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Ask Yvette

News reports this week tell of a shocking investigation West of Strathroy. Over 100 dogs of various breeds, described as Shepherds, Mastiff's and Pit Bulls apparently lived exposed to the elements in conditions of squalor as chickens survived by pecking the meat from dead and decomposing carcasses. It seems that it took an investigation into stolen electronic equipment to expose animal cruelty at a kennel licensed facility.

Of course, these are allegations. But this case aside, people in animal rescue work are well aware that this is not an isolated incident.

These types of incidents anger me. When these dogs are bred and sold, how can we possibly expect stable family pets in our cities? Yet, each dog attack quickly degenerates into a non-productive debate of bad breeds versus bad owners. Both parties act as easy scapegoats enabling sickening industry practices.

In the meantime, the mill breeders, distributors and retailers hide behind a cloak of anonymity.

I often wonder how incredibly resilient some dogs must be. It is shocking that more dogs are not attacking us. With substandard treatment, many are undersocialized and subsequently become aggressive. This is a human created problem. Members of the human species did this, not the dogs. It is not an owner problem, although they do inherit the task of fixing the situation as best as possible.

But it may not be enough. When that dog bites, the owner will potentially be liable under the law. It does not matter that the problem may have been created prior to purchase, allowed by an outdated and failing system. When animals are in abusive situations, lax laws combined with lack of funding are bound to fail.

There is virtually no responsibility placed upon the shoulders of irresponsible kennels when a dog bites.
How much responsibility is placed on the brokers and retailers who sell these animals? Undetected by the current laws, they quietly continue to profit from the public's desire for a cute family addition. That profit is at the expense of public safety and animal welfare.

Nice families become trapped in a painful situation where these puppies and kittens come with unexpected baggage. Heartfelt emotional attachment wars with a volatile animal. I have a lot of sympathy for many people I see in this position. This is not what pet ownership should be like.

And although it is easier to blame the animal or the owner, it is not accurate. The issue is systematic and it is high time the law caught up with the full scope of the problem.

For over a hundred years, Canada has not amended it's animal cruelty laws. Our society has changed, and in my opinion laws should change and grow to reflect our changing needs. They should represent what we feel is right and what we feel is wrong.

Animal welfare laws do not have to interfere with agriculture, fishing, hunting or the rights of First Nations. They are about conditions of squalor, providing animals with food, water and shelter. These are basic necessities, not animal activist wish lists.

Animal welfare laws reach beyond what is right and wrong. They are a vital part of keeping the public safe.
In the meantime, the government is considering a number of animal welfare bills. Bill C-373 is thought to be the tougher law.

Right now, the proposed legislation is being considered. Now is the time to speak up. The system is broken, and it needs fixing. Please take a moment and contact your local MP and tell them that animal abuse can no longer be taken lightly.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

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