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Time for Change to Abuse Laws
Article By: Glenn Redmond
I lived away from this province for fifteen years and
I am quite happy to be back. I left at nineteen years
old when I was more interested in what time friends were
gathering on George Street than the quality of life a
city offers. "Double Dark and Dirties" at Trapper
John's: now that was quality. I spent eight years in Vancouver,
and although a beautiful place in its own right, I did
not know my neighbours. Here, I'm often reminded of "Wilson"
on Home Improvement as conversations through my high dog-proof
fence happen quite frequently. I enjoy the fact that I
don't sit in traffic for half an hour just to take my
dog for a run in the woods. I'm happy to breathe clean
air and watch the sun set over the waters of Conception
Bay South, enjoying the view from my deck. You would pay
a million dollars in Vancouver for this privilege. I like
knowing I'm going to get a response when I say hi to a
stranger on the street and I enjoy the openness and hospitality
Newfoundlanders offer. However, we have a long history
of animal abuse in this province. Over the years the neglect
of animals has become engrained in our culture and belief
system and this needs to change.
The Newfoundland Dog has represented our province admirably
and is well known for its friendly disposition and amazing
ability to perform water rescue. It is now the dog of
choice for many coast guards, being dropped from helicopters
to courageously rescue victims from frigid waters. Unfortunately,
we have not always been reciprocal in the relationship.
Years ago, the Newfoundland Dog was employed to help fishermen,
often carrying loads twice as heavy as they should have
been and fed putrid fish for their efforts. In the off
season, they were frequently left to roam and fend for
themselves. Those that survived were put back to work
for another grueling round of abuse. We see it more readily
today with our Beagles. They are penned in small cages
often in unsanitary conditions until hunting season. They
are used for the hunt and then sent back to their sentence
of isolation. And it is not just Beagles. We do not have
to look very far to see many dogs tied to a dog house
or post, living a life of misery and despair.
The SPCA and Humane Services have long fought against
this injustice, but have been handcuffed by outdated legislation.
As long as the animal has food, shelter and water, there
is little that can be done to ease the animals suffering.
In fact, prolonged tethering is even recommended in our
archaic laws, making it legal to treat an animal in such
a way. I have been on abuse calls with the SPCA and what
I have seen would turn your stomach. Dogs with choke chains
so embedded in their necks, they have to have them surgically
removed. Others with open sores and fur so matted that
it is impossible for the poor animal to regulate its own
body temperature. The worst cases have found animals barely
breathing or already dead, having been left tied to their
poor excuse of a dog house to rot. Many offenders see
nothing wrong with it and animal control officials are
often met with a verbal onslaught of oaths that would
make even the hardest criminal's head spin.
Last week a major step for change was taken. Mayor Andy
Wells responded to the concerns of citizens in the Airport
Heights area and saw first hand how all too many animals
in this province live. Wells drove by the location several
times to find an innocent Golden Retriever tied to a dog
house and left in the pounding rain. Neighbours in the
area say the dog is always treated in such a manner and
even attempted to buy the animal to rescue it from its
imprisonment. Wells wrote a letter to the owners outlining
the abuse taking place and has called for a change in
the provincial legislation to put an end to these practices
permanently.
Now, I have not always agreed with Mayor Wells on animal
issues, and often felt that his tirades do more harm than
good. On the other hand, he has been quick to recant statements
once more educated information was gathered on the subject.
It was Wells who agreed to bring Calgary's animal officials
to our province to offer guidance and support in developing
better animal control models, and it was Mayor Wells who
got out of bed at 1:30 in the morning to go check on the
Golden Retriever in Airport Heights. The winds of change
have always needed a public official to get behind the
cause and it seems that talk has finally turned into action.
We have a beautiful province, one which I feel fortunate
to live in, but this issue has been a thorn in my side
ever since I have been back. Finally there is hope, and
I would encourage all those who have ever had any feelings
towards an animal at all to write your counselors in support
of changes to end animal abuse in this province once and
for all.
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