FREE BRINDI

September 2011: Another Year of Hell.

2011-11-03T22:08:00.014-03:00

Only ten weeks after a provincial judge finally let Brindi come home - when I was just beginning to come up for air, when I actually thought things were getting better, when Brindi's health was finally stabilizing, and when I still had some savings left - another inconceivably freakish incident happened. No more harmful than the others, but enough for the city of Halifax to use as an excuse to

In the margins: AC officer who seized Brindi gives opinion of the situation

2010-06-01T00:57:00.008-03:00

Not sure what this means exactly. > Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 12:30:18 -0300 > From: hammt@halifax.ca > To: Bob Riley > Subject: Re: Tim I thought I would give you a heads up to watch... > > Hi Bob, > > Sorry I just got the e-mail today, so I missed the news. I no longer support Ms Scolaro or MacDonald with their pursuit of this case, and I have not for quite some time. I feel I acted with good

It's not over 'til the fat lady gets her dog back

2010-05-01T02:20:00.001-03:00

Photo: Glen Canning And it'd better be soon!!! Amelia and I are waiting!

Humane Halifax: "Andrew Krystal should just go away"

2010-04-20T21:52:00.004-03:00

Response from Humane Halifax for Better Animal Control: Andrew Krystal should just go away Discussions on the case regarding Francesca Rogier and her dog Brindi are not “inane.” It is the opposite. This is a highly significant matter legally and to our community. This is not a case simply focused on the behaviour of a dog, or an owner, but involves the illegality of

Krystal Not Clear on Brindi: Time for Andrew to Catch Up

2010-04-20T02:18:00.023-03:00

from the blog of Andrew Krystal, News 95.7 talk radio host of Maritime Morning Time to go Brindi April 19th, 2010“Brindi” the dog has been avoided as a story/topic by yours truly for its sheer inanity. There is simply more to worry about than a single dog. However, the animal has become a case in point regarding the caring priorities of some. I mentioned on the air that many people care more

National coverage of yesterday's court proceedings

2010-04-17T19:10:00.002-03:00

As far afield as Moose Jaw, local newspapers have picked up the story of me and Brindi, thanks to the fact that it was covered by the Canadian Press!! Dog at centre of N.S. court battle showed no signs of aggression: trainer HALIFAX, N.S. - An animal trainer who assessed a dog the municipality of Halifax has deemed dangerous and wants to euthanize says the mixed-breed mutt shows no signs of

Statements from neighbors

2010-04-17T17:52:00.001-03:00

Here are texts of signed statements by my next-door neighbors the Clarks. Many, many thanks to them!!!

Outing the local media: your lack of morals is showing

2010-04-17T17:02:00.011-03:00

Some media people seem to forget that Twitter is publicly accessible. They should know better, don't you think? Their lack of morals is showing as well as their ignorance of social media. Nobody really cares what a local rag claiming to be political satire says, but people expect more of the CBC and the Chronicle-Herald. Here are tweets seen today. Some are by friends of media people. Don't get

For all the lovely detractors I am blessed with...

2010-04-17T15:30:00.009-03:00

This is for public knowledge: Bob Ottenbrite, the best-known trainer in Nova Scotia whose obedience course Brindi passed, said repeatedly in small claims court on March 23 that he would "love" to see Brindi come home to me and would love to work with us then. He said she is a GREAT DOG and can achieve great things. And he told me before witnesses outside of court the same day that he is CERTAIN

Indian Givers*

2010-04-13T21:45:00.015-03:00

* No offense intended to first nations people; this is an old expression that actually refers to the powers that be, not the native people subjected to their mercy. I have learned the hard way in the last year and eight months not to count on anything to work out, even the most definite and well-prepared things. But today Halifax went back on its word in a way that I never anticipated. click

Letter from India

2010-04-12T02:33:00.004-03:00

Lots going on, no time to blog about it quite yet. In the meantime, however, this was shared by Inez Rufus in India. One thing's for sure: it's unlikely that the HRM councilors and mayor have ever gotten so many messages from so many far-flung places on every continent except Antarctica! Too bad they do not reply to the majority of them. Inez wrote to me that she has sent many emails so far, "

Letter from Cyprus

2010-04-08T09:17:00.001-03:00

It is really something to get messages of support from around the world. Sometimes they really give me pause. When I was studying Berlin, I read a masters thesis on another divided city, namely Cyprus. This morning, I received this note from a very kind woman living in that city. I thought I'd share it here, and will be posting a few other letters on the Support Brindi page as well. Dear

Free Brindi Radio Hits the Airwaves!!

