THE WATCHDOG

Posted By: AAS
Date: Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 10:56 a.m.

January 26 2004

Chief Constable Jamie Graham,
Vancouver Police Department,
2120 Cambie Street,
Vancouver BC V5Z 4N6

Re: The shooting of the dog Tommy at 7841 Windsor Street, Vancouver: January 22/04

Dear Chief Constable Graham,

Animal Advocates Society of BC has been urging the City of Vancouver to prohibit the keeping of yard dogs beginning in 2001 when we presented the City with our report, “IT’S TIME!” Included in this report are many photo-stories of yard dogs and the expert opinion and research that prove that yard dogs not only suffer lives of distress (an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act) but are a danger to the public, especially to children. If you would like a copy of all the dog bite statistics, we would be happy to supply it.

The City chose at that time to tell the BC SPCA to use its powers under the Act to “do something”. The SPCA agreed and said it would begin a program of education. In the subsequent two and a half years, not even a brochure in English has been made available at any SPCA branch, and to the best of our ability to know, no dog has been seized.

The shooting of Tommy was inevitable, just as was the attack on Shenica White in December 2002. As more people use dogs as guards, more shootings and more maulings, even a death, probably of a child, are also inevitable.

We are in sympathy with the police officer who we believe was justified in his or her actions. Guard dogs are meant to frighten and attack and in the dark it was not possible to read Tommy’s body language. We are not in sympathy with the adult Bains who chained Tommy.

But we regret that the Vancouver Police Department itself has counseled home-owners to get a guard dog.

In the end, there is only one victim, as always, the weakest member of our society, in this case, the dog.

We ask two things of you: to tell your officers to stop telling people to get a guard dog and to urge the City to adopt legislation prohibiting the keeping of yard dogs.

Our report is online at http://www.animaladvocates.com/ItsTime.htm. We would be pleased to send you a copy. We attach the four points we asked the City to consider.

Sincerely,

Judith Stone,
President, Animal Advocates Society of BC
animaladvocates@telus.net

cc: Mayor Campbell and Council

This is a picture taken when "Tommy" was a gentle, submissive pup. AAS sees this all the time, an innocent pup who is treated well for a few weeks or a few months, and then spends the rest of its life chained.

What do the neighbours say about Tommy's life? The Vancouver City police should speak to the neighbours to see if in fact they shot a "loved family pet", or if they were confronted in the dark by a psychologically ruined and dangerous dog.

The stats are unequivocal...it is these dogs that maim and kill. Mr Bains is lucky that Tommy didn't crack and kill one of his children.

In memory of Tommy and all the other dogs who die on their chains, AAS is going to keep fighting people like the Bains, and the City of Vancouver, and the BC SPCA.

Messages In This Thread

SUCCESS! Vancouver says it will do something for yard dogs! The Animal Control Strategic Plan *LINK*
AAS -- Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 9:23 a.m.
AAS address to Council urging adoption of the Strategic Plan *LINK* *PIC*
AAS -- Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 10:29 a.m.
AAS letter to Chief Constable Jamie Graham and photo of "Tommy" who was shot *PIC*
AAS -- Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 10:56 a.m.
City of Vancouver beefs up dog control
Lavone Zeviar -- Thursday, 27 May 2004, at 8:49 a.m.
http://www.animaladvocates.com/cgi-bin/newsroom.pl/read/5245