Mahatma Gandhi stated, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Currently, Halifax Regional Municipality’s animal control bylaws and their application contradict the great philosopher in regard to the court case of Francesca Rogier and her dog Brindi.
A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge, on Jan. 16, 2009, was right to rule that the authorized killing of Brindi by HRM’s animal control bylaws exceeded the power of the municipality. The court case against Ms. Rogier and her dog should have been dropped then, but instead HRM insists on having a trial on Oct. 13, 2009, in order to have Brindi killed, even when Ms. Rogier pleads not guilty.
It is easier to stand by and say nothing, but my conscience compels me to ask HRM to drop the charges, to allow Ms. Rogier to take Brindi home after his long stay at the SPCA shelter and, in compensation, to pay Ms. Rogier’s legal bills.
Hope Bridgewater, Wentworth
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Thursday, July 30, 2009
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Brindi, the dog, has now been imprisoned unjustly by HRM for a year. A year in a kennel that is meant for short term stays! I am sure the SPCA is doing their best, but Brindi should at the very least be moved to a more accommodating kennel, where she can be walked! Her current situation is inhu mane!
This is not about public safety; this is about HRM trying to save face. They have the power to end this mess. Brindi is not a dangerous dog! This was proven when the Supreme Court quashed the euthanization order, only to have HRM charge her owner, Francesca Rogier, at literally the last hour of the six month statute of limitations.
To re-home Brindi would mean declaring her not dangerous. The city will not agree to this, because then they would have to drop their charges. They want to kill Brindi; Brindi is not human aggressive (as stated by a professional assessment) and has never seriously injured any dog. Yes, she has issues with other dogs near her property and these issues will be worked on. Ms. Rogier has a certified dog behaviourist/ trainer on board to help.
Our animal control system is in trouble. Ms. Rogier has been denied due process. It horrifies me that I even have to write this letter, as it is all so unbelievable! Ms. Rogier and Brindi are being treated worse than criminals.
I am concerned for the welfare of my own dog under bylaw A-300. The way it’s written, if my dog “appears" to be threatening to someone, they can come and take my dog and kill her! This would all be decided by people who have little to no experience in animal behaviour! We should all fear for our dogs in HRM.
To the HRM councillors, please stop sweeping this under the rug! Hiring pricey outside lawyers to prosecute a bylaw infraction does not sit well with me as a taxpayer, either. Even the animal control in Calgary, which you are trying to model, is not pleased with the handling of this case.
Stop the injustice and send Brindi home where she belongs!
Jenn Richardson, Dartmouth, NS
The owner of Brindi the dog will go to trial in October on three counts of violating Halifax Regional Municipality’s animal control bylaw.
Francesca Rogier of East Chezzetcook is charged with being the owner of a dog that was running at large, owning a dog that attacked another animal and failing to comply with a muzzling order.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges in February and appeared in Dartmouth provincial court again last week, when her trial was set for Oct. 13.
The charges stem from an event in East Chezzetcook in July 2008, when animal control officers, acting on a complaint from another pet owner, seized Brindi and ordered her euthanized.
The dog was under a muzzle order at the time. Ms. Rogier has said Brindi got away while she was holding the muzzle.
Brindi, a six-year-old mixed breed, has been kept at the SPCA shelter in Dartmouth since she was seized.
A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge ruled Jan. 16 that the bylaw that authorized the killing of Brindi exceeded the power of the municipality.