2010-03-19T16:32:00.006-03:00

Excitement!!! This afternoon at 1 pm, I was given a chance to do my own little broadcast on Global Talk Radio for about 50 minutes. My idea for a show won a contest they held, thanks largely to the votes pouring in daily from Facebook Save Brindi members! The time just flew by. I invited a few guests, and thankfully one of them, Trish Malkoff, was able to do it. She was skyping in all the

Verification

2010-03-17T22:16:00.002-03:00

Is there any better argument to revise the animal control laws to reflect how much North Americans value their pets (and the number of people who own them)? Is there any better argument why I want and need to have my Brindi back? Pet owners look to four-legged friends for emotional support before family STORY PHOTOS ( 1 ) Your partner's relationship with your dog may be closer than you thought

More Worries: A Dog Bit a Man in the Pound

2010-03-17T01:27:00.003-03:00

ED: Since the papers did not specify what kind of pest control was being used, my concerns are understandable. Anonymous comments came in, ostensibly from SPCA people or people close to them, saying that the pest control company was there to deal with mice. I wonder why they don't use cats instead, to save money, but whatever... So today, I learn that a dog bit a man in the SPCA pound, a pest

What About Owners' Rights?

2010-03-14T17:19:00.015-03:00

A very kind person from the south shore area has sent a letter to the Chronicle-Herald and was nice enough to forward it to me. Given the Herald's recent tendencies, I am not expecting it to be published, so I posted it with the other letters on supportbrindi.blogspot.com. She writes, "First of all, it is now very interesting that people such as Bob Ottenbrite are now on record as saying that

A Year-Old Appeal to HRM From Qualified Trainer Ready to Help: "I support her return"

2010-03-13T18:46:00.005-04:00

NOTE: This letter was sent to the lawyer for HRM who was then prosecuting the case. He was replaced by outside counsel Geoff Newton a few months later. Mr. Efthymiadis was not granted access to assess Brindi on Feb. 27, although permission was granted and all parties were notified the day before of his schedule and the 10 am appointment. Mr. Joshua J. Judah, Municipal SolicitorHRM Legal

Messages Nobody Likes to Get

2010-03-12T10:03:00.001-04:00

Warning: Don't read if you want to stay in a good mood. These are just for the sake of documentation, not for pity. I find them very perplexing, among other things. ------ Forwarded Message From: noreply-comment@blogger.com Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:18:36 -0800 (PST)T To: Francesca Rogier Subject: [FREE BRINDI] New comment on "Let's Adopt! Canada" is on the case!. Anonymous has left a

Threats and threats

2010-03-12T06:47:00.000-04:00

This provocative post title is referring to the threat that Bob Ottenbrite reported to the papers, and the threats I am receiving on a daily basis, variously telling me to leave the country, that I'm a liar, that I'm breaking laws, that I will be surrounded in the courtroom by menacing faces, and generally, that my middle name is trouble. A few threats have been carried out. Thanks to a caller

Outcome of March 9 court date

2010-03-10T20:59:00.021-04:00

The judge agrees that she must hear from an expert on whether Brindi is dangerous and granted me extra time to arrange for a report. The first was positive but is a year old, so she agreed to the need for a new one. The new hearing date is set for April 16. The judge may not make a decision that day, though; she likes to take time. I tried to avoid this extra delay by arranging for an

Another story: heart attack after dog seized

2010-03-08T11:58:00.003-04:00

Every time something appears in the local paper, I seem to get another phone call from a stranger with a story to share. Yesterday, a woman left a message that made me hold my breath. She said she knows exactly how I feel and what I am going through: in fact, after her dog was taken away, she had a heart attack. The pain behind her voice was tangible. "We are supposed to be kind to animals," she

Humane Halifax hits the streets for Brindi

2010-03-07T18:39:00.024-04:00

"I am SO GLAD you are fighting to get your dog back!" said a blonde woman in a white ski jacket yesterday. "Please keep it up! I just think the city is really abusing their power to do this to you." I was standing at the corner of South Park and Spring Garden Road, along with about ten members of Humane Halifax for Better Animal Control. About half of HH's members turned up, arriving before me

A new and welcome source of support

2010-03-05T23:29:00.001-04:00

From Facebook... Vin Diamond wroteat 10:09pm yesterdayABAS Society is a no kill society in Nova Scotia. We do not euthanize an animal unless this animal is in pain and suffering for the duration of its life. We support Brindi being returned to her owner with restrictions put in place for (life time leash while walking outdoors). We do not want to see Brindi euthanized. ABAS Society is presently

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

2010-03-05T03:29:00.013-04:00

I guess it's not just people "from away" after all... Some observers - especially those inclined towards a characterization of me as a marginal whacko - like to suggest that the bulk of support for Brindi and me lies disproportionately beyond the border. Well, it is true that there are many people around the world who do support us, and I am very lucky that so many have actively sustained their

If I had listened to the SPCA in 2008 and obeyed Halifax's wishes...

