"FREE BRINDI" This dog must not be euthanized!

URGENT UPDATE MARCH 8, 2010

Brindi's fate will be decided on Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Brindi, a defenseless dog, has been incarcerated since July 24, 2008 in the SPCA kennels on Death Row in Halifax, Canada. Her fate hangs by a thread and is scheduled to be decided on Tuesday March 9, 2010 in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is  condemned to die for nothing other than just being a dog! Now, 1-year-7-months later, Canada is still intent on killing a defenseless dog and Brindi's time may be up.

Brindi's Crime?
She never attacked or threatened a person. She never killed or caused serious injury to a dog. Just a good natured mutt, 6-years-old, rescued from a shelter in 2007, by her owner, Francesca Rogier.

Brindi's Sentence?
On July 24, 2008, a few days after a minor encounter with another dog, animal control officers armed with a warrant and euthanization order, seized Brindi from her home without notice. She has now languished on Death Row, even after winning a landmark Supreme Court battle ordering the original euthanasia order null and void.   Yet, still and to date, the City of Halifax has spent over $417,000 on Brindi's detainment in refusing to release her. Unbelievably, Nova Scotia, Canada seems to be the first country ignoring its own Supreme Court Justice's ruling.

Animal Cruelty By a Government Agency
Brindi was confined indefinitely in a short term facility.  Recently, Brindi needed biopsy surgery of a suspected cancer growth found near her spine. Her teeth have deteriorated because she was denied her favourite "chew" toys and raw beef bones that her owner and friends brought to her on a regular basis.  She now suffers from painful and chronic pancreatitis due to the stressful conditions of her confinement. According to many, "It is concerning and distressing to think that this innocent and once healthy pet, has been detained and made to languish in isolation as pawns in political bureaucracy. She has been reduced to such poor physical state that it actually constitutes animal cruelty and neglect at its finest, and all at the hands of a governing agency."

Dangerous Dogs?
Experts have testified and reported that, "Regardless of the tremendous pain and isolation of her confinement, Brindi is still a friendly, well adjusted dog that poses no danger to the public in any way." Brindi has been evaluated as "not dangerous" and highly trainable. During eight weeks of obedience class, which she passed with ease, she had no issues with other dogs. Experts have testified her issues can be corrected with training and in no way constitutes a death warrant. Even after desperate attempts in creating public awareness and gaining public support and sympathy, creating petitions, informational videos, protests and massive email campaigns to government officials, candlelight vigils in worldwide support for Brindi's case, Canada has failed to compromise in a humane resolution of this precious dog.

According to many, "Speculation into corruption of government officials and growing questions as to what the true motivations are behind such a case. Brindi is just a dog, defenseless to man, that has done nothing wrong other than be born. Brindi, may be condemned to die after a few harmless dog squabbles. She is needlessly languishing and slowly deteriorating on a governments whim."

This brings to light some disturbing observations of some archaic and dangerous laws being practiced in the courts of Canada, where Brindi's case seems to lack in common sense, decency and most importantly, in humanity. Francesca Rogier,  Brindi's owner, is  financially devastated, as she fights a government to save the life of her dog. 

One can not help but wonder how such stories reach far and wide, no matter the nation, no matter where in the world and that it is only a matter of time before another "Brindi" reaches our own front doors, and it could be one of our dogs. Would we care then?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Public safety is an important responsibility of local government, as is the judicious use of force.  In Halifax, Nova Scotia, animal control authorities customarily employ pre-emptive euthanization, a needless and injurious loss of life.  

Brindi, a 5-year old mixed breed dog, has never bitten a person or seriously injured another dog. She is friendly and calm around people and likes the vast majority of dogs she meets. Found abandoned with 5 puppies, she waited 2 years in a shelter before owner Fracesca Rogier adopted her in 2007. Ms. Rogier had her microchipped, spayed and vaccinated. Brindi did very well in obedience class and obeys many commands. She loves her owner and is gentle and safe around infants, children and adults. She even lives peacefully with 2 cats.  

Brindi was charged with a total of three offences that were minor by any comparison. They happened when she accidentally got loose and ran up to dogs being walked along the road at her property line. Only the second offence resulted in an injury, a small tooth puncture requiring minimal vet care, for which Ms. Rogier voluntarily paid.  After this, the city issued a muzzle order. In Halifax By-Law A300, a muzzle order is one of six ways to deem a dog dangerous. The authorities construe this as a sanction for seizure and euthanization for any further violations. So, because she was not wearing her muzzle on the third offence, they seized her without warning four days later, even though the other dog was not grabbed or injured.

Brindi still remains incarcerated at the SPCA-run city pound, even though the Supreme Court quashed the euthanization order on January 16, 2009. HRM refuses to release her to her rightful owner, Francesca. She was allowed a brief visit with Brindi for the first and only time in late December 2008. This visit had to be held outside in the freezing cold and only lasted 25 minutes.  No further visits are permitted. 

This blanket imposition of the maximum penalty for minor offences is unjust. Halifax has already recognized that Brindi is not a threat to humans. It was informed by two respected trainers that her wayward behavior does not signify aggression and definitely can be corrected. Yet the city prefers to have her pay the ultimate price for human error, rather than accept reasonable alternatives that would both maintain safety and keep her alive.

Clearly, Brindi does not deserve to die. Furthermore, she contributes significantly to the health and well-being of her owner, Ms. Rogier, much as a seeing-eye dog helps the blind.  Ms. Rogier is desperate to have her precious dog back. She has already built fenced enclosures attached to her home entrances, engaged a private trainer and  offered to pay all fines and costs.

We strongly oppose the euthanization of Brindi. We appeal to HRM Animal Services and the City Council to accept Ms. Rogier's reasonable and responsible offer so that Brindi can go home immediately.

