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| Crime Scene - Eric's (former) Birthday cake |
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| Ya THINK someone is feeling guilty? |
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| Who me??? COULDN\'T be!! |
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| Look at these eyes... could those eyes steal cake right off the counter where it was cooling? |
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| Must have been Finn.... |
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Scene of the Crime... The Destruction of Erik's Bday Cake
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Bill 47- BIG FAIL
MPP Jack MacLaren yesterday proposed an amended version of his former Bill 37. Bill 47 (which passed First Reading yesterday), can be viewed in its entirety here. A number of media outlets and bloggers quickly tendered opinions on the proposed Bill, here and here . The actual First Reading is on youtube here.
In the blog preceding this, I attached the press release from Mr. MacLaren's office which identifed some key areas he wishes to address. Below are excerpts (indented and italic) from the actual Bill, with my comments to follow. However, before ANY discussion ensues, there are certain incontroversible facts that must be taken into consideration when reading the proposed amendements - not the least of which is those reading the Bill must keep in mind that Mr. MacLaren is himself a farmer and as such, carries some understandable preconceptions and prejudices respecting animal rights. Further, the assumptions made (i.e. splitting the investigation functions between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the police and a much depleted OSPCA) are speculative ONLY and there have been no actual discussions between the parties he mentions.
FACT 1: According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ("OMAFR"), Mr. MacLaren has not to date had ANY discussions with that department respecting his proposal that OMAFR be assigned the responsibility of investigating alleged cruelty or neglect to farm animals. Lynn Perrier, founder of RAAW spoke directly to Minister of Agriculture Ted McMeekin regarding Bill 47 and OMAFR's stance on whether they would be ready, willing and able to take on the proposed new responsiblities. She said "Mr. McMeekin said not only would he not support such an arrangement, he had not seen the Bill nor discussed it with MPP Jack MacLaren."
Then there is the proposed amendment below:
FACT 2: The OPP have not been consulted about their proposed role in cruelty to animals investigations. As stated previously, this in itself is absurd. Apart from the reality that OPP (and municipal police forces) have limited resources, it is a fact that such resources go first to deal with their mandated responsiblities before dealing with any animal-related complaints or reports. Further, no police force currently sanctions or demands that their officers and personnel receive training in how to deal with animals - and as such- it is highly improbable that officers would know how to read a situation or, indeed, how to judge whether an animal is in distress or in an untenable situation.
There is also the factor that the OPP and municipal police forces are ALREADY involved if there is some belief that property or persons might be in danger and can and have accompanied OSPCA officials on raids and other investigations already. It is in that respect, moot.
I would also point out that in today's Toronto Star, there is an article which outlines how cash-strapped the entire provincial police infrastructure truly is - and that "Taxpayers are digging deeper into their wallets to cover the rising costs of policing — and that means governments must team up to stem demands for higher wages and benefits, says the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards." Given that the cost of policing is already significantly higher than government has anticipated, it is highly questionable whether the OPP or any other municpal police force will see monitoring animal calls as a priority.
There are a myriad of other concerns raised by the proposed Bill - all of which bode ill for Ontario animals. for instance, another amendment is proposed as set out below:
More on this to follow in the coming days. While I am hopeful the Bill will be dead in the water and will receive little or no support from other members, it is crucial to be cognizant of the implications of such a Bill.
In the blog preceding this, I attached the press release from Mr. MacLaren's office which identifed some key areas he wishes to address. Below are excerpts (indented and italic) from the actual Bill, with my comments to follow. However, before ANY discussion ensues, there are certain incontroversible facts that must be taken into consideration when reading the proposed amendements - not the least of which is those reading the Bill must keep in mind that Mr. MacLaren is himself a farmer and as such, carries some understandable preconceptions and prejudices respecting animal rights. Further, the assumptions made (i.e. splitting the investigation functions between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the police and a much depleted OSPCA) are speculative ONLY and there have been no actual discussions between the parties he mentions.
FACT 1: According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ("OMAFR"), Mr. MacLaren has not to date had ANY discussions with that department respecting his proposal that OMAFR be assigned the responsibility of investigating alleged cruelty or neglect to farm animals. Lynn Perrier, founder of RAAW spoke directly to Minister of Agriculture Ted McMeekin regarding Bill 47 and OMAFR's stance on whether they would be ready, willing and able to take on the proposed new responsiblities. She said "Mr. McMeekin said not only would he not support such an arrangement, he had not seen the Bill nor discussed it with MPP Jack MacLaren."
Shared responsibilityHowever, even IF OMAFRA agrees to take on these extra responsibilities, Mr. MacLaren's proposed amendment includes the following with respect to that role:
1.1 Responsibility for the prevention of cruelty to animals in the Province is shared in accordance with this Act between the following persons and entities:
1. The Society.
2. With respect to farm animals, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
3. The Ontario Provincial Police and all municipal police forces.
3. Section 3 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Consultation
(2) In pursuing its objects with respect to farm animals, the Society shall consult with, and where appropriate defer to, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local police forces.
