BRINDI'S STORY - INNOCENT DOG ON DEATH ROW IN HALIFAX

 

To Sign Brindi's Petition, just click here .To read Brindi's Story please continue below...

 Why Brindi's Situation Upsets Me...

Dog's lives are so short - all too often I have seen dogs misunderstood, taken away, incarcerated and put to death. 

It pains me that a ‘civilized’ country can do such things. 

There are so many dogs penalized simply because humans do not understand dogs - do not employ common sense - do not stop to really think. I am always brought back to a single question - why does humanity continue to believe that it is ok to kill a dog for something we would not kill a human for? Why is a dog’s life worth so little to so many? Because of ignorance, fear and because man has one thing that most non-human animals do not have - an opposable thumb.

The opposable thumb has allowed mankind to develop tools that make man a more powerful animal, a more destructive and brutal animal than any other living species.

Brindi is yet one more example of the inability of humanity to stop and think with logic rather than assumptive arrogance and raw, unlearned emotion.

Dog's often scuffle with each other - it is natural. The fact that Brindi's scuffles have never resulted in another dog or person being harmed should indicate that she is not intent on doing harm. If she was she would have done harm when she had the opportunity. 

Despite that,  Brindi has so far spent 3 years in incarceration - taken away from those who love her for no solid, logical reason other than human stupidity. And once again she faces death by euthanization as another court date looms.

Halifax Regional Municipality is responsible for incarcerating her, kicking her and sentencing her to death. These are forms of cruelty that only humans posses - much more harmful than anything Brindi has ever done or is ever likely to do.

I make my living working with dogs. I also have eight rescued dogs - some of them were much more reactive then Brindi has ever been. Reactivity does not mean the dog is bad, nor does it mean that the dogs is vicious and will do harm. Reactivity is easily addressed. It is when people misunderstand dogs - like you are doing - that greater harm is done. Addressing reactivity is a very simple task. In fact it is easier to address such things in a dog than it is in a human. Because dogs live in the moment it is easier to change a dog's habits' than it is a human's. Humans carry grudges, dogs do not. Dogs are very forgiving and will, given the opportunity treat each day, each experience as a new beginning. It is only with difficulty that we are able to convince, permit and allow ourselves to do the same.

I have worked with dogs that went way beyond anything Brindi has ever done. I rehabilitated those dogs - so to hold Brindi for never even having bitten anyone is a complete injustice and it is also cruelty.

So, before you accuse a dog of being dangerous, it is important to look inside yourself and see if you have made a terrible mistake. When we judge a situation, a person or a dog from an uninformed, emotional state rather than from an informed and logical basis we become hypocrites and our behaviour can be many times worse than that of those we judge.

Look to yourself first, and then reassess your judgement. We all make mistakes everyday - to error is human. The important thing is to recognize the mistake, do what is in your power to correct the mistake and learn.

About Brindi…

Brindi is a dog that has been imprisoned for far too long. Both her trainer and her veterinarian

are greatly concerned for her welfare. She has suffered psychologically and physically after being yanked away from her home with her companion, Francesca Rogier, who rescued her from a shelter. Mrs. Rogier has cooperated with the judge’s conditions in order to reintegrate Brindi into society. There is strong support for her return in the local community, and among Brindi’s trainer, veterinarian, and groomer.

In July 2008, the Halifax Regional Municipality decided arbitrarily that Brindi is a dangerous dog and ordered her to be put down. It cited a few incidents with other dogs, all but one without injury. The one instance of injury required no medical treatment. Brindi had gotten along well with most dogs she met, and also had never attacked a human. Yet Halifax would not reconsider its decision, nor would it agree to any options or offers Francesca put forward. It offered no process of appeal, and even blocked her from getting assessment of Brindi’s temperament without a court order. When Francesca obtained the order and asked a behaviorist to examine Brindi, the outcome was decidedly positive. But Halifax ignored the results, thus forcing Francesca to take her case before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

In January 2009, a judge ruled that by seizing Brindi without notice or the right of appeal, Francesca’s civil rights were violated. It proved a hollow victory, as Halifax simply continued to refuse to return Brindi. Instead, it laid charges against Francesca, who had never been charged before. The matter soon became tied up in the courts, prolonging Brindi’s confinement even further. For most of this time, Francesca was not permitted to visit Brindi, who was also kept isolated from other dogs. Not surprisingly, her health began to suffer. Finally, in May of 2010, Dartmouth Judge Alanna Murphy released Brindi from the pound after nearly two years. The conditions of release she imposed were: further training with Brindi, compliance with a muzzle order, maintaining a secure dog run, and payment of fines. As Francesca had offered Halifax animal control the very same conditions back in 2008, she was happy to comply, and also continued working with her trainer after Brindi came home.

Then, Brindi was picked up by animal control after a scuffle with another dog in September 2010. Though that dog was not seriously harmed, and once again, no humans were hurt – even though they kicked her - Brindi is again on death row and in danger of being put down. Francesca Rogier now faces a trial date in March. In the meantime, Brindi’s vet, who has been monitoring her health, has reason to suspect pancreatic cancer. Further medical tests are pending.

This petition respectfully asks Judge Buchan to please do the honorable act of allowing Brindi to be released to her home and loving family. We are convinced that Brindi is not a dangerous dog, and believe it would be wrong to end her life prematurely.

We also ask all advocates and supporters of Brindi to sign the petition below started by Carol W. Both petitions will be delivered to the court by Carol W. and Hand4Paws in March.

The next trail date is March 2 and March 16, 2012.

This petition respectfully asks Judge Buchan to please do the honorable act of allowing Brindi to be released to her home and loving family. We are convinced that Brindi is not a dangerous dog, and believe it would be wrong to end her life prematurely.

We also ask all advocates and supporters of Brindi to sign the petition below started by Carol W. Both petitions will be delivered to the court by Carol W. and Hand4Paws in March.

You can click here to go to Brindi's petition and sign to help save her.

Please help make sure that Brindi goes home.

 

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Article by Karen Rosenfeld.