2010-03-03T03:43:00.007-04:00

...Brindi would be dead and gone at the tender age of 5. In the last days of July, 2008, after HRM ripped Brindi out of my house, I asked the SPCA's chief investigator Roger Joyce to help me save her life. He promised to look into it and do all he could. Hearing nothing, I emailed him a day or two later, and he replied with the digital equivalent of a shrug and a brush-off. A few months later,

"Let's Adopt! Canada" is on the case!

2010-03-02T15:53:00.001-04:00

Like a well-coordinated Olympic hockey team, the savvy people at Let's Adopt! Canada and their huge international network devoted to adopting rescue dogs are taking the lead in spreading Brindi's story far and wide. Here is one place it's turning up: KC DOG BLOG

A Fond and Loving Farewell in the Midst of Chaos and Fear

2010-02-28T22:09:00.005-04:00

My beloved cat, Rudy, is no longer by my side. He was a true and valiant companion whom I loved and admired deeply. I cared for him for ten years. The kidney disease that began mid-2009 could not be cured and caused him to literally waste away. He put up a good fight and so did his vet and I. I am grateful that he was able to die with the dignity that marked his life. For this was a very

2010-02-26T23:02:00.006-04:00

What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man. All things are connected. Chief Seattle

A letter to the editor that made it

2010-02-20T10:14:00.003-04:00

Thank you, Ms. Bridgewater, for this letter, and to the Halifax Chronicle-Herald for printing it Feb. 19. HRM exceeding its power Brindi’s case is an example of how HRM’s order to euthanize the dog exceeds the power of the municipality as stated by Supreme Court Justice Duncan Beveridge in January 2009. HRM should have dropped the charges against Francesca Rogier and Brindi at that time, but

Voice of the people ??

2010-02-12T11:06:00.008-04:00

Who is this about, anyway?? Thu. Feb 11 - 4:54 AM Chronicle Herald Letters to the Editor Decision not SPCA’s Re: the Feb. 5 article "Judge reserves decision in Brindi case: Seized dog a safety hazard, says HRM." As part of the HRM animal control contract, the SPCA is obligated to house animal control dogs and cats that are retained for court cases. Brindi has become a high-profile,

The (next) Day After, and another three weeks, and then?

2010-02-04T22:35:00.005-04:00

Will justice be served??? Tired, sore, tired, weary, achy, sore. Just all the sensations after a long day in court, another day after another court day. Even being in court for an hour is tiring but this was 9:30 to 4, with a lunch break and a few other short breaks; it followed last Friday, another cold day, with snow crippling my house yet again, when I could not get into town at all and

"Just a Dog"

2010-01-29T00:05:00.001-04:00

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments

SPCA: "Whatever you do, don't mention the war!"

2010-01-26T18:07:00.004-04:00

I received this letter a few days ago. (I understand that Janice Bingley, whose dogs were seized by SPCA special constables in October, received an identical one.) Here's my response: First, I am not aware of ever having made any false statements about the SPCA. If I did so, it was certainly not intentional. Should the SPCA be willing to identify any statements of mine that they believe to be

Contracts, conflations, confusion

2010-01-26T17:15:00.002-04:00

It was surprising to learn that the SPCA lost a bid to renew its pound contract with HRM. This is a very lucrative contract, with an enormous profit margin. That it goes unremarked in public discussion is perplexing, as half a million dollars a year seems awfully high for the cost of operating a few cages - the actual number is not made known - that occupy a part of the small shelter in

Anniversary of Horrors upon Horrors

2010-01-19T23:23:00.024-04:00

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown Today is the day, one year ago, and two days after the Supreme Court ruled against it, that the city of Halifax Animal Services decided not to return Brindi to

Special people

2010-01-10T18:21:00.011-04:00

This is a list that I have been wanting to post for weeks. Didn't get it up in time for the holidays, as intended; the cold and the allure of sleep got in the way. The order is more or less random, but any list has to begin with Bob Riley, without fail. It's definitely not yet complete. I'll never get there, perhaps, but I will keep trying. Stand by! Bob Riley Jean Myers Heather Anderson Lana

Another Christmas

2009-12-17T02:27:00.000-04:00

DAISY Chain of Vigils, Coast to Coast, for International Animal Rights Day

2009-12-13T17:51:00.004-04:00

From Halifax to British Columbia, Dec. 10-13, 2009.Halifax: Vigil at Metro Shelter on Dec. 10, International Animal Rights Day. With Jessie and Admiral DeWolfe assisting.Moka, a friend of Carol Waterman in Montreal, joined in on Dec. 12, 2009.Calgary, AlbertaMembers of DAISY FoundationHeather Anderson, founder and director. To the other end of the continent, British Columbia: Vigil indoors on a

