt them out. It is also ALWAYS cheaper to kill them improperly, causing pain and fear.

If a shelter provides proper care, veterinary services and community outreach, it cannot be a for-profit model.

* Contracting animal services out to a for-profit company has lead to disaster in Montreal. There, the city had an agreement with a private pound, Berger-Blanc, and recently footage of horrific abuse and neglect.

Read about the horrors at Berger-Blanc here (a CBC news report - graphic in nature):

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/04/20/montreal-animal-pound-euthanasia.html

The Montreal SPCA's reaction:

http://www.spcamontreal.com/media1.php?lg=en&id=83

You can see the documentary yourself here (very graphic - be prepared):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5NmSTakew4

Note that at Berger Blanc:

- Killing was done improperly, in the cheapest way possible.

- Very few adoptions occurred.

- Very few lost animals were reunited with owners.

- Veterinary care was not provided.

- Employees administered injections rather than veterinary technicians.

* Now many Montreal citizens want the city to take over animal control - but once it's been contracted out, the city won't have the resources or ability to take on that huge responsibility! That's why we have to keep TAS public while we still have the chance!

CAN YOU HELP TODAY?

* Write to your city councillor and let them know that TAS is important to you SEE HERE FOR YOUR CITY COUNCILLOR: http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp

* Spread the word to your friends, families and neighbours!

* You can sign the petition to keep TAS and stop it's privatization http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/savetas/

* For more information/background go to the following sources:

http://iwantapounddog.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-toronto-animal-services-on-chopping.html

http://iwantapounddog.blogspot.com/2011/07/if-toronto-animal-services-turns-into.html