(3) An inspector or agent to whom a matter is assigned under clause (1) (a) or (2) (a) shall investigate the matter by means of observation or, with the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal in question, may examine the animal in order to determine whether the animal is in distress."with the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal in question" is the crucial phrase here. In essence, if someone reports a case of neglect or cruelty, Mr. MacLaren is proposing that OMAGRA inspectors are only given egress IF the owner or farmer in question agrees to that inspector actually entering on the premises and investigating! It is hardly rocket science to speculate that someone who has abused an animal or is keeping an animal (or animals) in a manner that is causing cruel and unnecessary suffering, is HARDLY going to invite inspectors in.
Then there is the proposed amendment below:
13. (1) If a justice of the peace or provincial judge is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an animal is in distress and that a veterinarian has examined the animal and recommended certain actions be taken, the justice of the peace or provincial judge may order the owner or custodian of the animal to,
...Given the inspector is allowed on the premises and determines there is an animal in 'distress" (Mr. MacLaren also wants to strike the language "abused or neglected" for the less straightforward and softer term "distress"), the inspector must THEN apply to a Judge or Justice of the Peace for a ruling that the animal must be treated, removed or euthanized (whatever the course of action). In the interim, that animals (or animals) is left to suffer.
FACT 2: The OPP have not been consulted about their proposed role in cruelty to animals investigations. As stated previously, this in itself is absurd. Apart from the reality that OPP (and municipal police forces) have limited resources, it is a fact that such resources go first to deal with their mandated responsiblities before dealing with any animal-related complaints or reports. Further, no police force currently sanctions or demands that their officers and personnel receive training in how to deal with animals - and as such- it is highly improbable that officers would know how to read a situation or, indeed, how to judge whether an animal is in distress or in an untenable situation.
There is also the factor that the OPP and municipal police forces are ALREADY involved if there is some belief that property or persons might be in danger and can and have accompanied OSPCA officials on raids and other investigations already. It is in that respect, moot.
I would also point out that in today's Toronto Star, there is an article which outlines how cash-strapped the entire provincial police infrastructure truly is - and that "Taxpayers are digging deeper into their wallets to cover the rising costs of policing — and that means governments must team up to stem demands for higher wages and benefits, says the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards." Given that the cost of policing is already significantly higher than government has anticipated, it is highly questionable whether the OPP or any other municpal police force will see monitoring animal calls as a priority.
There are a myriad of other concerns raised by the proposed Bill - all of which bode ill for Ontario animals. for instance, another amendment is proposed as set out below:
Choice of veterinarianAgain, unacceptable. An unaffiliated third party vet with no connection or relationship with the individual in question is the only choice on a rational and realistic basis. Certaintly, there needs to be an "arm's length" clause which would preclude the vet from literally investigating him or herself.
15. (1) Where, under sections 11.4 to 14, a veterinarian is authorized to accompany an inspector or an agent of the Society or is permitted or required to examine an animal or provide advice or recommendations for the care, treatment, removal or destruction of an animal, the owner or custodian of the animal shall select the veterinarian or approve the choice of veterinarian.
More on this to follow in the coming days. While I am hopeful the Bill will be dead in the water and will receive little or no support from other members, it is crucial to be cognizant of the implications of such a Bill.
Monday, March 19, 2012
MacLaren redux ....
From MacLaren's Queen's Park office, received last week. Apparently, the "new" Bill has been introduced today, Monday, March 19 - more to follow once I get details.
Mark your calendars! Another GREAT and WONDERFUL THS Garage Sale!
- Donations (excluding clothing) of household items, tools, jewellery and anything else you want to clean out of your attic or garage can be dropped off at the THS front desk during regular business hours UNTIL April 25
- Bake sale donations will be gratefully received between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. the DAY OF the Garage and Bake Sale, Sunday, April 29 at the front desk
- Please let everyone know about this terrific sale!
- Starbucks is again generously supporting the THS sale and delicious Starbucks coffee will be featured at the Bake Sale
- ALL proceeds go to the Special Needs Animals at the THS - please support this wonderful cause. The THS is one of the very few rescues in Toronto that has the mandate and willingness to take on many of the challenging special needs of certain animals.
- The THS is a registered charity that relies on the generousity of its supporters and is “dedicated to providing compassionate care, shelter, adoptions to caring homes and a voice for abandoned, abused and injured companion animals.”
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Some Catch up
Comments:
I apologize for the tardiness with which I publish comments. I only recently put some restrictions on them so still am getting used it and have to remember to check more frequently. Incidentally, as a matter of course, I seldom (almost never) delete or suppress comments - in fact, the only blog to date was one where the in-fighting got out of hand and into the realm of childishness.
Dogs and RAW Diet:
Second, just a quick update on my starving dogs! All is well and they are adjusting beautifully to their new and improved RAW diet. They are definitely the better for it and I will hopefully get some new photographs (where they don't look like vampire or zombie dogs as Fred of Pound Dogs rightfully pointed out happens when one tries to photograph dogs inside). So I'm going to take his advice from his blog here on photographing dogs and try to find some time to actually get some decent shots.
