attempted drowned GSD doing OK...
'Protect the voiceless'; Protesters urge stiffer penalties for animal abusers
PETER DOWNS
Local News - Thursday, July 26, 2007 @ 01:00
Protesters are hoping the smudged paw print of an abused German shepherd speaks volumes for animal rights.
More than two dozen demonstrators pushed for tougher animal abuse laws at a rally outside the St. Catharines courthouse Wednesday morning.
As the rally unfolded outside, the case of a Fort Erie man accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a German shepherd found abandoned last spring was adjourned until next month.
The first "signature" inked on a petition calling for tougher animal cruelty legislation put forward by the demonstrators was the paw print of Queen Waldorf - the dog at the centre of the abuse case.
The eight- to 10-year-old pooch has made a strong recovery since she was found near death at the water's edge along the Chippawa Creek in Niagara Falls last spring. The emaciated dog had two weights tied to a rope around her neck when she was rescued.
Queen Waldorf's new owner - Claudia Belson of St.
Catharines - said stricter laws are badly needed to protect animals and punish those who abuse them.
"Let's change these laws so other animals don't suffer," she said, with Queen Waldorf panting at her side.
"You can't treat animals like this. These are your family."
Demonstrators want to see a private member's bill, introduced by Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland, passed through the House of Commons in the fall.
The proposed legislation - Bill C-373 - would give more teeth to existing animal cruelty laws, which demonstrators maintain are far too light.
"The penalties for abusing animals are not strong enough," said rally co-organizer Carolyn Konrad.
"We want to see a lifetime prohibition of owning animals for anyone convicted."
Currently, the longest a person can be banned from keeping an animal is two years, plus the duration of probation.
Fines are a maximum of $2,000 and jail terms are no longer than six months.
"There's something wrong with our society," Konrad said. "We've got a ways to go to protect the voiceless."
They may not be able to speak for themselves, but several dogs were on hand at the rally to add barks and yelps of support.
Dog trainer Rebecca Arseneau of St. Catharines brought her three dogs to the event, a Dalmatian and two tiny Italian greyhounds.
Animals deserve stronger legislation to protect their rights, Arseneau said.
"These aren't just dogs, they're our fur babies," said Arseneau, who was wearing a black-and-white polka dot shirt to match her Dalmatian, Monroe.
"Anyone who could so something like that to an animal - how do they treat the rest of the world? It's awful."
Jim Steel of St. Catharines said he brought his English bulldog, Spot, to the rally because he was "aghast" at the treatment Queen Waldorf suffered.
The retired GM engineer said he would like to see those convicted of animal cruelty forced to go through educational programs to improve their social skills.
"We're all here together. Animals don't deserve that kind of treatment, especially when they're so dependent on us," Steel said. Meanwhile, the case against the man accused of abusing Queen Waldorf was put over Wednesday.
Joseph Cote, 51, was ordered to return to court Aug. 15 to face three charges of animal neglect.
He is charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide veterinary treatment, failing to provide suitable and adequate care for an animal and abandoning an animal in distress.
Source: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/w...l+News&classif
