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Ginger’s Case Goes Back to Court

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Ginger with her owner, Phillip Huggins

Ginger with her owner, Phillip Huggins

Lee Ann O’Reilly sends us news on the on going court case to save the life of Ginger, a Pit Bull who was attacked (while on leash and muzzled) by another dog in a Toronto Park. Unbelievably, it is Ginger (yes, the dog who was attacked) that is facing a destruction order by the City of Toronto.

A Toronto Star news story outlines the basics of the case:

Ginger’s misfortune began Nov. 29, 2005.

“My mother took her out for a 6 a.m. walk in the park,” said owner Philip Huggins, 28, a truck driver for a graphics firm. “Ginger (a 69-pound dog) was muzzled and leashed. Another dog (Buddy, a 45-pound dog) ran over to her and started sniffing her. The dog bit, and went and tore (Ginger’s) left ear, then ripped off her muzzle.” Ginger bit the dog back, then bit its owner, court documents show.

“Clearly she (Ginger) bit. The question was whether she was defending herself against another dog or whether she was the aggressor,” said Ruby, who got involved in the case two weeks ago, encouraged by a member of the Banned Aid Coalition, a group opposed to Ontario’s pit bull ban. Ginger was ordered held in custody by a justice of the peace in December 2005 and remained at a Toronto Animal Services shelter while her case wound through the courts.

From LeeAnn O’Reilly and the DLCC:

This is a pivotal case.

It will clarify exactly what the rights are for ALL DOG owners, the power of any Animal Control officer to enforce the regulations. It challenges reverse onus and the intent of the law.

This case along with many others is why the DLCC is struggling to pay off our outstanding debts, left when the constitutional challenge was turned down. We need to win this case and others. We need to get the various regulations of DOLA , challenged once again in the lower courts to reopen the door to repealing this barbaric law.

The DLCC is not able to fund this case, but we immediately offered our help to get the word out there that Ginger needs US.

October 25 2010

“Law abiding citizens are not being targeted by the ban”.

– Former Attorney General for Ontario, Michael Bryant

On November 29, 2005, while Phillip’s Mother was walking Ginger, leashed and muzzled, in a Toronto park, Ginger was savagely attacked by an …unleashed dog.

So savage was the attack on Ginger, that Buddy tore Ginger’s muzzle off and inflicted severe injuries to both Phillip’s mom and Ginger. Ginger now has permanent damage to her left eye.

Buddy’s owner walked away VIRTUALLY scott free.

Ginger wasn’t so lucky. The City of Toronto Animal Control Officers seized Ginger illegally, without warrant or consent of Ginger’s owner.

Within hours, a ‘destruction’ order was placed on Ginger’s life while Phillip was charged with 3 counts under DOLA. Prosecutors attempted to strike a deal with Phillip, offering to drop all charges if he ‘ simply ‘ handed over Ginger to be killed. Phillip would have nothing to do with it and said he would fight to the end.

Ginger spent 3 ½ years incarcerated simply for defending herself and Phillip’s mother.

As a result of the charges and the battle in court, Phillip lost his job, ended up on welfare and now suffers with depression.

Out of money and time, Clayton Ruby, an established Human Rights lawyer, took over the case. He knew the City of Toronto was wrongfully holding Ginger in the pound. Within days, Clayton Ruby went before a judge and Ginger was released back to her loving home until the next court date.

Despite a ruling which allowed Ginger to be free, the City of Toronto was granted an appeal on the ruling.

Phillip is yet again scheduled to appear in court again on October 25, 2010 at The Court of Appeals for Ontario Ginger is still at risk of losing her life.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
As a result of the city of Toronto being granted an appeal, it is costing a lot more than what was anticipated.

If Phillip doesn’t raise the funds, he may lose his appeal, and Ginger will lose her life.

He has come this far, but if he stops now the city will be granted the destruction order and Ginger will be destroyed.

Your financial help is all that stands between an innocent dog and death.

Go to www.dlcc.ca to donate

or

Please send payment in trust for Ginger to:

Ruby and Shiller
11 Prince Arthur Ave,
Toronto, On
M5R 1B2

LeeAnn O’Reilly, Pres.DLCC
president@dlcc.ca
www.dlcc.ca
“Fighting ignorance since 2003..it’s taking longer than we thought.”

