Thursday, April 8, 2010

Letter from Cyprus

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 Brindi and Francesca,

I can only wish like many others that we had the power to bring Brindi home so all I can do us send you my wishes and thoughts on brining you both together and home again soon. These are times that I feel ashamed to be called human and I hope they bring Humanity back, Convicted killers have the right to live, why and how a dog becomes a victim of the law is a question, in taking the responsibility of humanity and offering you support to help to give Brindi the care and love needed…. a simple action on their behalf was overlooked and they took actions which are shameful acts of humanity.

My heart and mind is with you both xxx

Terisa Vlamis
Student of Canine Psychology
Cyprus

Meanwhile, Brindi is scheduled for an assessment (again) this morning. I'm off to make sure it happens.
This is the third try since February!! More on that later.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Verification

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

Your partner's relationship with your dog may be closer than you thought and it might be going on behind your back.

Photograph by: Photos.com, canada.com

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Have you ever had the feeling that your loved one misses the dog more than you when he or she is away on a business trip? You may be right.

A third of Americans admit to pining for their pooches more than their partners when out of town. But maybe that's because nine out of ten of them feel their pet is more pleased to see them after a hard day at work and is even more likely to notice when they've had a bad day.

Your partner's relationship with your dog may be closer than you thought and it might be going on behind your back. Around one is seven dog owners say they have "shared a look" with their dogs at least once and even more than that claim to be able to read their pet's facial expressions.

And ever wondered what's behind the long gaze into pooch's big brown eyes? Your partner may be one of a third of dog owners who swear it's an entire "conversation" without words.

And it doesn't stop there.

Many Americans turn to their four-legged friends for solace before friends and family. Nearly two thirds believe their dogs are more dependable than their closest comrades and over 70 percent would rather go for a walk with pooch when feeling uptight than hang out with their best buddy.

These are the results of a survey commissioned by dog snack maker Pup-Peroni that questioned over 1000 U.S. dog owners about the feelings they have for the pup in their life. The hold dogs have over their owners' emotions is striking.

Over two thirds say they feel more guilty about leaving their dog behind when traveling than leaving friends or loved ones. A majority say their pooch makes them feel happy, loved and relaxed.

HELP! HALIFAX WANTS TO KILL MY DOG!

My beloved companion and partner, over six years on death row and it's not over! In July 2008, Halifax dogcatchers seized my dog Brindi on an order to destroy her they issued without any warning - and without legal backing. Her crimes? Two reported scuffles with other dogs, and a third instance of getting loose accidentally, running to check out an approaching dog, which she never touched. She never bit a person or inflicted an injury to a dog that required medical attention. The city refused to reconsider, let alone negotiate; it rejected every alternative to killing Brindi, ignoring pleas from neighbors, trainer, vet, groomer, kennel owner, and hundreds of others - and no less than 5 positive behaviour assessments. A long, traumatic, destructive battle, with judges virtually washing their hands of her and sweeping aside all legal constraints on the city. In fact, they gave it more power - leaving her fate in the hands of the city that already decided to kill her! Halifax never deemed her dangerous - and the law does not even require dangerous dogs to be put down. HELP!