A Dog Has Died (Pablo Neruda)

My dog has died.
I buried him in the garden
next to a rusted old machine.

Some day I'll join him right there,
but now he's gone with his shaggy coat,
his bad manners and his cold nose,
and I, the materialist, who never believed
in any promised heaven in the sky
for any human being,
I believe in a heaven I'll never enter.
Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom
where my dog waits for my arrival
waving his fan-like tail in friendship.

Ai, I'll not speak of sadness here on earth,
of having lost a companion
who was never servile.
His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine
withholding its authority,
was the friendship of a star, aloof,
with no more intimacy than was called for,
with no exaggerations:
he never climbed all over my clothes
filling me full of his hair or his mange,
he never rubbed up against my knee
like other dogs obsessed with sex.

No, my dog used to gaze at me,
paying me the attention I need,
the attention required
to make a vain person like me understand
that, being a dog, he was wasting time,
but, with those eyes so much purer than mine,
he'd keep on gazing at me
with a look that reserved for me alone
all his sweet and shaggy life,
always near me, never troubling me,
and asking nothing.

Ai, how many times have I envied his tail
as we walked together on the shores of the sea
in the lonely winter of Isla Negra
where the wintering birds filled the sky
and my hairy dog was jumping about
full of the voltage of the sea's movement:
my wandering dog, sniffing away
with his golden tail held high,
face to face with the ocean's spray.


Joyful, joyful, joyful,
as only dogs know how to be happy
with only the autonomy
of their shameless spirit.

There are no good-byes for my dog who has died,
and we don't now and never did lie to each other.

So now he's gone and I buried him,
and that's all there is to it.

Silly dogs

Having recently 'sprung' Llyr and Finn from forced incarceration in crates overnight (part of their training regime), there is obviously a period of adjustment required for all.  Finn sleeps beside my bed while the Llyr-boy is relegated to the living room (baby gate securely latched) as he is a counter-surfing, garbage-diving, unrepentent and irredeemable thief.  Today was the first morning that I had to contend with the dogs getting used to my own morning routine...

I get up at the crack of dawn - technically around 10 minutes to 4, often earlier as I have an unfortunate habit of waking too early and then not being able to fall back asleep. Making lunches, cleaning up the kitchen (from late night kid raids), and 20 minutes of Pilates is my morning routine.  The dogs, however, don't get the whole exercise thing ...

First, I lay my yoga mat on living room floor and then put on Pilates DVD.
Push Llyr off mat.
Switch on the routine of choice.
Throw Finn's chewed and drooly ball off my stomach.
Start routine.
Kick Llyr off my feet.
Continue routine.
Push both dogs away as they are now tugging the ball on either side of me and stepping all over me.
Do the "100s", stopping frequently to yell at dogs who are now leaping over me
Push Llyr away, get towel and wipe face from where he has been licking me.
Continue with ab work
Scramble up and pull Llyr away from table where he is raiding my bag with my lunch in it
Put legs in tabletop and start switches
Push Finn's comotose body across floor as she tries to "spoon" with me
Continue routine
Grab towel and wipe up water as Llyr has chewed on my water bottle and punctured it
Realize DVD is done
Shower...accompanied by two dogs, one of whom keeps dropping disgusting chewed toys in the tub ...

Guess there is a learning curve

PARTY KIDS + SHELTER ANIMALS = CRUELTY - Brilliant move, OSPCA

Visualize if you will a childrens' birthday party. Sticky fingers, sugar-highs, shrill voices and hyper excitement ... nothing out of the ordinary and nothing wrong with it. Kids, after all, will be kids.  However, having personally experienced on numerous occasions the sheer volume and activity level of a kids' party, I am cognizant it is NOT for the faint-hearted.  You need to gird yourself with patience, tolerance and strong alcohol gallons of black coffee (in a vain attempt to match their sugar high with your caffeine-driven frenetic energy).

Visualize then the animals in a shelter environment.  Relegated, through necessity, to small cages for extended periods of time.  Nervous, anxiety-ridden and often frightened.  If strays, adjusting to a life so foreign to its known world, it is earth-shaking.  If owner surrenders, then confused, scared and prone to uncharacteristic behaviour fueled by the animal's world being rocked on its axis.

Then think about the latest "brilliant" OSPCA endeavour - putting the two TOGETHER.