Judging Videos, Purina National Dog Show 2010

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Best-Of-Breed-French-Bulldog-Judging

As promised, here are the judging videos from the 2010 Purina National Dog Show, in Toronto, Ontario. This is the Saturday, March 13th judging.

Just as a reminder, the results on Saturday were:

Saturday French Bulldog Judging Results, Judge Joe Walton

BOB/BP – Ch Petite Cherie Savoir Faire At Foxmoor
BOS – Ch. FOXMOOR LE JOUET PETITE CHERIE
WD, BOW – Bullmarket Absolut Darkly Dexter
RWD – Shore Lookin Good
WB – Shore This Is It
RWB – Bullmarket Absolut Padme

Group – Ch Petite Cherie Savoir Faire At Foxmoor, Group 4, BPIG

The rest of the results are here, and the videos are after the cut. They are split into three videos – bitches, dogs and best of breed.

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Distemper Outbreak in Toronto’s Wildlife

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Raccoon nests like this one inside homes can spread Canine Distemper

Raccoon nests inside homes can spread Canine Distemper

An outbreak of distemper has killed off hundreds of Toronto’s raccoons and skunks – and has put dogs at risk.

From the Toronto Star –

If you see a raccoon lying on a sidewalk in the middle of the day, call Toronto Animal Services – and keep your dog on a tight leash.

The animal is likely sick and dying, and could infect your pet with a lethal strain of distemper, an epidemic that has killed hundreds of raccoons and skunks in the GTA since May.

“It’s not transferable to humans but there is definitely a high risk to unvaccinated cats and dogs,” said Eletta Purdy, manager of Toronto Animal Services. “It’s not rabies but it kills quickly.”

Distemper is a highly contagious, highly lethal virus. The same virus affects dogs, skunks, ferrets, weasels, raccoons and possibly opossums.

It’s hugely irresponsible to not use the readily available, virtually risk free distemper vaccination to protect your pets from distemper. Prior to the invention of the canine distemper vaccine in the 1960’s, distemper ravaged thousands of kennels world wide, wiping out entire lines. A trip to the dog show could result in the death of all of a breeder’s puppies, and sometimes their older dogs, as well.

Advocates of no vaccinations often argue that it is only puppies with weak immune systems who develop viruses like distemper. They point to raw feeding and homeopathic remedies as a method to prevent and cure distemper. Raccoons and skunks are hardly surviving on a diet of take out food, and yet they still are highly susceptible to distemper.

The other argument made by no vaccine advocates is that their puppies only end up contracting distemper when  they come into contact with other puppies which have received the distemper vaccine, and are ‘shedding’ the virus. Ignoring the fact that modern distemper vaccines are made from killed forms of the virus, it’s an incontrovertible fact that any puppy not living in a bubble stands a good chance of encountering a raccoon, a fox or a skunk, even in the most urban environment. Your dog doesn’t even have to have a face to face run in with a wild animal to become infected with distemper – it can be spread via feces of infected animals just as easily (and who among us hasn’t seen our dogs snuffling up something gross and unknown on our daily walks?).

Please, get your dogs and puppies vaccinated. It’s such a simple preventative, for such a horrible disease.

D’oh! A Deer…

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What happens when a frightened young doe wanders out of her usual range, and into the heart of downtown Toronto?

We call a dozen cops from the Emergency Task Force.

From the National Post:

Toronto Police Force Takes Down Dangerous Criminal. Criminal Deer.

Toronto Police Force Takes Down Dangerous Criminal. Criminal Deer.

Start with a dozen police constables. Add another dozen police from the Emergency Task Force in grey jumpsuits and bulletproof vests — armed with dart guns, Tasers and a big sort of fishing net — plus two vans from Animal Services and a senior veterinarian from the Toronto Zoo. Give them four hours: they will get the job done.

A busy street near Toronto City Hall bristled with these armed men this morning — all focused on a tiny plot of grass, trees and hedges next to a 15-storey building of medical labs, optometrists and dentists.

There sat a doe, two to three years old, about 90 kilograms. She turned her head from side to side, her pointed dark brown ears filled with the roar of the city. Around the deer fluttered yellow crime scene tape, tied from stop signs to bicycle locking rings. Ten photographers and TV cameramen trained their lenses on her.

