And now for something completely different - a little video I've called "How to share toast with 5 dogs!"
Sunday, August 26, 2012
I am incensed
I have been to a few pet stores lately since I've accumulated a couple new dogs lately - the ones I went to this week were the Pet's Unlimited in Bayer's Lake and the Pet Valu in Clayton park and when I got up to the cash area at each store - what I saw there was this large display from a local dog trainer.
A dog trainer who I know uses shock collar to train dogs.
I asked each of the girl's at the cash at these stores if this company PAYS the store to have this display at their cash and each store clerk replied - "No" - they were not paid to put that advertisement in such a prime spot in their store - I then asked the clerk's if they knew this dog trainer used shock collars to train the dogs in his care - and they all replied - "YES" - they knew that, and some of the replies I got back were -
- he doesn't use it on all the dogs he trains;
- there are different kinds of training for different dogs;
- shock collars don't actually shock - they just buzz
I told the store clerk's that I was putting down the items that I had planned on buying and was walking out - and wouldn't be shopping there - BECAUSE they had that advertisement in their store. I said that that type of dog training was abusive and they shouldn't have that in their store. One of the store clerks said they would pass it on to the owner - and I hope they do.
It disgusts me. If they are going to give such a prime space to such abusive methods - they should give the same amount of space to positive trainers at the very least - but I don't think they should be giving that much prime space for free anyway.
If there is any positive trainer out there who wants to put the same type of advertisement in a local pet store - please contact me - I will buy the exact same display case that this trainer has - and if you give me material to put in it - I will print it out in quantities sufficient to go into the display case - and take it to the stores that I see this "trainers" materials in - and make sure that it is put right next to his displays - and if they won't let me do it - then I will demand they remove his too.
It is awful that the public is only seeing HIS type of very misleading advertising - how many dogs are being forever damaged because he's advertising in pet stores that present themselves as being positive healthy places to buy things for your dog.
What a bunch of dirty liars they are. They should be ashamed to have that matieral on their counter space.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Buttercup is 18 today
Who could have known that I would have 9 blissful years with her - and the time is still counting - she's still healthy, and not looking like she's going anywhere anytime soon.
We had a great day. And hopefully we'll have a lot more.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Zues the bulldog finally gets to rest
Blaine emailed me to say that Zues is now with all the other victims of the abusers MacIsaac and is no longer in any pain.
Thanks to Blaine - Zues was able spend 4 years in earthly heaven - after spending many years in the torturous cage inside the Celtic Pets hell that was the "shelter" that he had come from.
365 x 4 is a lot of days he got to enjoy because of Blaine - and that is fabulous, and from the updates Blaine sent us over those 4 years - Zues enjoyed every one of those days.
I hope there is a heaven, and if there is - Zues is for sure there now, and he's waiting for Blaine - because he's earned his passage there fair and square.
Don't wait too long to get another dog, Blaine - there's another Zues out there who needs you.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
New Doggy Day Care + Fun Stuff
Here is the blurb that they have on their Facebook page - "Jollytails Doggy Daycare is located in the heart of Halifax, 5 minutes from the Windsor Exchange at 3484 Intercolonial St (off Kempt Rd). We have over 6500 square feet of OUTSIDE play area for our dogs! We run both Group and Private training classes dealing with a wide range of issues from teaching basic manners to addressing aggression issues. We also feature quality retail toys and food products that you can't get anywhere else designed with your pet's mental health in mind!"
They are the only institutional doggy day care on the Halifax peninsula with an outdoor play area - and I am so happy for Tristan, and for the dogs of Halifax that this service has been made available - I'm sure they're going to have great success!
You can find out more about the facility on their Facebook page!
I was so sorry to hear yesterday that Bark & Fitz on Doyle Street here in Halifax had closed down - Christine Greening had loved that store into such a success story for 5 years, taking it from a kiosk in the Historic Properties to the store on Doyle Street - I am always very sad when a dog service disappears.
