Canada NEEDS Bill C-373

In the CBC News I've decided to show the full horrendous story thus far of an innocent, victim named Daisy Duke and how amimal abuse cases are basically a slap on the hand as per our Canadian law.

To see statements that put empathy on the boys for trying to put his dog out of misery doesn't work for me. This was suppose to be his beloved pet. Would he have done the same if it were a sibling?

Shouldn't abusers of all animals pay for their evil deeds or is our government just too slack to use anything that works?

This won't change a thing if Bill S-213 is passed as the government wants it. It's only a new name for an old bill. To make drastic changes it is imparative to get Bill C-373 passed.

I have links on my sidebar that shows you how you can get involved. PLEASE! The animals need us!

Youth charged with abuse of Alberta dog pleads guilty
Last Updated: Thursday, April 19, 2007 11:58 AM MT
The Canadian Press

A 17-year-old Alberta youth pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of animal cruelty in a horrific case of abuse that made national headlines.

A Lab-border collie cross named Daisy Duke was found barely alive and had to be euthanized by a veterinarian in October 2006 after she was dragged behind a car with a rope around her neck, a bag over her head and all four legs bound.

She suffered injuries including a broken neck, back and pelvis.

Tamara Chaney, an outraged animal lover in Didsbury, collected 110,000 signatures from across Canada on a petition calling for new legislation on animal abuse. The petition was later presented to Parliament.

Sentencing arguments for the youth's conviction on the animal cruelty charge will be heard May 10, the same day that a second charge against the youth of causing death or injury to an animal will be dealt with.

Another male accused, Daniel Charles Haskett, 19, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial May 23. The dog had been a family pet in Haskett's home.

Current laws allow for a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $2,000 fine for a conviction under animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code.

Two competing bills in parliament

Earlier this year, the federal Conservative government announced it would support a bill introduced by Liberal Senator John Bryden, known as Bill S-213, which would raise the maximum jail term to five years and the maximum fine to $10,000.

However, many animal-welfare groups oppose that bill, complaining that it continues to treat animals as property and doesn't address cruelty to wild or unowned animals.

Many such groups have put their support behind Bill C-373, a private member's bill introduced last fall by Ontario Liberal MP Mark Holland, who has complained the animal cruelty laws haven't been modernized for 100 years and are "woefully inadequate."

The final hour of second reading debate on Bill S-213 has been tentatively scheduled for April 24. Bills need to go through three readings before becoming law.




Didsbury man pleads not guilty in dog's death
Last Updated: Monday, December 11, 2006 3:59 PM MT
CBC News


Police say Daisy Duke had duct tape around her muzzle, front and rear legs and was likely dragged behind a vehicle.


An Alberta man accused of animal cruelty in the dragging death of a dog has pleaded not guilty.

Daniel Haskett, 19, of Didsbury did not make an appearance in court Monday. Instead, his lawyer, who has told his client to stay away from court because of threats from animal lovers, made the plea on Haskett's behalf.

In October, a Labrador retriever-collie cross named Daisy Duke was found bleeding on a road, its muzzle and legs bound with duct tape and a tow rope around its neck. The dog had to be put down.

Police said the dog was Haskett's family pet.

Haskett and a 17-year-old, who can't be named because of his age, have been charged with injuring or endangering an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Haskett has also been charged with obstructing justice.

He is to be back in court in May.

In another development, a man charged with mischief in connection with a protest outside the courthouse during Haskett's previous appearance also appeared in court Monday.

The man, 34, will return to court later this month to enter a plea.

Threats keep animal cruelty suspect from court
Last Updated: Thursday, November 23, 2006 11:14 AM MT
CBC News

A young Didsbury, Alta., man accused of animal cruelty in the dragging death of a dog stayed away from the local courthouse Wednesday on the advice of his lawyer.

"I was concerned for his safety to be honest with you," lawyer Mark Takada said of Daniel Haskett,19, who was surrounded by jeering protesters at his first court appearance.

Daisy Duke was wounded so severely, a veterinarian had to put her down.

"I have no problem at all with people standing out here demonstrating ... But you cross the line when you try to intimidate a person and try to impede their right to come and go freely."