The Globe and Mail mentioned that a few people were surprised at the amount of fire power on the scene.

One welder at a construction site across the street from the building, who didn’t want to be named, said the scene was startling at first.

“With the police there and the [ETF], I thought it was a bomb threat,” he said. “You think it’s pretty big. But then you hear ‘it’s a deer, it’s a deer.’”

But, hey – it’s not like they over reacted or anything. These are ferocious, wild creatures we’re dealing with here. Just ask Toronto Police Sergeant Winston Bennett.

“He’s a wild animal. Fairly big, fairly large. If it runs and hits a pedestrian, that’s something we need to think about.”

No sense taking chances when you’re dealing with a wild animal with this much potential for destruction, which totally explains the police response –

Dangerous Criminal Hides in Bushes

Dangerous Criminal Hides in Bushes

Around 11:30 a.m. ET, officers from the task force held up nets near where the deer had settled. With help from a veterinarian from the Toronto Zoo, it was shot with a tranquilizer gun. After being hit by the dart, the animal rose up and rushed into the street, approaching some of the officers.

That’s when an ETF officer tasered the animal, bringing it to the ground. Police and animal control officers surrounded the deer and trapped it in one of the nets. The deer, which wasn’t moving, was then placed in the back of a van.

Police superintendent Hugh Ferguson says the deer is still alive and is being handed over to animal control.

A vet was in the van to monitor the creature while it was being transported.

Anyway, before you go thinking that the Toronto Police over reacted, you should know that there is the distinct chance that the so called ‘deer’ was actually a cleverly disguised Pit Bull. Film footage of the very worried deer trying to take a nap is after the cut.

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Canada's First Pet Discovery Centre Opens in Toronto

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Toronto's Pet Discovery CenterIt’s Saturday, it’s hot and you’d like to get out and do something with your dog – preferably something air conditioned. What’s a pet owner to do?

If you live in Toronto, you can visit PawsWay – which bills itself as “Canada’s First Pet Discovery Center”. Think of it as a “Science Center” for pets and their ‘parents’.

Located in the middle of tourist Harbour Front, Pawsway is a project of the Purina PetCare Legacy, a “special fund designed to support initiatives in the pet community that improve the lives of pets”.

“We know that when a strong bond exists between pets and their guardians, pets can enrich our lives in so many ways,” says Mary Siemiesz, Executive Director of the Purina PetCare Legacy. “Whether it is someone considering their first pet or an experienced pet owner looking to learn more, PawsWay will offer the education and resources to ensure a healthy and happy environment for all pets.”

PawsWay offer interactive exhibits designed to teach pet owners and prospective pet parents about breed characteristics, responsible pet ownership, crate training and more.

Some of the other activities available include:

  • How Pets Talk: What does their body language mean?
  • All Things Puppy and Kitten: How to make the right breed choice; tips on pet-proofing; crate training basics and more.
  • How Old Is Your Pet? Always thought your feline friend was seven times his age in people years? Think again!
  • Doggie Dance Routine – Witness a Canine Freestyle Routine to music and get inspired to dance at home with your dog!
  • Weekly Expert Forum – Pet experts will be on hand to answer questions about nutrition, training, and provide general advice.

Purina Hall of FamePawsWay is also the permanent home of the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, celebrating 40 years of Canadian pet heroes.

See video and photo exhibits of the dogs, cats and other animals who’ve earned one of Canada’s highest honors for heroics.

If you and your dog get tired or hungry, stop by the William’s Coffee Pub inside of PawsWay. The Cafe is pet friendly, and serves caffeinated beverages for you, and gourmet cookies for your dog.

Maybe I’m overly optimistic, but wouldn’t an exhibit de bunking some (all?) of the “Pit Bull” myths be a lovely touch?

General admission to PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre is free, including access to the centre’s Health & Discovery exhibits, Purina Animal Hall of Fame, and fun and excitement with select programming in the Pet Park. Some special programming may charge an admission.

Visit PawsWay –
PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre
245 Queen’s Quay West
Parking available at Queen’s Quay West & Rees St. (NW corner)

(416) 360-PAWS (7297)