What is the fate of Dozzer?

There are two articles regarding Dozzer. How the province can get at him once he is in safe hands in Quebec doesn't make sense. This article is from the Ottawa Citizen.

City doesn’t give up on destroying dog
Ottawa moves forward with case against Dozzer, despite the fact pit bull-like canine is out of reach
Katie Daubs and Chris Lackner, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, April 12, 2007

The City of Ottawa is moving forward with its case to destroy an allegedly violent pit bull, despite the fact the dog is out of its reach and awaiting adoption at a Gatineau animal shelter.

Dozzer, a pit bull-mix accused of attacking an Ottawa woman walking her dog in November 2005, had his day in court set yesterday for July 11.

His former owner, Jeff Hickey, faces charges under Ontario’s Dog Owners’ Liability Act. The trial will determine whether the dog will be condemned to death through a court order.

Mr. Hickey was supposed to turn the dog over to the city in December 2005.
The city offered to drop the fines and a possible jail sentence if Mr. Hickey handed over his pet, but Mr. Hickey chose then to keep Dozzer, according to his lawyer Cedric Nahum.

Yesterday, after a brief hearing at the provincial offences court to set the trial date, Mr. Nahum said the city will have to determine whether Dozzer fits the provincial definition of a pit bull-type dog, and whether Dozzer attacked the claimant.

But even if the city proves its case, Dozzer may remain out of reach in Quebec.
He is currently in the care of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Western Quebec, under the name Dozer, awaiting adoption, and has garnered a reputation as one of the most beloved and well-behaved dogs at the Gatineau shelter.

“We have no authority to take it and seize it,” said Christine Hartig of the City of Ottawa’s bylaw services.

“With the cooperation of the SPCA, we could try to obtain the dog, but my sense is they wouldn’t co-operate.” Dozzer may have already avoided a death sentence once in early December, when Mr. Hickey’s mother dropped off the dog at Travelling Paws, a kennel and pound in Carleton Place.

Unlike Ottawa, Carleton Place does not have a municipal bylaw requiring shelters and pounds to euthanize pit bull-type breeds. But the business does contact the area OPP to find out whether the animals they take in have been involved in any violent incidents.

In Dozzer’s case, no such record was found — likely because the case was based in Ottawa, said Travelling Paws owner Connie Murphy, adding the pound also went on the “the family’s word that there was no problem.”

“We had no idea about his case history,” she said. “He was a nice dog and got along with everybody here. There was no reason to believe he couldn’t be re-homed.”

Dozzer was sent to the Gatineau shelter because Travelling Paws was over-filled, and he had a better chance of being adopted in Quebec, she said.

Pit bull-type dogs were banned in Ontario in 2005 under revisions to Ontario’s Dog Owners’ Liability Act. However, existing pit bulls were “grandfathered” through the revised law as long their owners followed new stringent rules on their care.

According to the law, “grandfathered” pit bulls like Dozzer can still be adopted in Ontario — but only by people who were pit bull owners when the laws came into effect and only to replace a pit bull they owned when the law was passed.

But the law also allows such dogs to be moved to other provinces, Ms. Murphy said.
Jennifer Montague, director of adoptions at the Gatineau shelter, said it is common for pit bulls from Ontario to be sent to Quebec for adoption — where laws don’t restrict ownership and there are more potential adopters. Ms. Hartig said the city has no way of keeping tabs on dogs like Dozzer.

While both shelters have confirmed Dozzer is in Gatineau, Mr. Hickey’s lawyer refused to confirm the dog residing in the shelter once belonged to Mr. Hickey.

“I can’t even confirm it’s the same dog. It’s a very common name for a pit bull,” Mr. Nahum said. He also argued Mr. Hickey’s animal may not have committed the attack in question.

But Dozzer’s alleged victim, Cheryl Hume, has no doubts about what happened in their 2005 run-in — or what the dog’s fate should be.