One of the groomers from the store - Addison White had previously emailed me that he had found a grooming salon that he'd gotten a job at if you had gotten your dogs groomed by him and wanted to follow him to his new salon. He is now located at Kibble N Clips on 485 Sackville Dr in Lower Sackville, the phone number there is(902) 865-5244 - it's located in the lower level of the Sackville Animal Hospital
There will be 25 plus cats/kittens on site ready for adoption, plus sales of new and quality used items including artwork, dishes, antiques, toys, cutlery, etc. 10 am - it all starts at 10am, and admission $1.00
Sunday, July 29, 2012
A couple of cute short videos
Here's a little slideshow of Bubby and Sidney playing tonight -
And a little video from yesterday of Bubby and Ollie playing -
And a little video from yesterday of Bubby and Ollie playing -
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Zues's last update
Many, many people who read this blog know Zues. He was one of the public faces of the Celtic Pets debacle of a few years ago.
He was one of the dogs who had a happy ending though after having lived many years of hell under the abusive, torturous hands of the abusers MacIsaac Zonda and her mother Alice.
It was almost 4 years ago to the day - in July, 2008 when he as adopted by his current Dad, and he actually got the life he so deserved - living a beautiful life - and since then we've all gotten to enjoy regular updates about him.
I got an update tonight - one that inevitable I suppose, but one that we never want to hear.
In the last months Zues has inexorably aged - and only has days left to enjoy the life he so much has loved since July of 2008.
His Dad sent us all a short video of snippets taken of Zues from the last few months for us to enjoy.
Zues has been a dog that belonged to everyone - and now we will all feel the agony that comes when they pass - even when it's from something wonderful like the gift of old age.
Zues, please say hello to all the other Celtic Pets dogs who have gone before you - like Scupper, Jackie and Sasha, and the Celtic Pets six - they are all waiting for you.
Here's the video sent by Zeus's Dad -
Monday, July 23, 2012
Lenses make all the difference
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
"Before" Pictures of Sassy
It was only this morning that I first saw these photos.
She is continuing to settle in, and becoming more comfortable each day.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Introducing Sassy!!!!
I wrote a post a long time ago called "You can tell by the light in their eyes" about the change that comes over a dog once they have settled into a home where they are safe and forever - so I know I will cherish these photos I took tonight when I compare them to photos that I take six months from now - and the light in Sassy's eyes has transformed and she's blossomed into the dog she was meant to be.
I can hardly wait.
Let the Blight of BSL die as loudly and violently as Lennox
Dog lovers, advocates, and mainstream media today came together to acknowledge that the Belfast City Council in Northern Ireland killed a dog who had done nothing other than be born with a wide forehead, stubby nose and wide smile.
His name was Lennox and for 5 years he lived unremarkably with his owners until one day he was seized by the city of Belfast because of the way he looked. In the next two years lots of reasons were concocted as to why he neeed to be killed other than the original reason why he was seized - but they are all just subterfuge. He was killed simply because he was labelled as a pit bull type dog.
And that is wrong. Hundred's of thousand's of people around the world heard his story and declared from the roof tops that it was wrong.
Famous people - Victoria Stillwell - even Cesar Millan - offered to take Lennox off of Belfast City Council's hand if only they'd free him.
But they refused - and today they killed him, despite hundreds of thousands of people around the world watching them.
Millions of hours have been spent trying to save this one dog - Lennox - and meanwhile, every day - literally thousands of dogs are dying because of breed specific legislation that exists around the world.
Here in Canada the whole province of Ontario strictly enforces exactly the same legislation - and routinely kills all pit bull type dogs that they encounter.
Canada is equally as bad as the Belfast City Council - here in Nova Scotia - we have several areas where breed specific legislation exists. Did you know that you cannot legally take a pit bull type dog into Cape Breton without passing over an area where they are completely banned?
In order to get a pit bull type dog into Cape Breton - you MUST BREAK THE LAW!
Do you want to live in a world where bureaucrats and elected officials can cause so much suffering by enacting legislation that is absolutely heinous and wrong.