URGENT UPDATE MARCH 8, 2010

Brindi's fate will be decided on Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Brindi, a defenseless dog, has been incarcerated since July 24, 2008 in the SPCA kennels on Death Row in Halifax, Canada. Her fate hangs by a thread and is scheduled to be decided on Tuesday March 9, 2010 in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is  condemned to die for nothing other than just being a dog! Now, 1-year-7-months later, Canada is still intent on killing a defenseless dog and Brindi's time may be up.

Brindi's Crime?
She never attacked or threatened a person. She never killed or caused serious injury to a dog. Just a good natured mutt, 6-years-old, rescued from a shelter in 2007, by her owner, Francesca Rogier.

Brindi's Sentence?
On July 24, 2008, a few days after a minor encounter with another dog, animal control officers armed with a warrant and euthanization order, seized Brindi from her home without notice. She has now languished on Death Row, even after winning a landmark Supreme Court battle ordering the original euthanasia order null and void.   Yet, still and to date, the City of Halifax has spent over $417,000 on Brindi's detainment in refusing to release her. Unbelievably, Nova Scotia, Canada seems to be the first country ignoring its own Supreme Court Justice's ruling.

Animal Cruelty By a Government Agency
Brindi was confined indefinitely in a short term facility.  Recently, Brindi needed biopsy surgery of a suspected cancer growth found near her spine. Her teeth have deteriorated because she was denied her favourite "chew" toys and raw beef bones that her owner and friends brought to her on a regular basis.  She now suffers from painful and chronic pancreatitis due to the stressful conditions of her confinement. According to many, "It is concerning and distressing to think that this innocent and once healthy pet, has been detained and made to languish in isolation as pawns in political bureaucracy. She has been reduced to such poor physical state that it actually constitutes animal cruelty and neglect at its finest, and all at the hands of a governing agency."

Dangerous Dogs?
Experts have testified and reported that, "Regardless of the tremendous pain and isolation of her confinement, Brindi is still a friendly, well adjusted dog that poses no danger to the public in any way." Brindi has been evaluated as "not dangerous" and highly trainable. During eight weeks of obedience class, which she passed with ease, she had no issues with other dogs. Experts have testified her issues can be corrected with training and in no way constitutes a death warrant. Even after desperate attempts in creating public awareness and gaining public support and sympathy, creating petitions, informational videos, protests and massive email campaigns to government officials, candlelight vigils in worldwide support for Brindi's case, Canada has failed to compromise in a humane resolution of this precious dog.

According to many, "Speculation into corruption of government officials and growing questions as to what the true motivations are behind such a case. Brindi is just a dog, defenseless to man, that has done nothing wrong other than be born. Brindi, may be condemned to die after a few harmless dog squabbles. She is needlessly languishing and slowly deteriorating on a governments whim."

This brings to light some disturbing observations of some archaic and dangerous laws being practiced in the courts of Canada, where Brindi's case seems to lack in common sense, decency and most importantly, in humanity. Francesca Rogier,  Brindi's owner, is  financially devastated, as she fights a government to save the life of her dog. 

One can not help but wonder how such stories reach far and wide, no matter the nation, no matter where in the world and that it is only a matter of time before another "Brindi" reaches our own front doors, and it could be one of our dogs. Would we care then?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Public safety is an important responsibility of local government, as is the judicious use of force.  In Halifax, Nova Scotia, animal control authorities customarily employ pre-emptive euthanization, a needless and injurious loss of life.  

Brindi, a 5-year old mixed breed dog, has never bitten a person or seriously injured another dog. She is friendly and calm around people and likes the vast majority of dogs she meets. Found abandoned with 5 puppies, she waited 2 years in a shelter before owner Fracesca Rogier adopted her in 2007. Ms. Rogier had her microchipped, spayed and vaccinated. Brindi did very well in obedience class and obeys many commands. She loves her owner and is gentle and safe around infants, children and adults. She even lives peacefully with 2 cats.  

Brindi was charged with a total of three offences that were minor by any comparison. They happened when she accidentally got loose and ran up to dogs being walked along the road at her property line. Only the second offence resulted in an injury, a small tooth puncture requiring minimal vet care, for which Ms. Rogier voluntarily paid.  After this, the city issued a muzzle order. In Halifax By-Law A300, a muzzle order is one of six ways to deem a dog dangerous. The authorities construe this as a sanction for seizure and euthanization for any further violations. So, because she was not wearing her muzzle on the third offence, they seized her without warning four days later, even though the other dog was not grabbed or injured.

Brindi still remains incarcerated at the SPCA-run city pound, even though the Supreme Court quashed the euthanization order on January 16, 2009. HRM refuses to release her to her rightful owner, Francesca. She was allowed a brief visit with Brindi for the first and only time in late December 2008. This visit had to be held outside in the freezing cold and only lasted 25 minutes.  No further visits are permitted. 

This blanket imposition of the maximum penalty for minor offences is unjust. Halifax has already recognized that Brindi is not a threat to humans. It was informed by two respected trainers that her wayward behavior does not signify aggression and definitely can be corrected. Yet the city prefers to have her pay the ultimate price for human error, rather than accept reasonable alternatives that would both maintain safety and keep her alive.

Clearly, Brindi does not deserve to die. Furthermore, she contributes significantly to the health and well-being of her owner, Ms. Rogier, much as a seeing-eye dog helps the blind.  Ms. Rogier is desperate to have her precious dog back. She has already built fenced enclosures attached to her home entrances, engaged a private trainer and  offered to pay all fines and costs.

We strongly oppose the euthanization of Brindi. We appeal to HRM Animal Services and the City Council to accept Ms. Rogier's reasonable and responsible offer so that Brindi can go home immediately.