“If the law says euthanize him, I’m waiting for the law to work,” she said.
Ms. Hume received 13 stitches and broken bones in both of her hands after a morning walk with her dog, Chico, turned sour after a meeting with Dozzer, and still suffers from arthritis related to the injuries.

The court case against Mr. Hickey has been adjourned for more than a year as a similar case questioning the constitutional validity of the provincial legislation was ongoing.

In Cochrane v. Ontario, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled the Ontario Dog Owners’ Liability Act was too broad in its definition of pit bull-type dogs. Mr. Hickey was not in court yesterday. His lawyer said the City of Ottawa is not seeking any fines or jail time for Mr. Hickey — only the euthanization of Dozzer.


In the OttawaCitizen.Com comes this article of Dozzer. Let's hope Dozzer is safe.

Dozer laps up good life in Quebec
Ottawa wanted to put pit bull-type dog down
Chris Lackner, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, April 12, 2007

A dog the City of Ottawa wanted destroyed for its violent behaviour has become the most beloved, well-behaved resident of a Gatineau animal shelter and awaits adoption.

Dozer, a pit bull-mix formerly owned by Jeff Hickey of Ottawa, bit a woman walking her dog in November 2005. The attack broke a bone in the victim's hand and her injuries required 20 stitches. Afterwards, city officials called for Mr. Hickey to turn over the animal to be put down and charges were laid against him.

Pit bull-type dogs were banned by Ontario in 2005, but are welcome in Quebec, and Dozer is no exception.

His violent past doesn't fit the behavioural profile of the canine that has won over hearts at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Western Quebec.

In an adoption notice, Dozer is described as "a gentle boy who walks very well on a leash. He is friendly and affectionate. Dozer absolutely loves to play ... Dozer is truly a people dog."

Jennifer Montague, the non-profit organization's director of adoption, said she has "never met a more well-tempered dog" than Dozer.

"He is just so gentle -- he's like a pug or a poodle in a pit bull's body," she said. "He just wants to cuddle, and climbs up your body and wants to kiss you."

Dozer arrived at the shelter on Dec. 31, after spending a month at Travelling Paws, an Ottawa kennel and pound where he was dropped off by Mr. Hickey's mother, Ms. Montague said.

In 2005, Ontario passed legislation banning the purchase, breeding or ownership of pit bull-type dogs -- while current owners were allowed to keep their animals under a grandfather clause. Since then, Ms. Montague said pit bull-type dogs from Ontario are commonly brought to shelters in Quebec, where they can be legally adopted.

Dozer's new residence comes with a lot of perks. In the summer, the dogs spend at least six hours a day outside -- with the option of playing with one another or sleeping in cushioned dog houses.

While the shelter's dogs are walked an average of two times a day, Dozer benefits from his popularity among the society's volunteers.

"On any given day, he usually gets four walks -- and, on Saturdays, he gets as many as 10," Ms. Montague said, adding Dozer even accompanies the staff on coffee runs.

Ms. Montague said she supports a ban on pit bull-type dogs only because they often end up in "the hands of bad owners." But she said existing pit bull-type breeds should be allowed to lead their lives and be given good homes.

"My God, let someone like Dozer have a second chance," she said.

The Gatineau shelter houses between 15 and 30 dogs at any given time -- acting as an animal "rescue" organization and providing medical aid in addition to finding new owners.

Unlike many shelters, the operation does not put animals down -- an advantage to pit bull-type dogs who often take much longer to be adopted.

"Dozer never would have had a chance anywhere else -- he would have been euthanized," she said.

"We don't look at the breed. We just look at the four paws, and the spongy nose, and that's all we need to know."

Mr. Hickey, Dozer's former owner, was unreachable yesterday, and his lawyer refused to offer comment on Dozer's future.

Mr. Hickey faces charges under Ontario's Dog Owner's Liability Act. A trial date is expected to be set today.