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Day 7. Brindi: A wrong proposition

At the end of this brief post there is a link to a video. It is extremely thought provoking and I want you to watch it.

But first reflect on these wrong propositions.

A wrong proposition: Humans own animals as property.

Companion animals are much more than that. They are a part of your family, they are a part of your life. Their value is not measured by cash. Society needs to rethink its stance as a whole.

A wrong proposition: You make a mistake, your animal pays for it. (pounded, killed).

You make a mistake, it is you who should pay. It is never the animal, it is the human, who makes things go wrong. The payment should be in proportion to the crime.

Letting your dog run without a muzzle CANNOT constitute a crime.

Wrong proposition: Breed Specific Legislation

A dog cannot be executed based on his looks. Breed Specific Legislation is a monstrosity and needs to be fought by all.

Your dog is right now at the merci of whomever decides to report him based purely on the way he looks. This leads to absurdities like the case of Rambo and Brittany.

A wrong proposition: If there is a law, even if unjust, we must obey.

If there is an unjust law, we must fight to change it. We must fight not only for ourselves but for those who follow, for those who might suffer, for those who believe in us.

And now pls watch this video because this is the very basic proposition we are trying to change.

It is time for Brindi to go home and to be reunited with her owner, Francesca Rogier.

If you are in Canada please CALL Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Mayor of Halifax on ph: 902-490-4010 and tell him that Brindi must be spared AND returned to her owner.

If you are abroad please email kellyp@halifax.ca and express the same… We have 7 days.…

For Brindi

For the Animals

Viktor Larkhill

Let’s Adopt!
………………………………
reprinted from Let’s Adopt! Canada

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Posted on March 3rd, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Activism, Animal Cruelty, Dogs | No Comments »

Day 6. SPCA: Dirty games, Lost contracts and Spin Doctors

Many of you are asking us what has been the role of the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) since the Brindi Affair began.

Most of you hold the SPCA in high regard. So did I. Not any longer.

It would be fair to say that the SPCA is a pawn in the middle of this situation. They had a contract with the city of Halifax to house animals seized by animal control — such as Brindi. The contract was worth some $414,000. In addition to this contract, they operate a non-profit SPCA where strays and drop-offs and such are offered for adoption (just as any other SPCA). The city has opted to not renew the contract, that has since been awarded to a third party, a woman who runs a wildlife rehab center.

The SPCA is designed to house animals for no more than 30 days. Brindi has been in there for more than 570 days.

Since confinement, Brindi’s teeth have become infected. She has twice in the last maybe 5-6 months been treated for pancreatitis. So it’s safe to guess it may now be chronic.

Brindi is a mascot of sorts, her days are spent under a staffer’s desk.

Francesca had to FIGHT to be allowed to see Brindi. The first time she was allowed to see her was in January, 2009 (she was seized in July, 2008). She was not allowed inside the building and was confined to a fenced area – the temperature was in the teens (or -0 celsius as we measure in Canada). She was given a ridiculous list of conditions to follow — come alone, no camera/video, no treats, 30 minutes to be determined by the SPCA, supervised visits only, and a few more. The terms changed at the whim of Halifax Regional Municipality/SPCA.

Her visits have been started and stopped throughout the year. The continuous change of rules prompted complains and the loss of her visitations rights.

Whenever Francesca wanted Brindi to be seen by her own vet a lengthy process of negotiation had to take place to everybody’s desperation.

In most cases the requests were denied.

Case law in Canada generally favors allowing an owner to see their animal during confinement when there is a case before the courts. Not Halifax. Case law also supports remediation between the owner and the SPCA. Not Halifax.

The SPCA could have stood up and said Brindi is not dangerous or mean, she sleeps under a staffer’s desk after all. In an attitude that betrays their lack of principles they decided not to challenge the city and risk their contract, a contract that was eventually lost.

In a recent letter signed by Kristen Williams, a spin doctor, the SPCA advocates an “alternative” to killing Brindi. This letter is nothing but a carefully crafted attempt by Halifax Municipality and the SPCA to cover themselves for their inadequate handling of the entire case.