BUT, they are now eating (most) of what they get for dinner - and LOVING it. Llyr is channelling his inner wolf and will grab his turkey wing, and trailing a bony protuberance from the corner of his mouth, book it to the corner of the yard for fear someone will steal it. Finn horks the veggies down (which I spend up to 2 hours blanching and cutting up in bulk every second week - damn, cooking more for the dogs than us), inhales the organ meats and like the Princess she is, brings me her wings to "hold" while she chows down. Turkey necks have proved thus far to be unpopular so are currently off the menu but drumsticks, wings and carcasses are popular.
They look AMAZING. Finn's former coarse coat is soft was silk. She doesn't seem to have lost weight, but has changed shape ... she is sleek and shapely. Llyr is displaying the biggest changes - his coat which has always been problematic, dull and thin is lush and thick and shines like ebony. Colours are appearing on what used to a predominantly black coat, browns, tans and some patches of blonde. While he would still be called a 'black' dog, his coat is definitely changing. What is most encouraging, however, is while his back end is still weak, the progress of his degenerative myleopathy which was horrifying me in its swiftness before Xmas has dramatically declined. His haunches are markedly stronger, he trips less, he is jumping and leaping like he has not done for months and months. The bloodroot for his spleen, the HA-180 he is getting for his joints together with a healthy, natural diet are proving to be a positive and clearly favourable mix for him.
Bill 37:
Stand by as I have been told a slightly altered Bill will be forthcoming. Will post details when I receive them. They are rumoured to include the OSPCA retaining its current authority to investigate domestic animals, with the Department of Agriculture suggested as the inspector of farm animals and wildlife. No comments yet until I see what the suggested Bill actually recommends.
BSL:
Peter Worthington has an excellent overview on the pointlessness and inherent "racism" of the current Liberal-championed ban on "pit bulls" here. Awesome article Mr. Worthington. Astonishing, however, is the continued ignorance of real facts I see repeated again and again in the comments. Seriously, people, we live in the information age - do a simple google and find out the truth about pit bulls - and it ain't the stupid media hype which I see so many parroting here. Repeating a WRONG assertion ad infinitum does NOT make it true!
I apologize for the tardiness with which I publish comments. I only recently put some restrictions on them so still am getting used it and have to remember to check more frequently. Incidentally, as a matter of course, I seldom (almost never) delete or suppress comments - in fact, the only blog to date was one where the in-fighting got out of hand and into the realm of childishness.
Dogs and RAW Diet:
Second, just a quick update on my starving dogs! All is well and they are adjusting beautifully to their new and improved RAW diet. They are definitely the better for it and I will hopefully get some new photographs (where they don't look like vampire or zombie dogs as Fred of Pound Dogs rightfully pointed out happens when one tries to photograph dogs inside). So I'm going to take his advice from his blog here on photographing dogs and try to find some time to actually get some decent shots.
BUT, they are now eating (most) of what they get for dinner - and LOVING it. Llyr is channelling his inner wolf and will grab his turkey wing, and trailing a bony protuberance from the corner of his mouth, book it to the corner of the yard for fear someone will steal it. Finn horks the veggies down (which I spend up to 2 hours blanching and cutting up in bulk every second week - damn, cooking more for the dogs than us), inhales the organ meats and like the Princess she is, brings me her wings to "hold" while she chows down. Turkey necks have proved thus far to be unpopular so are currently off the menu but drumsticks, wings and carcasses are popular.
They look AMAZING. Finn's former coarse coat is soft was silk. She doesn't seem to have lost weight, but has changed shape ... she is sleek and shapely. Llyr is displaying the biggest changes - his coat which has always been problematic, dull and thin is lush and thick and shines like ebony. Colours are appearing on what used to a predominantly black coat, browns, tans and some patches of blonde. While he would still be called a 'black' dog, his coat is definitely changing. What is most encouraging, however, is while his back end is still weak, the progress of his degenerative myleopathy which was horrifying me in its swiftness before Xmas has dramatically declined. His haunches are markedly stronger, he trips less, he is jumping and leaping like he has not done for months and months. The bloodroot for his spleen, the HA-180 he is getting for his joints together with a healthy, natural diet are proving to be a positive and clearly favourable mix for him.
Bill 37:
Stand by as I have been told a slightly altered Bill will be forthcoming. Will post details when I receive them. They are rumoured to include the OSPCA retaining its current authority to investigate domestic animals, with the Department of Agriculture suggested as the inspector of farm animals and wildlife. No comments yet until I see what the suggested Bill actually recommends.
BSL:
Peter Worthington has an excellent overview on the pointlessness and inherent "racism" of the current Liberal-championed ban on "pit bulls" here. Awesome article Mr. Worthington. Astonishing, however, is the continued ignorance of real facts I see repeated again and again in the comments. Seriously, people, we live in the information age - do a simple google and find out the truth about pit bulls - and it ain't the stupid media hype which I see so many parroting here. Repeating a WRONG assertion ad infinitum does NOT make it true!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
UPDATE: MPP Jack MacLaren has WITHDRAWN Bill 37
Kudos to all those who put time and effort in bringing attention to the deficiencies of this Bill.
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