An apology to a kind person and my frustration at being shut into a room

2009-12-02T21:48:00.008-04:00

Today at the SPCA was a very low and frustrating moment. The weather was beautiful. But midday passed and the 4 pm visit was again restricted to indoors. In a ten by (guessing) fifteen room, with windows overlooking the street and french doors overlooking the busy lobby, it is psychological torture for woman and dog. The SPCA placed a number of conditions on these visits which they invented just

To defend what I love

2009-11-25T08:32:00.006-04:00

Happy is he who dares courageously to defend what he loves.- OvidThe SPCA and Animal Services have decided to change the time and location of my brief weekly visits with Brindi. Last Wednesday when I arrived at 1 pm, I was asked, "Didn't you hear?" It turned out that the two parties decided that we could no longer spend time outdoors at 1 pm; instead we would be inside and the visit would start

Sympathetic pain

2009-11-20T05:31:00.006-04:00

I have this thing that happens to my body when somebody close to me is seriously ill. I seem to suddenly develop a symptom that mimics their condition. For instance, when my beloved uncle lost the ability to swallow food safely without aspirating, for instance, I found myself suddenly having trouble swallowing, feeling my esophagus and epiglottis choking up. I had a similar experience when a

She's out of the hospital??

2009-11-16T15:49:00.003-04:00

So my lawyer calls the SPCA shelter seeking information. They now say Brindi is back in the shelter but will not tell him anything more, because he has to go through their lawyer. Do they have a lawyer?? Apparently not. What they are talking about is the HRM lawyer. They seem to be laboring under the mistaken belief that the HRM lawyer represents the SPCA. Not true at all; and in fact, HRM is

Brindi has pancreatitis and is/was in the hospital?

2009-11-16T15:25:00.009-04:00

After ringing my lawyer at 3:25 pm, I learn that he heard from HRM's Kishan Persaud, that Brindi has been in the hospital since Friday with pancreatitis. And rather than give more information about Brindi and what they are doing, Persaud says to tell me I cannot give her treats and that the SPCA wants to search me before each visit. My lawyer of course said they cannot do that, it is illegal.

Health worries

2009-11-13T16:28:00.003-04:00

Well, for the second time in what - a month? - I arrive to visit Brindi on a beautiful sunny afternoon, and am confronted with the news that she has been throwing up. Weeks ago, I was told she threw up every day for a week. Today, I hear she was throwing up for the last two days. They did bloodwork last time, and again now; last time, apparently, she was throwing up longer because of anti-nausea

Required reading:

2009-11-10T20:24:00.005-04:00

Do Animal Control Authorities (dog catchers) have to be nincompoops? “Tyranny” in animal control enforcementfrom the Canada Free PressBy Dean A. Ayers Thursday, August 20, 2009Do Animal Control Services (sometimes misnamed as a “Humane Society)” enforce animal control duties thru tyranny without “due process” or justice or even a nuisance complaint? Do Animal Control Authorities (dog catchers)

Donation link: being fixed

2009-11-10T17:10:00.008-04:00

To the person who alerted me about the donation button:It should work, I checked from another computer. Try logging into your paypal account if it does not go directly to the right page. There is no way for a search to work on paypal; it's not set up for that. Another option: the Free Brindi fashion statement! All the rage (pun intended) in the regional metropolis and the eastern shore! Bob Riley

Please give me a treat: let me go home!!!

2009-10-31T20:36:00.000-03:00

Compare and Contrast, part 10...

2009-10-16T00:30:00.008-03:00

How does Brindi compare to other cases in HRM ? Do they kill all dogs with the same charges? Here's a site to check out with a chart of prosecutions compiled from halifax.ca charts. It gives information about dog-related by-law prosecutions from January 2007 to July 2009, focusing only on cases involving attacks of one kind or another. It's excerpted and expanded from a larger compilation of all

Thoughts to contemplate on this day

2009-10-13T03:01:00.015-03:00

"Approximately one person in 18 million dies as a result of a dogbite in this country [US] in an average year.2,3,4 One in 167,000 deaths overall is attributable to this cause.5 Most mortality modalities this rare are not regularly counted; however, a few other rare fatalities are studied occasionally. Statistics show that dog-bite deaths occur at approximately one-fifth the rate of lightning

Racing against time, coming up a tad short

2009-08-11T23:30:00.000-03:00

Well, with my hectic life, no surprise that I missed my evening date at the Dartmouth courthouse. That my computer would give out a few hours earlier was not to be predicted, however (except perhaps by Murphy's Law faithful). Arriving seven minutes late due to that struggle, I found they had called all the names to check attendance, and dismissed my case already, before calling any cases.