I don't want to live in that kind of a world.
I think the time has come to speak up - and for normal everyday dog owners to contact their elected officials and tell them that, as tax payers - archaic dog legislation has to be ended.
Better legislation exists - but government has refused to acknowledge it - legislation that targets dogs who are dangerous, rather than dogs who simply look a certain way (ie specific breeds) - is the only rational laws that should be enacted. These are laws who's time has come.
Janet Young over at "Reigning Cats and Dogs" posted an awesome blog post today called "10 reasons why every dog owner should care about bsl" - you should go read it, it's very pithy.
Some days it seems like the world is really going to hell in a hand basket.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Judge Flora Buchan spares Brindi's Life
This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening in Nova Scotia.
Today, the judge in Brindi's case turned Brindi over to the HRM - the news stories didn't say who in the HRM she is being turned over to - but we'd assume it's the Animal Control department - and have her assessed as to whether she is a good candidate for being adopted out to a new home.
Before today it was understood that the only options available were the return of Brindi to her owner or her death - so this is a precedent setting case in Nova Scotia with the 3rd option of forfeiture of ownership - and adoption to a new owner.
There are bylaws across North America where this is possible - but there is no bylaw in Nova Scotia or courts where this has happened before, and I think that is amazingly wonderful - because it has been acknowleged that the problem from the beginning - as it is in a lot of cases - was the owner and not the dog.
The problem was the inability of the owner to keep the public safe from a dog who has a very common and treatable issue, and her inability to keep her dog safe from having access to dogs to express that instinct.
In another home - Brindi would be able to be safe, and trained, and live a wonderful life. From the beginning animal advocates have been trying to have this outcome facilitated - and now it may finally happen thanks to Judge Flora Buchan - and hopefully because of this precedent - if a case likes this comes along again - it won't take 4 years for this ending to happen again.
Unfortunately - the judge gave until August 21st for the assessment and appeals to happen - and at that time Brindi still may be killed if she doesn't pass the assessment - but at this point - she has passed so many assessments - it'd have to be Adolph Hitler himself assessing her to make her fail one.
A question I do have - and one that may throw a cog in the wheel - is the fact that Brindi had previously been declared dangerous - and whether the HRM is willing to adopt out a dog with that designation - liability wise - they might refuse to do that - even with the judge's ruling.
It all depends on how much the lawyers want to see Brindi dead. I really hope they don't have pure vengeance on their mind. If they do, then this will not have a good outcome - but if they do have a heart - then they will follow the judge's wishes and find a new home for her.
If one can be found by August 21st that is.
ps - I would also like to say that I'm glad that a judge made this decision and not someone within Animal Control or an Animal Control Officer - I think that decisions like this need to be made by someone completely neutral and outside the HRM's system - it should be made by someone from the Justice Department - so if cases like this happen again (and I hope that they do) - I hope that the cases are decided in the same way.
Here are a couple news stories from today:
Court orders Brindi to be adopted
A Dartmouth Court Judge has ruled that Brindi the dog be allowed to live as long as the city can find the animal a new home, and not with former owner Franchesca Rogier.
The Judge ordered that the East Chezzetcook woman forfeit ownership of the nine-year-old mixed breed and that HRM take sole responsibility for its adoption or fostering.
"We were seeking to have the dog put down, but really this is the best of both worlds," said Crown Attourney Katherine Salsman.
"It allows us to evaluated and make sure that that is the right decision."
The decision also allows HRM to destroy the dog if a suitable home cannot before before Aug. 21, 2012.
Salsman said there will now be an evaluation of the dog's adoptability. Dog trainer Susan Jordan said the dog is a good candidate for being adopted.
"This dog certainly has behavioural concerns. They need modification training. But the dog is trainable," Jordan told News 95.7 outside the courtroom.
Rogier did not attend today court proceeding. She was ordered to pay a $200 fine for each of the HRM bylaw infractions against her.