For $175, up to 12 children are invited to, among other things:

•  An exciting, informative talk about the Ontario SPCA and the animals that stay with us
• A tour of the Center
• Hands-on socializing with our animals

Up to 12 children with no known degree of animal-husbandry.  Up to 12 kids with no insight into how much- if any- exposure they have had to animals.  Up to 12 kids, pumped on sugar and excitement - wanting to touch, fondle and "play" with animals which are already in a heightened state of anxiety and often, fear.

I wonder who thought up this BRILLIANT idea?

Could it be Kate Macdonald with her gaping paucity of knowledge and experience with animals?

Or perhaps Jim Sykes for whom the bottom line is MONEY not the humane, informed and proper care of animals?

A Board of Directors who see the OSPCA as a money-making endeavour with little connection to its stated mission?

I don't know what "genius" came up with this idea, but if we actually HAD a provincial humane organization that cared about animals - I would COMPLAIN to it!!  Oh, hold on - it is the actual provincial organization that SETS the rules, purports to spell out the parameters and has politically been allowed to dictate the measures that is actually DOING this.

This kind of grossly misguided way of raising funds for a "shelter" with almost NO animals simply highlights how unaware the individuals are who are running it. The fact that they proudly display this on their front page truly illustrates their ignorance when it comes to animals .

Ontario SPCA Humane Education Mission: By utilizing the bond between animals and children, the OSPCA is dedicated to providing leading edge education involving our environment, the animal kingdom, community and social justices to empower youth to become an informed, respectful & compassionate generation

I fail to see how putting up to 12 kids in close proximity to stressed, anxious animals is "humane".

I am perplexed how ANYONE with even a modicum of intelligence would believe that placing already excited kids around animals the organization purports to "protect" teaches anything but that animals are meant to be "playthings".

I believe that educating the public is crucial to moving froward an animal-friendly agenda in our society.

The obvious place to begin  is with children, many of whom in our society have had little to no chance to interact with animals, and many who may come from backgrounds due to a variety of factors that do not place the same value on animals that they deserve.

A birthday party is NOT one of the venues that would further that agenda.

Animals that interact on a regular basis with the general public, such as therapy dogs, require a certain temperament.  These animals are rigidly tested, exposed to a plethora of stressors and environments, are extensively trained and have one on one handling with beloved caretakers.

That does NOT encompass shelter animals.

These animals are dealing with enough terror in their lives, please do not contribute any more. Say NO to birthday parties at the OSPCA.

We went, we protested and NO, OSPCA Brass- we are NOT going away

A determined group of people gathered yesterday outside OSPCA headquarters on Woodbine in Newmarket yesterday to demand again the resignation of OSPCA brass and killers extrordinaire Kate MacDonald, Tanya Firmage and Jim Sykes. Also on the agenda is a demand that the Board of Directors of this increasingly beleaguered organization resign due, among other things, to gross mismanagement and a failure to provide quality of life and a duty of care to the animals in their possession.

Terry Davidson of the Toronto Sun gives a succinct overivew of the situation, including a heartrending interview with Gianna Tramontin who recently had her old dog seized and summarily executed without due process nor any real attempt to contact her. Ms. Tramontin's veternarian Dr. Hannah who has bravely spoken out about the gross negligence involved in killing Rocky - an aging but happy dog who has been under her care for 14 years - also joined the protest. She was outraged that when the story was originally carried on CBC, her subsequent rebuttal of the OSPCA version of events was never aired and the CBC continued to present the OSPCA as a humanitarian organization only concerned with the suffering of an old "neglected" dog. This in fact was the farthest thing from the truth as Rocky was a beloved, cossetted and well cared for senior who is much missed by his family.

Carrying signs and bearing silent witness to the death last year of 102 animals at the Newmarket facility due to a since disputed "ringworm" outbreak (not only did the "outbreak" NOT occur, but even had it been present, ringworm is very treatable), protesters refuse to back down. Spokesperson Lynn Perrier (right), a tireless and determined animal advocate who has spearheaded the past several years campaign against OSPCA mismanagement, is determined to keep up the pressure.