Racing time and mind

2009-08-09T20:08:00.027-03:00

It's well into August, and I fear I've left the blog sitting idle too long. Weeks flee by like fugitives, marked only by my Wednesday visits, brief "supervised" moments with Brindi, after which I do several hours of errands. Otherwise, good or bad, I rarely emerge from the house. And for all that time, I can't seem to get through the growing list of things to be done. An electrician I had to call

Brindi Road: It's Getting Better All the Time

2009-07-10T23:50:00.007-03:00

Don't forget me, Brindi, my dear... She's not a sheepdog, but I am pretty sure Sir Paul would like Brindi if he met her. Big concert tonight: thanks to some generous friends, I'll be there!!! To get to see him wice in a lifetime is surely more than anybody can expect. For some weird reason, Haligonians have not bought out all the tickets for the concert tomorrow night. (Could it be their enduring

Three Hundred and Forty-four Days

2009-07-03T23:10:00.006-03:00

Brindi, my sweetheart, the love of my lifeWhen they took you to prison it cut like a knife.What could you have done to be locked up so long - Three Hundred and forty-four days you've been gone.The walls that surround you, stones heavy on my heart,Your breath I can feel from sunlight to dark.I miss you like the air I can hardly breathe,Three hundred and forty-four days I have

New Tag with St. Francis and the Pope

2009-07-03T20:27:00.029-03:00

The St. Francis medal that I put on Brindi's collar in April broke off soon afterwards, sadly. It probably got worn down by the chain I wore it on around my own neck, for the nearly ten months I wasn't allowed to see Brindi. I looked and looked, but could not find a sturdier replacement. The practical solution was to make Brindi's new license tag, which I got a while ago, into a St. Francis medal

Brown Eyes

2009-07-03T01:25:00.007-03:00

I saw brown eyes that twinkle so brightRealized in an instant, they are why we fightThey have no savings, no interest in stocksJust running amuck with my new white socksBarking and playing, their spirits freeMoney? That question belongs to meWould I give them up for a big screen TVOr walk away from them for the wealth I see?Brown eyes, little paws and a soft fur coatRather a stroke and a pat,

Questions and answers

2009-06-25T13:33:00.004-03:00

Posted with permission of the authors. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stanley Coren"To: "Mary Cooke"Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:26 PMSubject: Re: Can you please answer these serious questions? Dear Mary Cooke Here are the brief answers to your questions. Chewing on raw beef bones does keep the dogs teeth clean and healthy. If the teeth have turned bad you must

ELEVEN MONTHS

2009-06-23T11:34:00.004-03:00

Tomorrow is the eleventh month anniversary/badiversary of Brindi's seizure.She has made it through all these months, six of them without seeing me at all, being the good-natured girl she really is. She is putting up gracefully with the situation but the signs of strain are unmistakable. Today, my city councilor, David Hendsbee, hopes to get a vote through on a resolution to add an appeal process

Transgression of the day

2009-06-17T22:45:00.002-03:00

Today I went to the shelter/pound/SPCA and gave my dog a bone. For that transgression, I have risked never being allowed to see her again. I really don't understand so I cannot explain. I have asked. All I am told is that this transgression is apparently defined in the 12 conditions as "no high-value items." Who knew?? All I could think of was an iPod, or a heating pad... ??? If you accept bones

Glimpses, precious moments June 3

2009-06-14T03:05:00.004-03:00

Taken by somebody passing by, when I was not there. She's finding shade, not a lot of comfort, no company. At some point on every visit the same thought goes through my mind: I have to ask, I have to remember to ask them, can't I just live there with her?

Sorry, but I have a big bone to pick with the SPCA

2009-06-11T11:20:00.013-03:00

When I cry, even a little, my cats jump off the bed and vanish. I am crying now, soon after waking up today, because consciousness brought me back to what happened yesterday. It may seem like a tempest in a teapot to a lot of people. But something as simple as a bone can mean life or death to a dog. And you can't ever take it for granted that somebody will do what they say. This is what I wrote

Suicide

2009-06-10T20:20:00.012-03:00

This post may be the end of me, as far as my cause goes, because I know what can happen when you take on the SPCA. However, people have a right to know. Someday it may help somebody else. My life is already ruined, or nearly, and my dog's health is compromised as it is. Since January the SPCA has been petitioning HRM behind the scenes to "re-home" my dog. In a recent public statement, they claim

PETA steps forward: the media step back

2009-05-30T20:33:00.004-03:00

This is a really wonderful development, and I am very grateful. However, it seems the local media has not deemed a letter from the world's biggest animal rights group newsworthy. Hard to believe, but what else is new??To enlarge the letter, click on it.

