Pit bull ban in jeopardy
WOW! This article came from the Toronto Star and the reporter didn't even include their name. Sounds like a panicy reporter to me. The way I see it, this is a BONUS for us!!!
I think Titus and his owner has lead the way to more owners fighting about the legality of the breed of their dogs. After all, if you don't have papers to prove it's a pit bull breed, your chances of fighting that it isn't may have more clout.
Lately, there have been several dogs in the news that the owners have won their cases. Is this the newest trend?
Is the Pit bull ban in jeopardy?
I certainly hope so, especially with Clayton Ruby at the helm come May 16th. to really stir things up.
I think we have a win, win situation here and I personally can't wait to say 'Good bye' to this rediculas law and let our dogs be dogs again!
Pit bull ban in jeopardy
Apr. 22, 2006. 01:00 AM
The province should move quickly to appeal a debatable ruling by a Sarnia justice of the peace that could greatly affect Ontario's pit bull ban.
Jody Kirby was charged with failing to muzzle, leash and sterilize her dog, Tidus, as required under the law. But she was cleared when justice of the peace Helen Gale was not convinced the dog was a pit bull. It is believed to be the first successful challenge to the pit bull restrictions.
That law lists several breeds that are subject to a ban and also covers any dog that looks "substantially similar" to those targeted breeds.
In Kirby's case, the court was given a veterinarian's letter confirming her dog had some pit bull features. An animal control officer was even more specific, testifying that the heavily muscled dog had the same jawline as one of the banned breeds.
There seems ample cause for an appeal in this case. The stakes are high.
Ontario's pit bull ban is a fundamental public safety measure. Having owners of these dogs muzzle, leash and sterilize their animals is not too much to ask to prevent a further mauling of children and other people by these powerful animals.
The ban must not be rendered toothless by quibbling over what a pit bull looks like. As it is written, the law makes sense: If a dog's physical characteristics resemble a banned breed, it is covered by the ban.
If opponents of the ban persist in challenging the law by arguing about a dog's appearance, then the province should sharpen the definition of "pit bull" by amending the law to include detailed physical descriptions, such as jawline measures and ratios.
The ban is worth preserving. Most Ontarians understand the type of dog that it covers. But measurable definitions may be necessary to help some see what is obvious to others.
UPDATE - I received a reply from Jamie, owner of Titus and here is her comment:
Conners, I think you are very right about the journalist. My name is Jamie Kirby, and Tidus is my dog :). All this journalist did was try to make my dog look evil and I thank you for your support. I hope you are right about the pitbull ban being removed in ontario.Thanks everyone for your support- Jamie
6 comments:
Hi Shasta,
My mom belongs to the American Dog Owner's Association - they fight BSL and promote responsible dog ownership.
My mom got a newsletter from them recently and it lists several cases of dog attacks where the dog was NOT a pit bull. If you want she can make a copy and mail it to you. She thought it might help. You can email her at siberescuegirl@yahoo.com, and she will email you back.
Indy
It's a turning point!!!! Hopefully at this rate the law will be overturned and there will be no more BSL in Toronto!
I will do that Indy. Tell your mom thanks!!!! She's a doll!
Andee, not just the city of Toronto, province WIDE!!! There was a win in Sarnia too and although Taco in Windsor isn't quite walking completely free, his freedom seems closer.
I contacted some of the people that called for help with their dogs that were on death row and they won their case too. That was up north. Naturally I was THRILLED, so it's all over the province.
Course then May 16th is the first court date, so I think because of Michael Bryants quickly put together flawed and vagued law that it will be a cinch to beat.
Look who he has to destify. That flunky in Ohio who couldn't beat it in his own state. LOL
I think in a matter of some long hard months, there will no more Pit bull ban in Ontario. It's just hard waiting for that time to come and innocent dogs still are dying, although now some of them are being freed.
The worst part of this story is the journalist. This was NOT a commentory column, but a news story.
The jounalist didn't go after a story, but instead stated his own point of view. Why? To put fear into people? He/she didn't even add his name to the article.
Since when can a journalist dictate his views onto people? Their job is to inform people of what's happening in their city, region or the globe. Where does self expression come into that catagory unless it's a commentory.
News reporters are 'suppose' to be bias. There is nothing bias about this article. This should never have been published as it was PLAIN WRONG!!!
Conners, I think you are very right about the journalist. My name is Jamie Kirby, and Tidus is my dog :). All this journalist did was try to make my dog look evil and I thank you for your support. I hope you are right about the pitbull ban being removed in ontario.
Thanks everyone for your support
- Jamie
Oh Jamie, I'm so thrilled that you and Titus won your case. The reporters have been doing this from day one to scare the public (brainwash) that the bullie types are vicious. It's the media and government that are the vicious, fear mongers and using the bullies for their stories to make a buck.
When you and Titus won, ALL of us in the Banned Aid Coalition groups couldn't stop talking about your win and you gave hope to other owners as well.
You take good care of that special boy of yours and give him plenty of hugs from me and EVERYBODY!!!! Thanks for writing! *hugs*
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