She was found guilty of owning a dog that attacks, owning a dog that runs at large, and failing to comply with a muzzle order.
"I think the perfect solution would have been to return the dog to her with all the rules still in place and additional training to occur.
I think that would have been her ultimate goal, that the dog be returned. Her greatest wish would be that the dog not be put down," said Jordan.
There have been at least three instances when Brindi attacked other dogs dating back to when she was first seized by HRM in 2008.
She has been in HRM's custody since 2010.
Rogier has 25 business days to appeal the decision.
***********************************
Brindi the dog turned over to HRM - Former owner Rogier fined $600
The courtroom saga of Brindi the dog may soon be over.
A provincial court judge Tuesday fined owner Francesca Rogier $600 and ordered ownership of the dog transferred to the Halifax Regional Municipality in the latest chapter of a protracted battle over the dog’s fate.
However, Judge Flora Buchan stopped short of ordering the dog destroyed. Buchan said Brindi should be treated like any other dog by the municipality and should be trained and adopted out if possible.
However, the possibility exists that the animal could be euthanized, but that will only happen if an assessment shows her behaviour can’t be changed and she isn’t adopted.
Brindi was seized from Rogier in September 2010 after the dog attacked another canine.
Rogier was found guilty earlier this spring of allowing a dog to run at large, failing to comply with an order to muzzle Brindi and owning a dog that attacks an animal.
It was the second time nine-year-old Brindi had been seized by animal control. She was previously picked up in 2008 after attacking another dog and was ordered euthanized.
However, Rogier successfully appealed and the dog was ordered to be returned to her with conditions that included keeping the dog muzzled in public, building a fence in her backyard and having the dog trained.
The second incident happened only two months after Rogier got the dog back. While there was no evidence Brindi is beyond redemption, “sadly” that is not the case with her owner, Buchan said.
“I would describe Ms. Rogier as an irresponsible pet owner who has known since she (adopted) Brindi that she has control issues,” the judge said, while also calling her “unrepentant.”
In ordering Brindi’s ownership transferred to the municipality, Buchan said the dog “cannot safely be returned to Ms. Rogier.”
Rogier did not appear in court. Instead, she called dog trainer Susan Jordan shortly before her sentencing was due to start and asked her to appear on her behalf.
Jordan, who has worked with Brindi and Rogier, said she thinks Rogier didn’t show because she expected the emotions of the day to be too much for her.
“I think ... it was going to take more of a toll than she was prepared (to handle),” Jordan said.
“To come out after that and try to be coherent and deal with the repercussions ... would be a little more than she could handle.” She said she was pleased the court didn’t opt to immediately euthanize Brindi.
“I’ve trained and worked with the dog,” Jordan said. “This dog certainly has behavioural concerns. (It) needs modification training, but the dog is trainable.”
She said she has seen seen dogs with similar issues throughout the municipality. Jordan said she last assessed Brindi two weeks ago and in all aspects, except territorial concerns, “this is a highly adoptable dog.”
An effort to contact Rogier through Jordan was unsuccessful. While the the city sought an order to have Brindi destroyed, Katherine Salsman, the municipality’s lawyer, said the judge’s decision “is the best of both worlds.”
“It allows us to evaluate and ensure (if adoption) is the right decision to be made, ... but it still gives us the option to put the dog down if public safety reasons do require it.”
The order doesn’t take effect until Aug. 21 to allow time for an appeal.
Today, the judge in Brindi's case turned Brindi over to the HRM - the news stories didn't say who in the HRM she is being turned over to - but we'd assume it's the Animal Control department - and have her assessed as to whether she is a good candidate for being adopted out to a new home.
Before today it was understood that the only options available were the return of Brindi to her owner or her death - so this is a precedent setting case in Nova Scotia with the 3rd option of forfeiture of ownership - and adoption to a new owner.
There are bylaws across North America where this is possible - but there is no bylaw in Nova Scotia or courts where this has happened before, and I think that is amazingly wonderful - because it has been acknowleged that the problem from the beginning - as it is in a lot of cases - was the owner and not the dog.
