What a JOKE!

I don't know if this was written as pure bait, but I'll take it and run with it.

Today there was an editoria in the Chronicle Herald:

Da-dum & dumber idea; and a dog’s life in HRM

BEV DAUPHINEE
Sat. Mar 13 - 4:54 AM

UNFORTUNATELY, in HRM, one story has been dragging on far too long: the sad saga of Brindi, the six-year-old dog that has spent most of the last two years living in an SPCA shelter.

This week, a judge delayed proceedings until April 16 after Brindi’s owner, Francesca Rogier, asked for time to have a behavioural assessment done on her dog before its fate and Ms. Rogier’s sentence are decided. In February, Ms. Rogier was found guilty of violating Halifax Regional Municipality’s animal control bylaw on three charges, including owning a dog that attacked another animal.

This case has been debated in the media and on online sites since Brindi was seized by HRM’s Animal Services in the summer of 2008. We have received a lot of email, most of it coming from other parts of Canada and the U.S., generated by the online interest. In the past few weeks, we have received about a dozen locally written letters and published six of them, most pleading for Brindi’s return to her owner.

In an effort to save the dog from a possible euthanasia order, several Nova Scotian animal experts are advocating to have Brindi adopted by a suitable owner who can provide the dog with a good home and proper socialization skills.

Ms. Rogier has said she would appeal any decision that would not see Brindi eventually returned to her and she has accused HRM of conducting an "unfair" and "abusive" process.

I have no doubt Ms. Rogier loves her dog, but I do not believe the municipality has some sort of vendetta against her or Brindi, as has been suggested in many emails sent to our office.

Perhaps it is time to stop fighting for a principle and for everyone to concentrate on what is best for Brindi. If there is to be a way out of this mess for everyone — the HRM, Ms. Rogier, and especially Brindi — surely it is time to try to negotiate a happy ending to this story before it is too late.

Bev Dauphinee is editor of the Opinions pages for The Chronicle Herald.

You can only GUESS the reaction that Francesca Rogier has had to this Editor's opinion. She has been VERY busy today. One thing she's done is write a letter to all the Municipal Councillors in the HRM, and since I know my own Councillor pretty well - he forwarded me the copy he received. Isn't it nice when you're tuned in like that? Here it is:

March 13, 2010

To the HRM council, the Chronicle-Herald, and the local media of Halifax:

We have learned that community writer Pat Lee of the Chronicle-Herald (March 10, "Advocates Offer Option for Brindi" ), is personally connected to the "advocates" in question. This group includes members of the SPCA, and though it is a matter before the courts, it has been relentlessly campaigning for nearly a year for this dog to be "re-homed", i.e., taken away from the person who saved her from the needle in 2008.

Pat Lee's facebook friends include the following, all of whom are associated with or belong to this "advocacy" group:

Joan Sinden, blogger
Annette-Netta Armitage
Heather Morrison
Janet Chernin, who has been prosecuted by the city for running an illegal dog care facility
Kat Horne, VP of the Nova Scotia SPCA
LeeAnne Poirier Tibbo, of the dog legislation council, who has circulated false information about Francesca Rogier
Silvia Jay, trainer
among others

These people also belong to a group called ARPO that has been attacking Francesca Rogier for a long time. None of these people know Ms. Rogier personally. Last spring, ARPO published a defamatory and misleading letter about Ms. Rogier in The Coast. Mr. Bob Ottenbrite is also a member of ARPO, and is involved in litigation with Ms. Rogier. Therefore his position cannot be seen as objective. The Herald's web editor, Rick Conrad, is friendly with Joan Sinden. Sinden has been personally attacking Rogier in her blog with a series of libelous remarks. Conrad was also seen at the recent dog expo associating with Gail Gallant, who has been publicly harassing and cyberstalking Francesca Rogier for over a year.

We deplore ARPO and its associates for singling out Ms. Rogier as an "irresponsible owner". We call upon the Herald to exercise a greater amount of professional objectivity and cease giving such people a public forum in which to push their agenda without scrutiny. Has anyone asked, for instance, what ARPO is doing about the numerous owners in this city whose dogs are genuine threats to public safety?

Any 'advocation' for re-homing in this case is inappropriate. Brindi is not a dangerous dog. She should not have been seized. She should be returned as soon as possible to her own home with her loving and responsible owner, where she belongs.

Sincerely,

Humane Halifax for Better Animal Control
humanehalifax@yahoo.com

Wow, that's quite the memo to send to every municipal councillor in the HRM, don't you think? Especially since it doesn't have an individual's name that they can respond back to, a phone number that they can call, or anyone who can take responsibillity for the accusations being levelled.

And what does Janet Chernin's 3 year long battle that she fought - for EVERY OWNER OF AN IN-HOME DOGGY DAY CARE IN THE MUNICIPALITY - that she WON - have to do with Francesca Rogier's case? That is VERY disingenuous and misleading. If anyone is being libelled - it's Janet Chernin - right there.

And I'd really like to know what Humane Halifax has done for "Better Animal Control" since it was formed more than a year ago, but that's besides the point.

The last time I checked even journalists were allowed to have lives outside the 14 hours that they were not working - they are even allowed to have conversations with dog owners at public events - YIKES! And guess what! According to a judge I heard speaking in a courtroom a few months ago - "people are entitled to their various personal opinions", and they are also allowed to have friends, and hang out with who they like. And form associations, have hobbies and spend time pursuing things they want to see happen.

Excuse my french, but give me a fucking break.