Ms. Perrier and many others are seeking a number of actions:

• For government step in to fire senior management (Jim Sykes, Kate MacDonald and Tanya Firmage and Connie Mallory)
• Rob Godfrey and the entire Board of Directors be removed
• A forensic audit of OSPCA finances and spending
• An investigation into OSPCA charity status
• Charges of animal cruelty to be brought against those responsible for the needless killing of 102 animals in May 2010 and the other animals like Rocky

Other than the occasional car driving out or in infrequently (faces frozen and determined not to look at the protesters), the building was silent.  Apparently, as Mr. Davidson said in his article:

A woman who came to the entrance of the building’s administrative offices said the agency was not commenting to the media, and that the shelter would stay closed until Thursday because of security concerns. OSPCA officials were not available for comment, she said.

Security concerns? 

In keeping with Ms. Perrier's request to keep the protest legal and civil, no one at yesterday's demonstration blocked the driveway, heckled, created issues or in any way disturbed the peace. 

With all respect, the thought of OSPCA brass who with impunity have broken the law, been caught out in lie after lie, unapologetically slaughtered animals for which they were supposed to care, NEVER apologized or even admitted to wrongdoing, the thought of these individuals cowering inside a locked building, in fear of a largely middle-aged (although there were a fair sprinkling of young ones there too!! YEAH kids - bring it on!) women (and a few men) - is somehow both compellingly hilarious and outrageously silly.  Not sure if they expected us to storm the gates and batter down the doors with our signs, but we, unlike them follow due process.

The reality is that while the OSPCA would like to paint Ms. Perrier, myself and many, MANY other individuals as fanatics and liars - FACTS belie their assertions and efforts to undermine a determined group of individuals who hope to rid of the OSPCA of the deceitful, immoral and negligent management and directors that are currently destroying it. 

I admit to being perplexed, disappointed and shocked that so many continue to swallow the party line - that the OSPCA is an animal advocate and protects Ontario's animals when so many stories, studies and realities clearly show otherwise.

The OSPCA is, when all is said and done - a KILLING machine.

OSPCA RALLY- Newmarket - this Wednesday, June 22

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an anathema to animal rights.


They are self-serving, deluded, corporate pigs (no offense to pigs who are smart, intelligent and loving animals – but using this word in the colloquial sense) who see animals as an unfortunate side effect of their bloated organizational morass – and thus ultimately disposable.

The reality is the OSPCA KILLS the majority of the animals they purport to “save”.

The reality is that it is their right (thank you Liberal government for facilitating this gross miscarriage of justice) to decide whether an animal is being treated improperly and their RIGHT to walk in and take the animal. The fact that after STEALING the animal they then kill it is indisputable and there are many PROVEN cases of this occurring.

It has now been clearly established beyond doubt that the OSPCA – the same organization which has attacked and destroyed both individuals and organizations for the same reason – have clearly contravened policies and procedures set out by the College of Veterinarians.

Just a few of the contraventions are as follow:

• Inadequate record keeping of animals brought into the ospca Newmarket shelter.
• Inadequate record keeping of animals killed and/or euthanized;
• Inadequate record keeping of controlled drugs and medication;
• Absence of even the "Minimum Standard" for the care and compassion of animals as specified in the Animals for Research Act and the Pound Act;
• Inadequate training of supervisors and staff;
• Allowing the killing of animals to be carried out by staff and/or auxiliary personnel without direct or immediate supervision of a registered veterinarian;
• Inadequate performance and unacceptable services carried out regarding the most basic procedures

It would be ironic if it weren’t so heartbreaking that this bloated bureaucracy uses those same contraventions (often unsubstantiated) to harass and torment other individuals and organizations.

 

Premier Dalton McGuinty MUST immediately fire senior management Jim Sykes, Kate MacDonald, Tanya Firmage who have consistently, arrogantly and without conscience been caught out in lie after lie after lie.

 

In an independent review, J. Scott Weese, detailed failure after failure on the part of this nightmare for animals of an organization.

• Variable and sometimes contradictory statements.
• Content or factual errors.
• Inadequate consideration of many broad issues that contribute to infectious disease transmission.
• Inadequate provision of information to personnel for routine practices, health risks and disease control issues.
• Reliance on passive suggestions rather than firm requirements, such that much of the specific information in the documents can be interpreted as optional.
• Inadequate description and delineation of roles and responsibilities of different personnel, reporting mechanisms and the decision-making process for many important decisions.
• Excessive marginally relevant material that detracts from more important information.
• No indication of clear, formal, documented and mandatory training for most areas.

