Update from Clive Wilkinson in Canada –
This is what is happening to Staffordshire Bull Terriers and their owners right now in a major Western democracy with British traditions! ! ! !
As of tomorrow any pups born in Ontario must be turned over to be euthanized. This is written in the law. There was quite a positive article in the Sunday Star (Toronto Star) today about a SBT breeder and the law. Full front page and half another page.
I am supposed to be sent the pictures of the dogs that were shot in Glengarry (London area) They have not arrived. Two dogs were shot by the animal control in a barn behind their office.
Another dog was found tied to a tree in such a way that as he struggled he strangled himself. He had also been hit by a bullet. This did make the newspapers. The dog was alive when found and is being treated by the SPCA, the police are investigating.
Owners are being accosted on the street and a number are being assaulted.
My daughter, after her picture with dog and baby, was published in the newspaper was accosted on the street and threatened with the Children's Aid Society taking away her child as she had the those vicious dogs in her house.
We all live in fear. Fear of being accosted on the street. Fear of a neighbour reporting you to the police, who can then come to your house and take your dog without warrant, and then euthanize your dog or have it sent to the labs and have it used in scientific research. (the only two options). Fear that your dog may get out the house by accident and be picked up. In such cases they are not to be returned but euthanized or sent to the labs. Fear of just someone knocking on your door. It is just
awful.So far, collectively, we have raised 153,100 dollars (in the bank) with a little over 5000 dollars collected this past week. Over eighty thousand has already been spent of the previous amount. We have three major fund-raisers in the next few months that will bring in many thousands of dollars but as of the moment we are just over $90 000 short of what the lawyers say it will cost. There are witness interviews on February 15 and 16 that we pay for and the trial itself on May 15 and 16. It is really exhausting work and we know that we will have to keep it up through at least two court appearances, Ontario Superior and Ontario Appeals and hopefully no Canadian Supreme Court. If we do not win by this route the next provincial election is in October of 2007. At the moment the government is not popular (38% support) but neither are the opposition parties.(35% and 19%)
Clive Wilkinson