Way to go Ontario, let's hope other province's follow suit. It's about time laws became more strict when it comes to animal abuse. If you can't properly look after your dog or cat or whatever creature it is you have in your care then you shouldn't have it.
I'm sick of hearing, "it's just an animal, no big deal," and of seeing warped, bragging individuals post pictures of cruelty and neglect on Facebook and the like. It's time we stand up and hold people like this accountable.
While it's a small step, members of Mississauga city council are tossing around the idea of banning pet owners from leaving their animals outside in extreme weather.
"It's just common sense that in -40 degrees, any dog would not be in good shape if they're exposed," says Mississauga Humane Society president Lily Chan in her lobby for change. "Our main goal is to have the bylaw changed so there is a limit on the number of hours the owners can chain up their dogs or confine their dogs in a small area. It's totally inhumane. Imagine a child or any human being confined 24/7 by a chain." Imagine being chained without proper shelter, food and water also, for days on end. Imagine it's 40 below with a biting wind on top of that. I saw that sight in Yorkton this winter. Thank God for the local groups that are out there to help poor creatures like that.
"In places that there are no such measures, you actually do have quite a few cases of dogs dying... Having it (by law changes) done in Mississauga, Canada's sixth-largest city, would be a really big step to other municipalities catching on."
I know people are tired of bans and rules and on top of that there would be the issue of how to police all this, but if you ask me, we have to start somewhere. When you turn on the news to see endless stories of neglect, torture and mistreatment, you know something has to change. Somebody has to speak up for the ones who can't. It may be a simple matter of common sense, but let's face it, that's not a quality every individual possesses. Unfortunately, sometimes behaviours have to be learned and lessons need to be taught.
No living creature deserves to be abused and we shouldn't look the other way when we see it. If we don't make the effort to create change, who will?
