 |
 |
| Author |
Message |
|
|
 |
Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:18 pm  |
Help Save Bruce the Dog - sentenced to death in Northern Ireland because of the way he looks...
You can see Bruce and his story by watching this Youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aQLog460Io
September, 2007 in Northern Ireland, a loving family pet was seized from his home and taken to a small concrete pen to await execution. His crime - bearing a resemblance to one of the breeds banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Bruce had done nothing wrong. He had never attacked anyone, nor had he shown any signs of aggression. His heartbroken owner, Shannon, vowed to do everything she could to save him. Even his neighbours joined the Save Bruce campaign.
One month after his seizure, Shannon was allowed to visit him and was dismayed to see a sore on his nose and that Bruce had lost a considerable amount of weight whilst in the local authority’s “care”.
She was not allowed to see him again until 5 months had passed. A shocking sight awaited her. Bruce was covered in painful open sores and hung his head dejectedly. It is difficult to imagine how bad a state he might now be in as the local authority have not allowed her to see him again since the beginning of this year. We do know, however, that his tail has had to be amputated due to the severe sores.
Whilst the Dangerous Dogs Act in Northern Ireland is even more unfair and Draconian than it is in the rest of the UK, the situation is different south of the border, where dogs such as Bruce would be safe. A wonderful, experienced rescue centre in Galway, Republic of Ireland, has offered Bruce a place, but the local authority in Northern Ireland will not allow him to go there.
He was due to be executed today, Monday, 6th July 2009, but has been granted a temporary stay of execution whilst all legal avenues are explored - this is thanks to all the people from around the world who have protested.
We need as many people as possible to continue to write or email those with the influence to help Bruce. We need to persuade them to allow Bruce safe passage into the Republic of Ireland so that he can be taken to his new home with South Galway Rescue. We also need to shame the local authority who have neglected Bruce so appallingly and allowed him to become covered in sores whilst detained by them. An owner who had allowed their dog to get into the same condition would have been severely prosecuted.
Please help Bruce now!
You can find template letters and contact details here. Every single person who writes an email or letter could make a difference...
http://dangerousdogsact.blogspot.com/
Template Letters for Bruce:
Please go to each one seperately as the contact details will differ – Thank You!
http://ddawatch.webs.com/savingbrucetemplate1.htm
http://ddawatch.webs.com/savingbrucevetdraft.htm
http://ddawatch.webs.com/brucetemplategeneral.htm
[img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img] |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:52 pm |
| What an incredibly sad thing. I sent letters. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:37 pm |
I sent letters too. I can't believe such an injustice is happening! I hope not only that Bruce will be saved from death row, but that he will live out his days with a family who will love him.
By the way, don't forget to sign the petition. The way I see it is, it couldn't hurt! I was looking over the signed petition and I was really touched to see that people from all over the world care about Bruce.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BRING-BRUCE-HOME-X |
_________________
27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
|
|
|
|
Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:26 pm |
Thank you so much. Every person who tries to help could make that vital bit of difference, and thanks for posting the petition link, Liz.
What also concerns me is the condition in which Bruce is being kept. After being taken from his owner as a perfectly healthy, happy dog, he became covered in open sores, so bad that it was necessary to amputate his tail, and he lost quite a bit of weight.
If an owner had allowed this to happen, they would be prosecuted. So why should those holding Bruce be allowed to do so? And what about all the other poor animals in their care? |
|
|
|
|
|
Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:38 am |
Received a response to my email to the PS Ministers:
Thank you for your e-mail regarding Bruce the dog.
As the issues you raise are the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, your correspondence has been passed to that Department for consideration.
Thanks for posting the link to the petition.  |
|
|
|
|
|
Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:33 am |
| Signed the petition - poor family and poor dog. |
_________________
Early 50s, Skin: combin.,semi-sensitive, fair with occasional breakouts, some old acne scars, freckles, under-eye wrinkles; Redhead with hazel eyes |
|
|
|
|
Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:59 pm |
| majorb wrote: |
Help Save Bruce the Dog - sentenced to death in Northern Ireland because of the way he looks...