The problem was the inability of the owner to keep the public safe from a dog who has a very common and treatable issue, and her inability to keep her dog safe from having access to dogs to express that instinct.
In another home - Brindi would be able to be safe, and trained, and live a wonderful life. From the beginning animal advocates have been trying to have this outcome facilitated - and now it may finally happen thanks to Judge Flora Buchan - and hopefully because of this precedent - if a case likes this comes along again - it won't take 4 years for this ending to happen again.
Unfortunately - the judge gave until August 21st for the assessment and appeals to happen - and at that time Brindi still may be killed if she doesn't pass the assessment - but at this point - she has passed so many assessments - it'd have to be Adolph Hitler himself assessing her to make her fail one.
A question I do have - and one that may throw a cog in the wheel - is the fact that Brindi had previously been declared dangerous - and whether the HRM is willing to adopt out a dog with that designation - liability wise - they might refuse to do that - even with the judge's ruling.
It all depends on how much the lawyers want to see Brindi dead. I really hope they don't have pure vengeance on their mind. If they do, then this will not have a good outcome - but if they do have a heart - then they will follow the judge's wishes and find a new home for her.
If one can be found by August 21st that is.
ps - I would also like to say that I'm glad that a judge made this decision and not someone within Animal Control or an Animal Control Officer - I think that decisions like this need to be made by someone completely neutral and outside the HRM's system - it should be made by someone from the Justice Department - so if cases like this happen again (and I hope that they do) - I hope that the cases are decided in the same way.
Here are a couple news stories from today:
Court orders Brindi to be adopted
A Dartmouth Court Judge has ruled that Brindi the dog be allowed to live as long as the city can find the animal a new home, and not with former owner Franchesca Rogier.
The Judge ordered that the East Chezzetcook woman forfeit ownership of the nine-year-old mixed breed and that HRM take sole responsibility for its adoption or fostering.
"We were seeking to have the dog put down, but really this is the best of both worlds," said Crown Attourney Katherine Salsman.
"It allows us to evaluated and make sure that that is the right decision."
The decision also allows HRM to destroy the dog if a suitable home cannot before before Aug. 21, 2012.
Salsman said there will now be an evaluation of the dog's adoptability. Dog trainer Susan Jordan said the dog is a good candidate for being adopted.
"This dog certainly has behavioural concerns. They need modification training. But the dog is trainable," Jordan told News 95.7 outside the courtroom.
Rogier did not attend today court proceeding. She was ordered to pay a $200 fine for each of the HRM bylaw infractions against her.
She was found guilty of owning a dog that attacks, owning a dog that runs at large, and failing to comply with a muzzle order.
"I think the perfect solution would have been to return the dog to her with all the rules still in place and additional training to occur.
I think that would have been her ultimate goal, that the dog be returned. Her greatest wish would be that the dog not be put down," said Jordan.
There have been at least three instances when Brindi attacked other dogs dating back to when she was first seized by HRM in 2008.
She has been in HRM's custody since 2010.
Rogier has 25 business days to appeal the decision.
***********************************
Brindi the dog turned over to HRM - Former owner Rogier fined $600
The courtroom saga of Brindi the dog may soon be over.
A provincial court judge Tuesday fined owner Francesca Rogier $600 and ordered ownership of the dog transferred to the Halifax Regional Municipality in the latest chapter of a protracted battle over the dog’s fate.
However, Judge Flora Buchan stopped short of ordering the dog destroyed. Buchan said Brindi should be treated like any other dog by the municipality and should be trained and adopted out if possible.
However, the possibility exists that the animal could be euthanized, but that will only happen if an assessment shows her behaviour can’t be changed and she isn’t adopted.
Brindi was seized from Rogier in September 2010 after the dog attacked another canine.
Rogier was found guilty earlier this spring of allowing a dog to run at large, failing to comply with an order to muzzle Brindi and owning a dog that attacks an animal.
