Posted by Linda
on December 17, 2005, 11:11 am
As some know I moved in July. Before buying any property I made part
of my offer "conditional" on being able to obtain a kennel license.
I received a letter from the township stating that indeed the
property met all the requirements to obtain a kennel license. We
bought the house and moved in.
I sent in my $100 fee and an application for 13 dogs..
About a week later the front page of the local paper reads "MASTIFFS
NOT WELCOME HERE" and the article stated I was attempted to get a
license for "PIT BULL TYPE DOGS" and a whooping 40 of them!!! There
are a number of quotes from neighbors and myself? Yet I never spoke
to this newspaper. My application for 13 total included my personal
dogs plus a couple of rescues and puppies. My property is surrounded
by the Moira River on three sides and the forth side is highway. A
family that live
across the river started a petition and fear campaign against our breed. I have never had any negative
interaction with these people. When I asked the neighbor if he had
ever seen a Neapolitan Mastiff he said "no but I have read about
these temperamental monsters on the internet" The next town meeting
there was a crowd in attendance all concerned about this GRANDADDY
OF THE PIT BULL moving in to their town. I invited the town council
to visit my home and meet the dogs in person. The crowd got up one
after the other and talked about fear of this breed and outlandish
scenarios of the dogs maybe...just maybe getting loose and attacking
their livestock children ect. Keep in mind we have bear and moose
here. My property is totally fenced and surrounded by water.
Majority of my dogs are show dogs and some even have CGC and TDI
titles. The worse thing about this whole ordeal is a breeder of
Boxers is less then 3kms from me and they
signed this petition against my breed. Also a German Shepherd
Kennel within 2kms ...the wife attended the meeting
and gave some support for us and the husband signed the petition,
against us.
On November 1st ...I decided to bring lawyer in on the matter. My
solicitor attended the town meeting and he was in such disbelief of
how it was handled. The council voted on the matter and the vote was
2 in favor and 3 opposed. They also forced the vote on 40 dogs and
my application stated a maximum of 13. Each of the councilors that
were opposed to the issuance of a kennel license took a few minutes
to address me and assure me it was not personal and that it was
because of the breed being a pit bull type and they had to vote
against my license so to preserve public safety. Again the local
paper had a story about the meeting and result on the front page.
You BET it was very personal.....On November 10th my solicitor filed
an application for a Judicial Review. On November 16th, I served the
township clerk and each councilor individually. On November 17th the
township's solicitor contacted my lawyer telling him that they have
advised their clients to settle the matter out of court. After
lengthy negotiations the township settled and have issued my license
for 15 dogs and $5000 for my legal costs.
I would thank to thank... first off my solicitor Terry Green of
Green and Vespry Law Offices and all tht lended support.
Deborah Graffman for just listening to me.
Al Bennett for taking the time to write to council
Sonny Allison for taking time to write to council.
Dr PierLuigi Scalia for all his expertise in genetics and support.
John Hodginson for taking the time to write council.
Donna Deschamboult for attending meetings to support me.
Jennifer Dunn for attending meetings in support.
Steve Barker for recommending Terry Green.
Councilor Gord Hazelett for not falling into the fear mongering.
Councilor Larry Rollins for not falling into the fear mongering.
To the remaining councilors for agreeing to settle this matter.
Bill Lebow (town clerk) for always being pleasant and fair to deal
with.
All the CKC judges that wrote on behalf of my breed.
Clive Davies for taking the time to write both the local paper and
township office.
If you don't think it can happen to YOU or your BREED ...THINK
AGAIN!!!
Needless to say this has been extremely stressful, I am very glad
this is over and we want to just be able to enjoy our property and
dogs. Now Baby Blue Kennels is home to stay.... in Beautiful
Eldorado Ontario!
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