 I highly recommend interested persons read the report cover to cover , but some salient issues include the fact that there is “here is no formal mechanism for properly addressing outbreaks” – yet in their deluded, arrogant ‘wisdom’ they decided to MURDER all 350 animals in their facility last year at a purported – yes purported – it was LATER proven the “virulent strain of ringworm” they claimed justified the slaughter – NEVER EXISTED.  Further, as quoted from the Report: 

An additional concern with in-house testing is quality control. Improper use or interpretation of tests can lead to erroneous results being reported, as may have been the case in this ringworm 'outbreak' i.e. misinterpretation of the Fungassay screening test.

 Even the most basic requirements are flouted and “Currently, there is no requirement that animals be vaccinated against rabies prior to adoption.” This from an organization that purports to speak for the animals of ONTARIO?

 

This organization, which says styles itself the EXPERT on animal care, animal husbandry and animal welfare in the province of Ontario had as a directive to its employees instructions like:

For example, people are to "Walk through all rooms and ensure all dogs are ok ... .,

 OK? What in the name of GOD is OK? As in alive (possibly an important directive as the OSPCA is so keen to kill). Clean? Unstressed? Talk about vague and this from an organization which MAKES the directives and rules!

 

Kate the BITCH Macdonald and her minions lied outright in many of their dealings with the Toronto Humane Society last year. They lied about the “virulent ringworm” outbreak. There has been lie after lie to owners about their beloved pets which were summarily executed without even a chance to say goodbye. The lies are legion yet these people continue to rule.

 

What is wrong with the McGuinty government that they continue to allow this travesty of an organization to continue under the aegis of individuals who so clearly are liars, cheats and charlatans?

 

FIX this, McGuinty and FIX IT NOW.

 

Let our voices be heard at the highlest level of government; come to the Rally this Wednesday, June 22. 

 

 

Peaceful Protest at Newmarket OSPCA

WHEN:    THIS Wednesday, June 22, starting at 1400 hrs (2:00 p.m.)

WHERE:  Outside OSPCA Headquarters, 16586 Woodbine Avenue, Newmarket, ON

See Facebook details here.

An emphasis on the peaceful nature of this protest.  We are there to bear witness to the atrocities committed by the OSPCA and their management.  We are there to show the government and the people of Ontario that we remember.  We are there to be credible and sincere voices AGAINST the continuation of the OSPCA in its present guise under its present leadership.

Be there!! 

you GO Shirley!! Memphis, grow up and FACE your problems!

Shirley at Yes Biscuit has been doing a superlative job of bringing to light the atrocities at Memphis Animal Shelter (albiet "shelter" is a misnomer... more like Memphis Torture Chamber or Memphis Kill Room).  Two years ago, this instiution STARVED a healthy puppy to death.  This horrific deed promoted the installation of webcams so the public could keep tabs and the hiring of new manager - Matthew Pepper.

Astonishingly, as anyone who follows Biscuit can see (to their horror), being in camera seems to have had NO effect on the sitaution whatsoever.  MAS admits to a 70% kill rate with little to no effort going into creating a kinder and more hopeful environment for Memphis animals.  Shirley captures frame after frame of animals being dragged to the kill room, dogs being stuffed into TINY cages, cats being poked with prodded and puppies dumped into a garbage can, hauled straight to be killed.

It has astonished and perplexed me for many months now how the Memphis public stands by and watches this - how the City government continues to laude director Pepper and councillor after councillor shrugs and somehow DOESN'T see a problem.

Shirley began a "chip-in" account to provide rescue and care to animals who never see the light of day and are hidden from the public and offered no chance of adoption. 

In response, she received a pathetically couched piece of crap which threatens her with "legal action" based on an obscure piece of legislation that some law student probably spent days searching through archives for.  See Shirley's blog on it here.

KC Dog Blog covers it here.

Pet Connecton here.

Then Raised by Wolves and Smartdog weigh in here and here.

So rather than try to fix what is clearly a very broken system, they would rather waste money on threatening an individual who offers her time, money and effort to help some of the animals so summarily dismissed in Memphis Animal Shelter. 

Pathetic doesn't cover it.

Stand up and be counted Memphis citizens. The world is watching.  Your city is being portrayed in a supremely negative light - so where are you?

This is all too reminiscent of our own issues here with the OSPCA.

That organization too is politically shielded, tacitly and overtly supported despite horrendous and incontrovertible contraventions of law and morality and their upper echelon of management is also lauded .  Lies and omissions, immoral and outrageous - some major fixin needs doing in these organizations.

So let them hear our voices.