A desperate attempt to save face after a number of recent scandals.

It’s too late for that. The SPCA has, in the handling of Brindi’s case betrayed its very founding principles, and the community has taken note. The SPCA will never be regarded in the same way by the Canadian Community.

It is time for Brindi to go home and to be reunited with her owner, Francesca Rogier.

If you are in Canada please CALL Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Mayor of Halifax on ph: 902-490-4010 and tell him that Brindi must be spared AND returned to her owner.

If you are abroad please email kellyp@halifax.ca and express the same… We have 8 days.…

For the Animals…
For Brindi…

Viktor Larkhill

Let’s Adopt!
…………………………………….
reprinted from Let’s Adopt! Canada

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Posted on March 2nd, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Activism, Dogs | No Comments »

Day 5. The reason for Brindi’s Countdown

This post is as much about Brindi as much as it is about human nature.

When we launched our 13 days campaign we had a choice. Explain from the beginning the 19 months of hell Brindi and Francesca have gone through or FOCUS on creating a big wave of awareness and prompt people to action. No. Not a big campaign.. a HUGE ONE!

This type of campaign, if it gets truly big, has the potential to truly change things on the ground.

Human beings respond to emergencies. That is ingrained in our nature.

We, as social animals tend to follow the direction of our community.

Our pack.

This is what Let’s Adopt! is doing through its 13 days Campaign.

Leading the community in one clear and unequivocal direction, the Freeing of Brindi and her return to her loving owner, Francesca Rogier.

If you are going to conduct a campaign, make it big, make it HUGE. It needs to be awe-inspiring, frightening, on deadline and worth losing sleep over.

And loosing sleep is exactly what we have done since we started .. so it is working!.

We have 9 days to Save Brindi.

If you are in Canada please CALL Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Mayor of Halifax on ph: 902-490-4010 and tell him that Brindi must be spared AND returned to her owner.

If you are abroad please email kellyp@halifax.ca and express the same… We have 9 days.…

For the Animals…
For Brindi…

Viktor
……………………………
reprinted from Let’s Adopt! Canada

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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Activism, Dogs | No Comments »

Day 4. Nickelback for Brindi!

Brindi

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

In 2006, the Canadian rock band Nickelback published a song: “If everyone cared“.

The song was dedicated to a Canadian-based Charity called ICA Canada (or International Children’s Awareness Canada), a Charity with 0% administration costs which does a lot of volunteer work building sustainable communities in third-world locations. Revenues generated by this song were donated to ICA Canada.

I am a great fan of Nickelback music and of this song in particular. I believe the world should watch this video and reflect upon its content.

Today we are going to respectfully use Nickelback’s work to help us save a life: the life of a dog, Brindi, representing the life of millions of animals living in Canada and the United States currently on death row because of inadequate legislation.

I know they will forgive us.

I would kindly ask you to help us spread this video…. Help us change the world.

For the animals

Viktor Larkhill
………………………………………………..
reprinted from Let’s Adopt! Canada

Join the Facebook campaign to return Brindi to her owner, Francesca Rogier.

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Posted on February 28th, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Activism, Dogs | No Comments »

Brindi – The most amazing home videos are here

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Posted on February 28th, 2010 by isak
Filed under: General | No Comments »

Day 3: The words of a child

Brindi and Francesca

Let’s get real…

Does this look like an irresponsible owner to you?

Does this look like a couple that deserves to be separated?

Does this look to you like a dog that deserves to DIE????

Please CALL Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Mayor of Halifax on ph: 902-490-4010 or if you are abroad please email kellyp@halifax.ca and express your deepest inner feelings regarding this case.

We have 11days…
Please share…

For Brindi…
……………………
reprinted from Let’s Adopt! Canada

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Posted on February 27th, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Activism, Animal Law, Dogs | No Comments »

What can the Nova Scotia SPCA learn from Tiger Woods?