Message from Hendsbee

2009-05-27T00:07:00.005-03:00

My local councilor, David Hendsbee, was kind enough to forward me a message he wrote to his colleagues at city hall last week. I want to thank him most sincerely, and I believe he's already received a few thank-you's from folks around North America. Here's one:From: Judy Loudin <@hotmail.com>Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 21:57:02 -0600To: Subject: Brindi

Ten months, birthdays, outlook

2009-05-24T22:58:00.015-03:00

Ten months to the day. Not much to be said about that; how many adjectives are there for hell?Friday, a dreaded birthday, sad, but lifted up by a wonderful group e-card full of heartwarming greetings and pictures from over a hundred well-wishers, some I've met in person, some I've spent many hours with on the phone since last summer...No plans, just took a walk on the beach, for the first time

Am I a mother?

2009-05-10T16:51:00.009-03:00

A few kind and thoughtful people have sent me Mother's Day messages. It's common among animal lovers to think of themselves and others as parents to their pets. I don't have children; actually I never felt the need to identify myself as a mother. I do call Brindi my baby girl, but most of the time, I think of my animals as companions and adults in their own right. Brindi was already four when I

Health Reprieve!

2009-05-09T17:26:00.000-03:00

I got some welcome news yesterday from my vet - the lab reports were back early from PEI, and they showed no evidence of cancer in the biopsied tissue from Brindi's cysts. A big relief! Now we just have to make sure that her stitches don't get infected and she should be better.The vet said the cysts were around hair follicles - I imagine they were blocked up or something... It's really the best

A report on my visit with Brindi

2009-05-07T15:48:00.012-03:00

Note: On Tuesday night (May 5, the day of Brindi's surgery) I got an email reply to my faxed request for a visit to the SPCA vice president, Kat Horne, saying I could come the next day, and I responded in time to go at 9:30 am. I was extremely happy to be allowed to see Brindi again. This is only the second visit in over nine months. At the same time a lawyer out of

The present moment

2009-05-05T01:16:00.002-03:00

I am having the life choked out of me. Every muscle and fiber is twisting in pain. I am gripping my body in agony and uttering cries that I don't even recognize as coming from me, cries of unspeakable grief and terror.Welcome to my world.Tomorrow my sweet dog will be taken from her cage, put in the same truck that took her from me so long ago, and driven to Porters Lake to the vet clinic, a

Nine Months is Nine Months Too Many!!! FREE BRINDI NOW

2009-04-28T17:15:00.007-03:00

A heartfelt message made by Linda Koekman last fall and updated in January a few days before the Supreme Court victory was announced. Little did anybody imagine that the city would choose to lay charges then (the first ever) and hang on to my poor dog. Little did I imagine my lawyer would fail to find a way to stop them. In hindsight and with a lot of hard work I believe I now know several

A gap too far

2009-04-27T05:07:00.003-03:00

I am not sure what or how to blog anymore. I stopped blogging in late January. Things were getting too difficult and I would not have believed it then, but they actually became even more difficult since then, in ways that nobody could have predicted, at least not me.As a way to bridge the gap until I blog some more... I'll post this letter, which a friend has written to the local newspaper, the

January 17, 2009 with Brindi

2009-01-26T22:40:00.006-04:00

New FREE BRINDI GALLERY

2009-01-25T04:32:00.002-04:00

With a good opening response in sales, Caz Weatherill, an energetic and compassionate trainer in Australia, has launched the "FREE BRINDI GALLERY, DEDICATED TO FRANCESCA ROGIER AND BRINDI !!" on a site called Zazzle.com.She says, "ALL ROYALTIES FROM SALE OF MERCHANDISE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO "LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR BRINDI:"

Message

2009-01-25T04:30:00.000-04:00

From: brad hayman Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:27:03 -0500Subject: RE: Reply to your "HELP SAVE BRINDI! THEY TOOK MY DOG AND PLAN TO KILL HER!" Ad on KijijiI sent him (the mayor) an email, he better read it! cause you should be able to have Brindi home with you safe and sound, what a beautiful dog! I seen your story on the CTV news the other day and my grandparents and I are behind you 110%! How

In return for the favor

2009-01-23T02:48:00.007-04:00

It's been a week since the ruling. While I am proud of it as a good solid victory for the community,in many ways I can't help feeling as though everybody else won, not me, not Brindi. At least for now. A very kind person told me tonight on the phone - and we never finished our chat - that they were at the SPCA shelter on Christmas day when the blackout happened. After helping out at the shelter

Expert behavioural assessment of Brindi

2009-01-22T06:18:00.007-04:00

To read what Silvia Jay reports on her December 8 visit to examine Brindi, please see her assessment.:

