Seized dogs spared euthanasia

It's so wonderful when you can find a lawyer like Chris Avery who believes in and loves dogs that he could convince the courts to allow them out of province with no charge to the owners. He's quite the guy in my eyes as you can read in the Sarnia Observer.

The awful fact in this is that even though these dogs weren't Pit bulls, the owners still had to give up their dogs. Sadly, it's better than losing their lives, but that's the way it goes in Ontatio, Canada. Very unfair!

Seized dogs spared euthanasia; Instead, purported pit bulls will be moved to Quebec, says lawyer for owners
Poirier, Jack
The Observer Local News
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A family of dogs have been spared from death row.

A Bay Street lawyer says he has convinced Sarnia city staff to move the dogs, suspected of being pit bulls, to new owners living in Quebec.

Chris Avery said he felt compelled to come to the dogs' defence after seeing a news report detailing how the city's animal control officers seized the animals.

The story first appeared in The Observer.

Avery said the city was trying to backdoor its way into euthanizing the dogs. He tracked down the family and offered his services.

"As a dog lover I was horrified by it," said Avery.

The dogs, belonging to Brian Edwards and his girlfriend, Cassie Bates, were seized June 6.

The mother, Rowen, and her two-month-old pups had been scheduled to be euthanized today. The city has since agreed to another extension to allow for the dogs to be moved to Quebec.

"The city took the back door on this" by not charging the owners, said Avery.

Had they been charged, Sarnia would have to prove the dogs are pit bulls, he said. But by seizing the dogs the burden of proof falls to the owners.

"This way there is no trial, there's no hearing, there's no evidence. That's what's got me banging my head against the wall."

Ontario's Dog Liabilities Act states that any seized dog believed to be an unregistered pit bull can be destroyed or moved out of province. Avery said he's found willing owners in Quebec. The lawyer also warned that other dog owners could face the same problem as the Edwards family.

"A poorly bred lab can pass as a pit bull," he said. "The law is too vague."

The legislation has been challenged by the Dog Legislation Council of Canada. A superior court judge deemed portions of the law unconstitutional in late March and said the definition of a pit bull is too vague.

Locally, the Edwards family has collected 1,000 signatures on a petition following a pair of weekend rallies held outside city hall and the humane society.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said the issue isn't one that should be directed to council.

"It's a bad law," he said, but added the city is only trying to comply with the province's legislation. He said lobby efforts should focus at the provincial level.

"They're barking up the wrong tree by aiming their lobby at the city."