You can see Bruce and his story by watching this Youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aQLog460Io
September, 2007 in Northern Ireland, a loving family pet was seized from his home and taken to a small concrete pen to await execution. His crime - bearing a resemblance to one of the breeds banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Bruce had done nothing wrong. He had never attacked anyone, nor had he shown any signs of aggression. His heartbroken owner, Shannon, vowed to do everything she could to save him. Even his neighbours joined the Save Bruce campaign.
One month after his seizure, Shannon was allowed to visit him and was dismayed to see a sore on his nose and that Bruce had lost a considerable amount of weight whilst in the local authority’s “care”.
She was not allowed to see him again until 5 months had passed. A shocking sight awaited her. Bruce was covered in painful open sores and hung his head dejectedly. It is difficult to imagine how bad a state he might now be in as the local authority have not allowed her to see him again since the beginning of this year. We do know, however, that his tail has had to be amputated due to the severe sores.
Whilst the Dangerous Dogs Act in Northern Ireland is even more unfair and Draconian than it is in the rest of the UK, the situation is different south of the border, where dogs such as Bruce would be safe. A wonderful, experienced rescue centre in Galway, Republic of Ireland, has offered Bruce a place, but the local authority in Northern Ireland will not allow him to go there.
He was due to be executed today, Monday, 6th July 2009, but has been granted a temporary stay of execution whilst all legal avenues are explored - this is thanks to all the people from around the world who have protested.
We need as many people as possible to continue to write or email those with the influence to help Bruce. We need to persuade them to allow Bruce safe passage into the Republic of Ireland so that he can be taken to his new home with South Galway Rescue. We also need to shame the local authority who have neglected Bruce so appallingly and allowed him to become covered in sores whilst detained by them. An owner who had allowed their dog to get into the same condition would have been severely prosecuted.
Please help Bruce now!
You can find template letters and contact details here. Every single person who writes an email or letter could make a difference...
http://dangerousdogsact.blogspot.com/
Template Letters for Bruce:
Please go to each one seperately as the contact details will differ – Thank You!
http://ddawatch.webs.com/savingbrucetemplate1.htm
http://ddawatch.webs.com/savingbrucevetdraft.htm
http://ddawatch.webs.com/brucetemplategeneral.htm
[img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img] |
I sent letters already. |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:52 am |
I just wanted to say thanks again to all those who have taken the time to help Bruce. 
We're still waiting to hear what will happen to him, but people have been emailing those in influence and posting on forums all over the world. Perhaps the knowledge that the eyes of the world are upon them might help persuade them to do the right thing. |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:42 am |
| majorb wrote: |
I just wanted to say thanks again to all those who have taken the time to help Bruce.
We're still waiting to hear what will happen to him, but people have been emailing those in influence and posting on forums all over the world. Perhaps the knowledge that the eyes of the world are upon them might help persuade them to do the right thing. |
Please let us know what happens, ok? I passed that on to everyone I know. Hopefully it will help. |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:15 am |
| As an animal lover -- we have five dogs -- it breaks my heart to see an animal suffer needlessly! This country and the authorities involved have the opportunity and responsibility to place this dog in a safe and loving home. Shame on them!! And why are they dragging their heels... |
_________________
50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
|
|
|
|
Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:50 am |
Thank you, rileygirl!
kims - Unfortunately, a law was passed (the Dangerous Dogs Act) in 1991 as an ill thought-out, knee jerk reaction to the sad case of a little girl who was savaged by a pit bull in England. This Law bans specified breeds of dog and orders that they be killed. The rest of the UK have amended the Act to give the judge some degree of discretion in the case of family pets which have shown no aggression, for instance. However, Northern Ireland have not passed this amendment, so a dog of, or even just resembling, so called "dangerous breeds" will be executed.