Media note

2009-01-21T21:01:00.002-04:00

In the news section of today's Chronicle-Herald, Barack Obama got a two-page, full spread photo as the first non-white president of the United States. I got a thumbnail photo over, for the first time, more than five inches of copy written by a seasoned reporter. A big day for both of us! History will only record one, of course. But of course, that’s as it should be: he earned it. Time will tell

Questions, and some answers

2009-01-20T23:20:00.003-04:00

Two days ago, shortly after 5 pm at my home, I received a summons to the provincial court on three charges of violating A300. The charges are: owning a dog that runs at large; owning a dog that attacked another dog; failing to obey a muzzle order. The summons does not cite the date when these offenses allegedly occurred; it doesn not have to, evidently, but I surmise the date will turn out to be

See this chart to compare Brindi's case to others

2009-01-18T22:58:00.006-04:00

To see a sampling of cases between June 2007 and July 2008, see this chart of HRM By-Law ProsecutionsThanks to Joan for lending me her server to do this. If anybody would like to drop off soup bones with a little fresh meat on them and some nice suet in them for Brindi at the Metro Shelter, PLEASE, be my guest! I used to go every week or so. I can't, it would cost a bit too much.PS on the post

Bittersweet Reunion in the Bitter Cold

2009-01-18T20:27:00.021-04:00

Here is a rough description of my first visit to Brindi since July 24, 2008. Because it is already so late today and people are interested in finding out how it went, I am posting what I have so far and will add to it as I go. A friend phoned animal services on Friday afternoon to make a request on my behalf. I received notice that evening via email that they would be “reviewing” the materials of

BREAKING NEWS: BRINDI COMES HOME SOON

2009-01-16T16:40:00.010-04:00

WE WON!!SHE'S COMING HOME !!!!!:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::This unforgettable day is dedicated to my fatherJoseph William Rogier, 1919-1998and to my loving godfatherDr. William Ciaravin0who departed the earth this day.May you be received into the light

See a new page with special letters!

2009-01-13T15:14:00.003-04:00

I created a new place to post letters from animal activists supporting Brindi. They have written to public officials -some more than once - and I would like to share these letters now.To read them, please go to Brind Nation. I will be adding more soon!In the meantime... the Paypal donations account received a $20 contribution from a very kind person in Bulgaria; another came from Australia. This

Post-court, but not post-haste

2009-01-12T11:25:00.006-04:00

NOTE: I realize some visitors are seeking a quick scan of info about the case. If you've already seen the newspaper reports, like the Metronews, please refer to the summaries in the texts of the petitions and the Facebook group Save Brindi. And in the left-hand column here, there are links to the By-Law, videos, and other key info. The first blog posts here tell the story in greater detail.

Courage through the storm

2009-01-01T19:18:00.007-04:00

Blizzard again, New Year's Day celebrations are rather muffled. Christmas came and went in a dream, because I slept through most of it. News of the blackout at the SPCA shelter was like a twist of the knife - especially because it probably lasted about four days, but nobody found out until Boxing Day, the 26th. By then it had been going for at least two days; the storm that knocked out power all

Upstanding words from "down under"

2009-01-01T19:13:00.003-04:00

Here is one of the letters that went out to the authorities here, as written:TO ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA:I am a Qualified Dog Trainer, through the National Dog Trainers Federation in Australia, and can see "NO REASON" as to why "BRINDI" should be euthanized, or kept from her owner. It is a natural innate behaviour for a Dog to protect its environment,

Power

2008-12-23T10:30:00.008-04:00

A night at a hotel, with the cats, after power went out yesterday morning. Basked in the heat and the plumbing - took a nice long hot bath last night. Winds up to 120 km and temps -11 C. Whether to leave the house was a guessing game: roads were bad, but the power company said power would not go back on till 11:30 pm last night. Not much time to decide, do I risk it and stick around, or take off

Merry Christmas from the SPCA: banned for six months

2008-12-19T11:35:00.010-04:00

I can tell you that in our system here in Calgary I do have the authority to seize a dog involved in a serious aggressive incident for 30 days pending a dangerous dog hearing before the court. After the court rules and if they direct that the dog be destroyed, there is an additional 30 day period for the dog owner to file an appeal. We do not grant ourselves the authority to destroy an owned

IS BRIND STILL ALIVE?!