Off the top of my head, at least two things: own their mistakes and apologize. Unlike Tiger Woods, the Nova Scotia SPCA has been making forays in local newspapers and on their website sugar-coating certain issues they have made a blunder out of in an effort to restore credibility to their name in our community. But it comes across as “a little too much, a little too late.” It feels like a band-aid.

Watching Tiger make his statement this morning, I was reminded just what is missing from the SPCA. It’s time for them to own up to their mistakes, make right where they have failed so far, and apologize profusely for letting us down and so many of the animals that have depended upon them. It’s time for them to rebuild from the top down and bring honor to their organization.

Stand up to HRM and tell them the truth about Brindi. Mention that she sleeps under a staffer’s desk like she was the mascot for that facility because she is so sweet and gentle. Show everyone the “family photo” taken on her birthday that you sent to Francesca. Do right by this dog before it is too late! Be the voice she does not have and help her get home to her family! They have waited entirely too long!

Drop your ridiculous charge against Janice Bingley for the errant seizure of all her dogs. Yes, you seized 22 dogs under the guise of cruelty, then laid a single charge because a nursing mother was thin. This was a wrongful seizure and you need to own it. You need to do right by this family, too!

Do you have any idea the unnecessary pain you have inflicted upon both these women?

And where is the tire biting dog?

It’s time for you, NS SPCA, to stand up like Tiger Woods did today and start your journey anew on the right path. It is true, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr. And you have been silent too long to the detriment of Francesca Rogier and Janice Bingley.

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Posted on February 19th, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Activism, Animal Cruelty, Animal Law, Dogs | 1 Comment »

So, what’s new this week?

Rebecca offered me this cat bed. I knew my cats would love it. They love anything new… a new cardboard box, newspapers, paper towels, my jacket. I think it took anyone about 10 minutes to notice.

The next morning, there was a line. There were two cats in the bed and one beside it waiting for someone to get out of it. Here’s Olive getting a sun bath one morning recently when we had a cold snap.

This end of the house faces east, so mornings are a very popular time in the bed because of the sun coming in. The cats pile up on a couple of the dog crates to catch the sun. This is Olive and Diego.

And my gorgeous Goose! His real name is Gustafus, thus a cat named Goose. He walked out of the woods one Friday afternoon as a small, skinny kitten. He was talking away. Kind of a “hey, you! I would like to come in and have something to eat.” With that, Lily and LeRoy went running across the front yard at full speed. Goose turned and ran back into the woods. The dogs stopped at the fence line. Goose didn’t realize there was a fence there to stop them. It took me about a half hour to coax Goose out of the woods enough that I could SNATCH him! I eventually got him.

In other news…

The puppy is starting to get his adult teeth! Yeah for that!!! He STILL needs a name. His owners certainly don’t seem to be missing him much yet… sigh. Did I mention that he sleeps in my bed? Took him a couple days to realize THAT was the place to be on a cold night.

So that’s the skinny on my week so far. Loving the simple things. Here’s wishing you simple things, too.

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Posted on February 17th, 2010 by isak
Filed under: Cats, Dogs, General, On the Lighter Side | No Comments »

Vick Reality: Bally Total Fitness drops out

Kudos to Bally Total Fitness! I received an email from them today regarding my request that they refrain from supporting the Michael Vick reality show slated to appear on BET. They stated that they have “blocked all future advertising during this program.” However, due to the way they contract out their advertising on BET, ads for Bally could appear during the show. Perhaps our emails have made a difference. Here’s their email:

Thank you for contacting Bally Total Fitness.

Bally Total Fitness shares your concern regarding advertising on “The Michael Vick Project” and we have blocked all future advertising during this program. We never intended to support this show and any Bally Total Fitness commercial seen during this programming was not placed in support of this program. Advertising is placed on the BET network to air during a broad rotation of hours based upon audience criteria. As a result, the Bally Total Fitness advertisement was broadcast during this program.

Bally Total Fitness
Member Support Center

www.Ballyfitness.com
Your Total Fitness Resource

Please e-mail the sponsors of the Michael Vick Reality Show and express your opposition to their financial support of the program. Here’s the list.