Councillor sides with death row dog

This is good news when a councillor comes to the defense of an innocent dog.

With so much news of the man who had sold rapid puppies at flea markets, it's only natural that they are checking on all animals sold through the flea markets.

Many people have had to start rabies shots with those that allowed the puppies to nibble their fingers or allowed the pups to lick them. Those that were only viewing the pups were not at risk.

Still, their cautionary measures has nothing to do with Rambo that was bought as a Bulldog cross and because they look similar to an American Pit bull Terrier, does not make it so.

The papers she received stated the dog as a Bull dog cross and not a Pit bull.

I give this Councillor the thumbs up for coming forward and siding with the dog.

Councillor sides with death row dog

Rambo who awaits his fate at Mississauga's Animal Control shelter while his owner fights to save his life.
John Stewart

January 29, 2008 02:23 PM - Ward 6 councillor Carolyn Parrish has gone to the dogs — at least, to one dog.

As Gabriela Nowakowska met today with the lawyer who will try to prove her seized dog, Rambo, is not a pitbull, Parrish vowed the 20-year-old Mississaugan will eventually get her dog back.

"We're going to win this one," a confident Ward 6 Councillor Carolyn Parrish told The News.

"She is going to keep this dog."

Parrish has come to the assistance of Nowakowska, who intends to go to court to dispute the City's contention that Rambo, a 10-month old dog identified as a Texas red nose pitbull by animal control officials, should be destroyed under Provincial legislation.

The Ontario government passed legislation in 2005 to force already-owned pitbulls to be muzzled in public and to prohibit several specified breeds born after Nov. 30, 2005 in the province.

If Nowakowska loses her case, her dog could be euthanized.

"The more I look into this law, the more foolish (I think) it is," said Parrish, a former member of parliament who admits she supported the dog control law at one time.

"It's not based on facts, science or common sense," she said.

Parrish said she supports the euthanasia of dogs who are clearly dangerous or who attack children.

Given the imprecise definitions of a pitbull (which is not a specific breed) in the Act and the fact that parts of the definition have been struck down and are still under appeal, Parrish said, she believes Rambo can be proven not to be a pitbull and is not dangerous.

Nowakowska bought the pup at a flea market and gave animal control officials the documentation she received from the vendor, which indicated the dog was some kind of bulldog cross. He was caught running loose near her home Christmas Day.

Ward 1 Councillor Carmen Corbasson and Parrish, alarmed by a story this week about a rabies scare with dogs sold at Dr. Flea's flea market at Hwy. 27 and Albion Rd. in Etobicoke, have asked the City's legal department to look into regulating the sale of animals at flea markets.

The City is investigating controlling the sale of turtles, dogs, snakes, etc., by, among other avenues, expanding the definition of a pet shop to cover flea markets.

"We can at least prevent this from happening again," said Parrish, adding a proposal will be made to Council soon.

Meanwhile Nowakowksa, who works part-time in a restaurant and a retail store, is preparing for her first court appearance Feb. 29 in Mississauga.

"I'm really grateful and I want to thank everyone for their support," said Nowakowksa, who hired her lawyer through contributions sent to a bank account she established to help pay for Rambo's defence. "I really appreciate the support I'm getting to try to save his life."

The east Mississauga resident is having a tough time adjusting to life without her pup, who is confined most of the day to a cage in the City's animal control centre.

"It's very lonely and sad," she said. "There's no one there to comfort you."