Home Archive › Forums › Dogs › Dogs in the News › Bruce, the NI ‘pit bull type’ – long (but urgent) post!
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sharon@rescueremedies.
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August 2, 2009 at 9:37 pm #91119
sharon@rescueremedies
MemberHeres the latest …
“In a bid to keep piling on the pressure and help Bruce, the alleged pit bull type held under sentence of death in Northern Ireland, DDAWatch have begun a new email campaign. Please, please, please copy or rewrite the following letter and send it to the contacts listed below.
quote :DearI am contacting you further to my previous email regarding the tragic case of “Bruce”, the alleged pit bull terrier type held by Northdown Borough Council. I remind you of the facts regarding Bruce.
Bruce is a friendly dog whose temperament has never been in question.
Bruce has a loving family whose only wish is to see him live.
The authorities have held Bruce for nearly two years costing thousands of taxpayer’s money.
Bruce’s condition while incarcerated deteriorated badly, shocking the world.
Bruce’s only “crime” is in his appearance.In my previous contact with yourself, my request was that you help to intervene and save the life of a friendly pet. I would like to ask this again however it seems no longer enough to request solely for Bruce, as Bruce is one of many dogs that may be found guilty in appearance under the Breed Specific Laws in effect in Northern Ireland.
It is on behalf of all dogs, whose crime is in their appearance, that I now contact you and ask that you make a stand against the needless seizure, detainment and potential destruction of dogs such as Bruce and request that all sections within Article 25 of the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 be repealed from the legislation.
Breed Specific Legislation has been proven to been ineffective at tackling the core problem of irresponsible ownership. Its failure to increase and promote responsible ownership has meant that areas with BSL around the world have failed to see a decrease in incidents with dogs and in many areas these are reported to have actually risen. The Netherlands has noted this failure and has acted accordingly by repealing their ban on breed types.
BSL is also ineffective at reducing the barbaric “sport” of dog fighting. The Welfare of Animals Act contains provisions to deal with those guilty of this offence yet the maximum repercussions for those who abuse and kill innocent creatures are equal to those for a caring owner of a friendly dog whose only crime is in the dog’s physical appearance.
Is it not time that Northern Ireland turn their focus onto those who, intentionally or otherwise, fail to provide for the health and welfare of their pets by ensuring a responsible upbringing of those animals?
I understand that a move to repeal the Breed Specific Aspects of the Dangerous Dogs Act may be considered controversial but I would ask you to question whether or not it is also controversial to continue to back legislation that does not work, cannot work and leads to the destruction of healthy friendly family dogs.
I look forward to hearing your response on the matter
Kind Regards,
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Shaun Woodward MP
Northern Ireland Office, 11 Millbank, London, SW1P 4PN
Fax: 01744 24306…
http://www.shaunwoodward.com/enquiry.html
The Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA – First Minister
Martin McGuinness MP MLA – deputy First Minister
Jeffrey Donaldson MP – http://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/AdviceCentre.asp
Gerry Kelly MLA
Email: ps.ministers@ofmdfmni.gov.ukLetters to: GD36 Stormont Castle, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3TT
Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP – Home Secretary
Letters to: 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF,Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
roberta.dunlop@northdown.gov.uk
wesley.irvine@northdown.gov.uk
alan.chambers@northdown.gov.uk
marsden.fitzsimons@northdown.gov.uk
james.mckerrow@northdown.gov.uk
david.alderdice@northdown.gov.uk
diana.peacocke@northdown.gov.uk
Alexander Easton DUP Alex.Easton@niassembly.gov.uk
Stephen farry stephen.farry@allianceparty.org
Peter Weir DUP pjweir@hotmail.com
Leslie Cree UUP Leslie.cree@northdown.gov.uk
Stephen farry stephen.farry@allianceparty.org
or facebook pages
Here’s Peter Weir
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Farr…gid=57364012878Here’s Stephen Farry MLA
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Farry-MLA/71584014663Brian Wilson
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Farr…/aldermanwilson”August 4, 2009 at 5:22 am #91120MemberBruce’s Global Vigil, part four
August 6, 2009 at 9:16 pm #91121Member“Why have the USPCA failed to comment on Bruce?
Over the last few weeks many organisations across the world have spoken up in defence of Bruce, a good dog, currently being held by the authorities in Northern Ireland. Emails have been sent in their thousands and every single organisation and a large number of MLP’s have replied, even if its a basic aknowledgment of the emails recieved.
Except for the USPCA.
The USPCA is the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They are the main animal welfare body in Northern Ireland. Yet they have said nothing at all regarding the horrific condition Bruce was photograhed in. Bruce, we are told, is now in better condition however no one who claims to be protecting the welfare of animals could expect us to allow this silence and lack of action to continue.
When you visit the USPCA website the first thing that stands out is a clip promoting the Five Freedoms. The Five freedoms are :
Freedom from hunger and thirst.
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury and disease.
Freedom to express normal behaviour
Freedom from fear and distress.
Yet with Bruce, the USPCA keeps up a wall of silence.
Please email the USPCA again and ask them for their position on the seizure of dogs whose only crime is in their physical appearance.
Why is no action seemingly being taken against those who failed to ensure Bruce freedom from pain, injury and disease?
How many other dogs are currently being held in Northern Ireland?
How many of those dogs have died while in the “care” of the authorities?
Who is monitoring the welfare of all dogs held?
When will independent investigation be carried out on ALL kennels holding dogs in Northern Ireland and when will the outcomes of those investigations be published?
Northern Ireland, the World is still watching and will continue to speak out until YOU take action to protect the dogs!
Email the USPCA again, please.
August 10, 2009 at 6:57 pm #91122MemberHere is the latest news on Bruce …
“From DDAWatch
quote :We have heard an update regarding bruce’s situation. Shannons legal team have applied for “case stated” and there is to be a hearing on the 11th August , this coming Tuesday. We are not certain of how the legal system works in NI but we think (think!) that this hearing will be to set out the case and it may then be able to be put forward to the court of appeal at a future hearing.If we come into any more information we will let you know. Please do keep everything crossed for shannon and especially for Bruce this tuesday regardless of what the hearingis. His fate may depend on it!
My understanding, which is absolutely fallible, is that Tuesday’s hearing will just be for the judge to explain the reasoning behind her decision and for the legal points on which an appeal is sought to be laid out.”
August 19, 2009 at 8:33 pm #91123MemberHad the following update today …
“Main stream media are showing a strong interest. Sky want to cover it, reporters from the LA Times are making enquiries and now…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8209106.stm
Shannon on the Nolan show
August 21, 2009 at 9:09 pm #91124MemberCourt of Appeal hearing scheduled for the 14th Sept!
July 3, 2010 at 11:16 am #91125MemberBruce is being released into a rescue home is Southern Ireland!
A post by the person who Bruce will be release to:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055956725 -
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