2008-12-16T20:29:00.011-04:00

I want to see Brindi for myself, and I want her back NOW.All night I've been worried. I called the Herald yesterday to ask if they are ever going to print the article on Brindi one of their writers wrote weeks ago. An hour or so later they called back. It seemed they weren't printing it because their files showed Brindi was being put down today - yesterday, December 16. I said, as calmly as I

2008-12-15T23:55:00.001-04:00

More FREE BRINDI photos! Above, from Laura Johnson in BC, and below, another gang from Colorado, Free Brindi supporters Sherry and Michael Moore of Golden, Colorado; Betsy and Bill Moore of Bel Air, Maryland; Nick Moore of Denver, Colorado; and Steve Moore of Scottsdale, Arizona, sent with the words, "We oppose to having Brindi incarcerated." (or destroyed, presumably!)

Message from Calgary

2008-12-15T17:21:00.003-04:00

A second photo already! This one is from Laura Johnson, an animal activist who lives in Calgary. (That's her body - she sort of lost her head here!) Tora is a female from a reservation that was found pregnant. She had seven puppies, and all eight were successfully adopted out. Thank you, Laura and Tora!

Message from Colorado

2008-12-14T22:37:00.005-04:00

These are some wonderful friends of Rolo, a German Shepherdwho was in a situation very much like Brindi's not long ago.They took a break from his birthday party to send a message to Halifax from the icy cold of Evergreen, Colorado. My sincerest thanks to Monika Courtney!

Letter to Peter Kelly from !"Stop Animal Cruelty in Canada with effective legislation"

2008-12-12T11:24:00.000-04:00

Dear Mayor Kelly, My name is Paula James and I have over 25,000 people on my facebook group and cause alone that have been fighting for effective animal cruelty legislation in Canada, along with the SPCA's. We've been trying to get our politicians to do something about serious acts of animal cruelty and neglect and help by doing things that make sense for animals. This issue surrounding Brindi

On the air waves

2008-12-10T16:53:00.009-04:00

My chat with radio host Tom Young yesterday went pretty well, I think. It was a bit of a strange experience though. For one thing, I did it over the phone from home, and I didn't set eyes on a real human being all day. A big disjuncture between the media connections and the physical world! Such a fast half hour, too. I just got started, looked at the time, and saw it was already half over. The

Radio Time Wednesday Dec. 10

2008-12-09T23:01:00.005-04:00

Thanks to various emails from others, and an interested producer, it looks like I will be on talk radio News 95.7 tomorrow afternoon, the Tom Young Show. I will have a chance to put the facts out there. I should be on air as a guest after 1:35 PM (Atlantic Time) After I go off air, they will take calls for a while. Maybe if you have time you can try to call in, or somebody you know.Afternoon News

from Kijiji

2008-12-09T04:14:00.004-04:00

This is a message similar to others I have received - it arrived last week:Hello, this is so unreal that they won't give you the chance to do your part!! Go to your local MLA"S office and see if they can help you out, I had to do the same thing a few years ago, my dog got loose and was running and playing just as your dog did, then animal services came and took her for no reason... I call my

Waiting more

2008-12-09T02:10:00.003-04:00

Well there is no news, and in this case, it's not good news.Seems there is another holdup on Silvia Jay's assessment. She is still waiting for the go-ahead. Something to do with the court order still. I guess it had to get colder before she could go. Friday was fine; today we have snow and a subterranean temperature. As soon as I hear anything I will post it.Meanwhile... Wednesday night is the

Further to that

2008-12-08T03:11:00.003-04:00

to explain... because our court date was Dec. 16 and we hadn't received anything much in response, I had hoped Brindi would be home by Christmas. Our by-law case is good, but the city managed to do things to delay the case being heard - including submitting erroneous information and stalling on turning over requested info. They are very likely tripling my legal expenses because my lawyer had to

Brindi home by Christmas? . . . probably not.

2008-12-05T18:04:00.005-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Halifax, December 5) Despite the postponement of a December 16 judicial review intended to bring about the dog’s release, Brindi’s supporters across Canada continue to hope that the dog, already impounded for over four months, will go home in time for Christmas.Due to recent actions of HRM legal counsel, the judicial review of By-Law A-300 on Animal Control by the Supreme

Update

2008-12-03T22:44:00.004-04:00

Silvia Jay is slated to be at the SPCA at 9 am Friday morning. They are under a court order to let her see Brindi and are to be advised to allow her the space to work with her - unmonitored. Without going into too much detail - it seems to me the city is doing its best to stall anything else we do, even things they already agreed to, like providing information about Animal Services officials.

Wake up, it's show time! Two weeks to go!!

2008-12-03T14:31:00.006-04:00

Okay, I haven't blogged anything for days because the days have been so rocky, and when stuff happens I need time to absorb and recover and then emails take over...SO I originally posted this under "seven days to go" - and that shows you how messed up I am trying to keep track of my own life. I've been answering emails back and forth since Monday at a record-breaking case with all sorts of folks