----- Original Message -----
From: Animal Advocates Society of B.C.
To: monitor@png.canwest.com
Cc: VCP: Nancy Clay nancy_clay@city.vancouver.bc.ca ; David Duggan Martin
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 9:51 AM
Subject: Monitor, Saturday, Jan 24/04: chained dog

Dear Monitor,

Here is a video clip and a photo of the dog that David Duggan Martin reported to you in his complaint to Monitor.

It is chained at (address removed on the web). Two years ago two dogs at this address were reported to AAS. We saw a German shepherd cross and the Shar-pei. We reported the dogs to the SPCA as had other people in this neighbourhood. When Mr Martin reported to us in December 2003, we went again and saw only the Shar-pei but there may still be a neglected German shepherd at this site.

We are very glad to see a public service like Monitor forcing evasive City agencies to do what they pretend to do, but don't. We think it highly improbable that the Vancouver City Pound has not known about this dog, and every other yard dog that AAS knows of, and of many more. We know for a fact that the SPCA always knows, because we report them ourselves, or confirm that at least one person has reported the dog. We have a file of over fifty yard dogs in Vancouver, many of which are potentially dangerous and may kill or maim a child if they get the chance.

The City of Vancouver has consistently avoided taking responsibility for dangerous yard dogs by saying that the issue belongs to the SPCA. After AAS presented the City with our report on Vancouver yard dogs, "IT'S TIME!", the SPCA promised the City that it would 'take care of' this problem and the City got off cheap. But the SPCA has not kept its promise to the City and the City knows it.

The City could easily make this their responsibility by adopting bylaws prohibiting the keeping of dogs in yards, but that would cost more than just killing or euthanizing the dogs once they attack. Not even the attack on Shenica White moved the City to prevent another disaster. The next time - and a next time is a given - a child may be killed. The City may be waiting for that.

Judy Stone,
President,
office@animaladvocates.com

Please send you reports of yard dogs in Vancouver to the MONITOR at monitor@png.canwest.com
the City Pound at nancy_clay@city.vancouver.bc.ca
and the Manager of Cruelty Investigations at the BC SPCA cdaniell@spca.bc.ca

In other municipalities write your City Hall, the Monitor, and the BCSPCA.

Please cc to us at office@animaladvocates.com