It was the second time nine-year-old Brindi had been seized by animal control. She was previously picked up in 2008 after attacking another dog and was ordered euthanized.
However, Rogier successfully appealed and the dog was ordered to be returned to her with conditions that included keeping the dog muzzled in public, building a fence in her backyard and having the dog trained.
The second incident happened only two months after Rogier got the dog back. While there was no evidence Brindi is beyond redemption, “sadly” that is not the case with her owner, Buchan said.
“I would describe Ms. Rogier as an irresponsible pet owner who has known since she (adopted) Brindi that she has control issues,” the judge said, while also calling her “unrepentant.”
In ordering Brindi’s ownership transferred to the municipality, Buchan said the dog “cannot safely be returned to Ms. Rogier.”
Rogier did not appear in court. Instead, she called dog trainer Susan Jordan shortly before her sentencing was due to start and asked her to appear on her behalf.
Jordan, who has worked with Brindi and Rogier, said she thinks Rogier didn’t show because she expected the emotions of the day to be too much for her.
“I think ... it was going to take more of a toll than she was prepared (to handle),” Jordan said.
“To come out after that and try to be coherent and deal with the repercussions ... would be a little more than she could handle.” She said she was pleased the court didn’t opt to immediately euthanize Brindi.
“I’ve trained and worked with the dog,” Jordan said. “This dog certainly has behavioural concerns. (It) needs modification training, but the dog is trainable.”
She said she has seen seen dogs with similar issues throughout the municipality. Jordan said she last assessed Brindi two weeks ago and in all aspects, except territorial concerns, “this is a highly adoptable dog.”
An effort to contact Rogier through Jordan was unsuccessful. While the the city sought an order to have Brindi destroyed, Katherine Salsman, the municipality’s lawyer, said the judge’s decision “is the best of both worlds.”
“It allows us to evaluate and ensure (if adoption) is the right decision to be made, ... but it still gives us the option to put the dog down if public safety reasons do require it.”
The order doesn’t take effect until Aug. 21 to allow time for an appeal.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Brindi lives or dies tomorrow
It's hard to believe that it was August 3rd, 2008 when I wrote my first blog post about Brindi the dog. Most of the posts I've written about her and her owner have been removed because it has been such a contentious story over the years, but the very first post I wrote still exists. Tomorrow morning at 9am the judge presiding over the latest case involving Brindi and her owner Francesca Rogier is going to announce whether Brindi is going to be killed, or whether Francesca is going to have her dog returned to her.
In May, 2012 Francesca was found guilty on all 3 counts that she had been charged with in relation to an incident that happened in 2010 near her home when Brindi jumped out the window of her car and had an altercation with a dog who was walking by with it's owners on the road.
The result was only a small flesh wound to the dog - but to Brindi it meant another year of living in a cage while her life or death was decided in the courts.
A lot of people will disagree with me, and I have said this before - but I think that Francesca should get Brindi back.
I hope she does. There are altercations that happen every day in the HRM between dogs that are much more serious than anything Brindi has ever done.
Should Brindi die simply because her owner has a flamboyant personality that conflicts with a lot of people she comes into contact with?
That is what this all comes down to. And I don't think she should. She should not have been kept in a cage for the last 4 years because people cannot handle, or do not like Francesca Rogier.
And I hope Francesca can agree with me on that. I hope she doesn't flame me, or make her outrageous claims about me in the past that she has when I say that.
I am making a simple plea for Brindi's life - I know that what I say means tnothing tomorrow morning. But maybe it might make a difference for another time. Because if Brindi dies tomorrow, I hope that her life and her tragedy does not mean nothing. Her death will be the likes of Lennox over in England.
It will be that unjust. It's too bad there is no Victoria Stillwell, no Cesar Millan trumpeting her cause. 100's or people, 1000's of people - have said from the very beginning that Brindi does not need to die because of Francesca's sins. And I hope tomorrow, that comes true.
Tonight, everybody say a prayer for Brindi.
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