The ridiculous thing is that Breed Specific Legislation is not working. In fact, there have been more dog attacks since the Act was brought in. It has even become cooler to for yobs to own a "dangerous breed" and to train them to actually be aggressive - in order to gain what they laughingly call "respect". In any case, top of the table of dogs responsible for attacks are Labradors - which are not classed as a dangerous breed.
Here is a statement from the British Veterinary Association on the matter:
http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/ps_dangerous_dogs.pdf
"DANGEROUS DOGS
The BVA, as a member of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, fully supports the FVE position on dangerous dogs, not least the recommendations urging the European Commission and Member States to postpone the adoption of further breed-specific legislation until a proper risk analysis has been carried out. As the FVE Position on Dangerous Dogs states:
“Breed-specific legislation has been shown to be difficult to apply due to the problem of defining breeds and breed types.” This has certainly been a major source of controversy here in the UK.
“Breed-specific legislation engenders a false and dangerous perception that breeds not included will not show aggression. Aggression is a normal behaviour and can be shown by any dog of any breed, type or mixed breeding.”
“Breed-specific legislation does not discriminate between individual members of a breed, many of which may not be predisposed to aggressive behaviour. Rather, all dogs of a specific breed, whatever their behaviour, are subject to the same restrictions.”
In June 2001 the American Veterinary Medical Association published proposed alternatives to breed-specific legislation, in a report entitled ‘A Model Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention’, developed by a task force comprised of representatives from various veterinary bodies as well as, among others, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Paediatrics, and the American College of Emergency Physicians. For further information please visit http://www.avma.org/public_health/default.asp#dogbite.
As the BVA stated in its submission, in February 1996, to the British Government’s Home Affairs Committee Inquiry into the operation of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, “The BVA is fully supportive of the Government’s aim of protecting the public from dog attacks”. It was also stressed, however, that “the BVA has long been opposed in principle to any proposals which single out particular breeds of dogs rather than targeting individual aggressive dogs. The problems caused by dangerous dogs will never be solved until dog owners appreciate that they are responsible for the actions of their animals.”
Proscribed breeds in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, as ‘Dogs bred for fighting’ are the (American) pit bull terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a British breed (not to be confused with the American Stafford, a different breed) is, as stated by the Kennel Club, a highly popular family pet in the UK, not least because of its renowned compatibility with children.
The BVA believes that the manner in which a dog behaves is largely a result of its inherited characteristics, but more importantly the rearing and training provided by the owner."
And for anyone wanting to learn more, here's a link to the excellent American task force proposal which the British Veterinary Association mentions:
http://www.avma.org/public_health/dogbite/dogbite.pdf
I think it's very well thought through indeed. |
|
|
|
|
|
Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:03 am |
Thank you majorb for bringing Bruce to our attention. I have five rescued Pit Bull type dogs, and they are loving and wonderful. They love kids, cats, anybody.
Breed profiling does not work to protect anyone. Bad people have bad dogs because they do not train their dogs to be good. They often train their dogs to be harmful. It's the people not the dogs.
All our dogs are highly trained (to be good) and socialized. Two are trained as therapy dogs. They were all dumped and rejected at one point in their lives. Now they are happy and flourishing. All pets deserve a chance for a happy life, including Bruce. |
|
|
|
|
|
Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:47 am |
Nikita - You and I obviously think exactly the same way.
I've actually been attacked by dogs twice as a child - thankfully, not very badly, but one of the instances was pretty scary. One of these dogs was a large white dog (which I've just found out was probably a Samoyed) and the other was a Scottish Terrier.
There's no way that I would class either of those breeds as dangerous, and there's no way I'd wish to see them banned.
As you say, much depends on the owner. There are instances, of course, of a dog attacking due to illness or mental problems, but "bad" dogs are most often the fault of bad owners. |
|
|
|
|
| Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:23 pm |
If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.
Click Here to join our community.
If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site. |
|
 |
|
|
