Dog on death row can't see owner

Yesterday, in the Toronto Star.com

This is happening so frequently in Ontario, that many of us have nicknamed our province, On-Scario and the story below is the fear that many dog owners fear daily.

This is why we fight as hard as we do to try to change the law and find a better solution for the government to incorporate.

This is why, we won't quit!

This is why BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) is wrong.

While in On-Scario the victims are the Pit bull breeds and dogs with similar characteristics, other breeds have also been effected by BSL in other parts of Canada, the U.S.A. and other parts of the world.

Reading this and feeling bad is not enough, thinking...'Isn't there something that can be done to stop this? This is an atrocity!' You can feel as badly as you want and it won't help. We need ACTION and that action starts with you and me.

The groups that makes up the BannedAid Coalition (that you can find on my side bar) are taking action and we've been in court several times now. There are no grants or income coming in except from the public and the hard working members that put on Fund Raisers, sell items, ask for donations, etc.

The groups are constantly looking for ways to gain money to pay for the Legal Fees and at the same time rescue as many of these threatened dogs as possible. The monies coming in is from the public that don't sit back and only wonder what they can do. Instead, they take action and do whatever they are capable of doing.

Which kind of person are you?

I implore you. Be part of the action.

Dog on death row can't see owner

ROB BEINTEMA/MISSISSAUGA NEWS

Rambo, a pit bull puppy, sits in a cage at an animal control facility. His owner is waging a court battle to keep the dog from being put down.

Rambo's social skills threatened, claims lawyer in pit bull case

Mar 17, 2008 04:30 AM

Peter Edwards
Staff Reporter

There are at least two sequels planned in the tale of Rambo the alleged pit bull.

The Mississauga dog has been in custody since Christmas Day, when he bolted through an open gate and out the backyard of his owner, Gabriela Nowakowska.

Nowakowska, 20, was in Mississauga court Friday to hear that tomorrow is set for a pretrial hearing. Her lawyer, Anik Morrow, said she expects legal arguments to take place at a later date on the fate of the 11-month-old pet, who authorities say is a member of a banned breed.

If Rambo is eventually deemed to be a pit bull, he will be put down, unless one of the first legal challenges to the province's ban proves successful. Morrow said it's difficult to estimate when the legal battle will ultimately end.

In the meantime, authorities aren't letting Nowakowska visit Rambo, which is hurting the pet's social skills, Morrow said.

"It's a crucial period of (the dog's) development," said Morrow, whose fees are being paid by pit bull activists. "After a dog is kept in the pound a certain period of time, it does become an aggressive dog."

Court heard Friday that no Crown attorney had been appointed yet to handle the Rambo prosecution.

The dog was born after a province-wide ban on new pit bulls took effect Aug. 29, 2005. By law, the city must put the dog down if he's proven to be a pit bull.

Nowakowska could get charged with owning a prohibited animal.

"I'm sad and I'd really like my dog back," Nowakowska said outside court. "He can't see me at all."

Asked what she missed most about Rambo, she said, "Basically, just everything."

She said she hasn't given a thought to replacing him. "I love him and he's like my son," she said.

According to the Dog Owners' Liability Act, pit bulls born more than 90 days after the ban took effect must be put down.

Two weeks ago, a 4-year-old Toronto dog named Munchie was euthanized after being found to be a pit bull.

Munchie had been in the pound since September, accused of biting a man and another dog.

A dozen supporters have carried placards and displayed bumper stickers with messages like "Profiling Kills Dogs" and "My Ontario Includes Pit Bulls."