Haskett's lawyer also said threatening letters have been sent to his client and one person has been sentenced to a day in jail for making threatening phone calls.

A small group of protesters were waiting outside court Wednesday.

Last month a Labrador retriever-collie named Daisy Duke was found bleeding on a road with its muzzle and legs bound with duct tape and a tow rope around its neck. The dog had to be put down.

Haskett and a 17-year-old, who can't be named because of his age, have been charged with injuring or endangering an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Haskett has also been charged with obstructing justice.

'Ticking time bomb'

Robin Reesal, a Calgary based psychiatrist, said there is reason for Takada to be concerned.

"When you raise anger and emotion to that level you may be taking a ticking time bomb and just lighting the fuse of someone out there that you are unaware of," he said.

People become more emotional about animal cruelty cases than those involving people because they see animals as helpless creatures, said Reesal.

Online threats against accused

RCMP said Wednesday they were not aware of any threatening comments about the accused online, but would investigate if complaints were made.

An online search turned up a site full of profanity, threats and other postings suggesting the accused should be bound and dragged behind a vehicle.


Protesters surrounded and heckled Daniel Charles Haskett as he left the Didsbury courthouse.(CBC News)

One writer asks for a description of one of the accused, his address and phone number. The person writes: "Justice will not be served in court. These people should be tortured..."

Another says: "I would like to slowly torture both of them." The writer goes on to say: "If he doesn't get punished properly by the law, he may get punished properly by the people."

Not 'sadistic brutes,' says lawyer

Both of the accused are expected back in court next month.

Takada said the case is complicated and he's not sure how Haskett will plead.

"He's got a lot of regret about what happened. This is a very sad situation and he feels very badly about that."

The two accused aren't the "sadistic brutes" they've been made out to be, he said.

The dog was initially accidentally hit by a vehicle, he said. Takada says his client is not responsible for dragging the dog behind a car.

Dog's beating draws protesters to courthouse
Last Updated: Monday, November 6, 2006 4:05 PM MT
CBC News

Protesters, some with dogs, shouted and jeered outside an Alberta courthouse Monday as a 19-year-old charged with animal cruelty appeared in court.

As many as 100 people from across the province surrounded and heckled Daniel Charles Haskett as he left the Didsbury courthouse.

Haskett was whisked away in a waiting minivan but not before angry protesters kicked the vehicle and pounded on the hood. Others from the crowd looked on in tears.

Protesters surrounded and heckled Daniel Charles Haskett as he left the Didsbury courthouse.

"The Canadian government is not taking animal abuse cases seriously. If this kind of support comes from a town as small as Didsbury, can you imagine how people feel all over Canada?" said Kim McDonald, who drove from Edmonton for the protest.

Last month, a badly beaten Labrador retriever-collie cross was found bleeding in Didsbury. Police say the dog, named Daisy Duke, was Haskett's family pet.

Haskett and a 17-year-old have been charged with injuring or endangering an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Haskett has also been charged with obstructing justice.

Dog bound in duct tape: police

The dog had duct tape around her muzzle, front and rear legs, according to Didsbury RCMP. She also had a tow rope around her neck and was likely dragged behind a vehicle for three blocks, police said.

Police say Daisy Duke had duct tape around her muzzle, front and rear legs and was likely dragged behind a vehicle.

The dog was wounded so severely a veterinarian had to put her down.

Word of Monday's court appearance had been spreading through internet animal rights chat rooms and websites.
The case inspired Didsbury resident Tamara Chaney to organize a cross-Canada petition calling for more serious penalties in animal cruelty cases.

A maximum of six months in jail and a $2,000 fine is not strong enough punishment, she says.

However, she decided not to attend the demonstration.

"I think their hearts are in the right place. They want some better punishment for animal abusers, but a lot of times they're so radical in trying to get their point across that the actual message is lost, unfortunately."

Chaney says she may attend the trial.

Meanwhile, she says she's hoping to collect at least 10,000 signatures on her petition. She plans to give it to her MP, Conservative Myron Thompson, to take to Ottawa at the end of November.