On our side...

[Rott'n'Plott]

This columnist wrote his views on an incident that was reported a week ago. The attack happened when someone took a shortcut through the backyard where the owners had their dogs.
I haven't posted a link before so I hope it works.

[.www.canoe.ca/Columnists/mustard,html[/url]

[Rott'n'Plott]

Didn't work. I'll try again. Any help would be appreciated.

[Rott'n'Plott]

http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/mustard.html


Hope that does it!?

[Roscoe's dad]

Yes it worked, and its always great to hear media people in defence of our breed. The article did not say what the dogs did, I assume the cornered the punks and would not let them leave. If there is more to the story I would love to hear it. Thanks again for posting:D

[SelkeysCompanion]

"They just did their job, protecting their own turf from an invader."
Yes they did.It's too bad they were taken away,but it's just to ensure that the dogs are not unscocialized and neglected.At least there was a happy ending.

[Rott'n'Plott]

The columnist has a new column this morning on the Rotties. Clicking on the link will take you to this update now instead of yesterday's column. Good news!

[moondog]

It's a nice finish, isn't it? Hope he finds good homes for all those puppies, though. Is there a link to the original story?

[Rott'n'Plott]

Sorry. I couldn't get the link to the original story, only the column.
I love happy endings though!

[moondog]

That's OK, thanks for trying. I'll take a happy ending ANY time!!!;)

[Rott'n'Plott]

Just read the update on the Rottie's in Winnipeg and I am so d___ mad! The happy ending didn't last and no one is apparently going to do anything about it.

This is the story about what actually happened. I didn't want to post the link cuz it would be no good after the paper comes out tomorrow so I copied the stories instead.

Girl who was bitten is charged
By Cary Castagna

The 15-year-old girl mauled by two Rottweilers Saturday afternoon in the North End has been charged under the Taxicab Act with failing to pay her cab fare.

The teen, who can't be named under the Young Offenders Act, was bitten several times as she cut through Ron Clarke's yard at 136 Burrows Ave. -- while allegedly skipping out on a $13 cab fare.

"I hope that girl learned a lesson but I seriously doubt it," said Unicity Taxi driver Valjinder Bedi, who drove the girl to a house in the 100 block of Magnus Avenue about 1:15 p.m. Saturday.

Bedi, who called police and waited in the area after several unsuccessful attempts to square up the tab, told The Sun he witnessed the girl leave the house about 3:30 p.m. and jump the fence of a neighbouring yard.

'I NEVER FORGET A FACE'

"I had no doubt in my mind it was the same girl," the 22-year-old cabbie said yesterday. "I never forget a face."

The girl reportedly claimed she was visiting a friend on Alfred Avenue and decided to cut through Clarke's yard.

The two dogs were apprehended by Animal Services. The female gave birth to 11 puppies, all of which died within the past few days.

Relieved to learn of the charges against the girl, Bedi was upset to hear of the pups' deaths.

"That's terrible," he said. "The girl made one error and she caused a lot of grief. In a way I kinda felt responsible. I just can't stand people doing that (skipping out on cab fares). I see this happening over and over."

Failing to pay a cab fare carries a maximum $250 fine on the first offence and a maximum $500 fine on the second offence.

Taxicab secretary Sheila Champagne said a judge may also order the girl to pay the $13 fare and any costs incurred by the driver, including lost wages for the upcoming court appearance.

[Rott'n'Plott]

This is the story of what happened to the Rottie. The columnist couldn't let it go so he asked a staff reporter to look into it for him and this is what he found out. There is absolutely no excuse for this that I can see. No Excuse!

Entire litter lost
Officials had no pity, says owner of dog
By DOUG LUNNEY, STAFF REPORTER

Ron Clarke believes if the city's animal services department had been quicker to show compassion, his Rottweiler's entire litter of 11 puppies wouldn't be dead.

"They knew she was pregnant and they knew the stress could put her into premature labour," Clarke said. "What made me angriest .... was that after she had the pups and after three had already died, there was still not even the consideration to let me take them home. Not even a thought."

Clarke's problems began Saturday afternoon, when a 15-year-old girl jumped a fence into his yard on Burrows Avenue while allegedly skipping out on a cab fare. That's when his two dogs attacked the girl.

The city impounded the two adult Rottweilers immediately following the attack. One was a female due to deliver pups in about a week. The dogs were put into quarantine for 10 days and Clarke was told he could pick them up Oct. 8 for a $300 kennel fee.

Worried that Shelby, the adult female, would deliver early due to the stress of being impounded, Clarke said he'd "been harassing" animal services staff to let him have his female back.

TOOK THEM TO VET

Shelby delivered 11 pups on Monday, three of which died shortly after. Clarke said animal services called him yesterday morning, telling him that four more puppies had died and that a decision had been made to let him have Shelby and the pups.

The remaining four pups died shortly after Clarke brought them home and took them to a vet.

"It was like all of a sudden now they can bend the rules," Clarke said. "Basically, to me that was like saying, 'We screwed up, so you can come pick up your dogs, now that they're all dead.'"

Tim Dack, chief operating officer for animal services, says the decision to send the dogs home early wasn't an admission of guilt. He says the first seven puppies likely died because Shelby, an inexperienced mother, rolled over on them.

"We figured before we lose them all, let's give some of them back," Dack said. "We did nothing wrong. We did not kill these dogs and we did everything we could to ensure their health."

City Coun. Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre), who's on the board of the protection and community services committee, which oversees the department, said an exception should have been made earlier in Clarke's case.

"You form policies and you make rules but you can't foresee everything that can happen," Smith said. "I'm sure when they formed the policy they didn't foresee the dog being pregnant and the girl jumping into the yard.

"We should not be so dogmatic with the rules."

Clarke believes the pups would have been fine had they been born in the comfort of his home, not in a cramped kennel. Dack says the dogs were kept in a birthing box, not on the concrete floor.

The Animal Hospital of Manitoba vet who examined the pups said he could only speculate as to why they were so weak.

"It could be because she was a first-time mother in a strange environment," Wenchao Zheng said. "She didn't have any experience; she wasn't directed by any experienced personnel; it could be just too many puppies; it could be a very stressful and cold environment."