Dear Everyone

I sort of consider myself oblivious on the best of days, normally because I sometimes find something out that’s not part of reality and I’d always assumed it was. Like a specific law to address the deliberate killing of police service animals – makes sense, right? The animals are normally either dogs or horses, really dedicated and loyal, out there doing a great job that humans can’t and adding something primal and good to a presence that serves and protects. Picture a kid you know being lost, or yourself trapped in a collapsed building – isn’t it somewhat comforting to know that several of the of the service professionals looking for the kid/yourself are actually dogs, designed to sniff and search and find and dig? And I think anyone who’s not been on the receiving end of horse as crowd control likely can foster some warm and fuzzy feelings toward them. If you have been on the receiving end, you know how uniquely effective they are. Law enforcement dogs and horses add something to the streets of Toronto, whether you feel it’s a tourist thing or a sense of peace or a knightly vibe, you’d think that somewhere there would be a law to protect them. Apparently there isn’t, and here’s where I’m having a problem with the oblivious feelings. I can’t understand why not.

In case you don’t remember – likely you do, but in case – this past February a Toronto officer and horse were deliberately struck in a case of yahoo with road rage. The officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The horse, a seven year old Belgian cross named Brigadier, had life ending injuries which hadn’t quite done the job yet and had to be shot at the scene. The aforementioned yahoo has been charged with “dangerous operation causing bodily harm” and “failure to stop at the scene” – kind of lame sounding things given the devastation caused. Nothing about equucide, and nothing about maiming or causing the death of a law enforcement animal because there is no bloody law for that.

Anyway, there’s an online petition. I think it is well deserving of attention, and if you feel that way too you might like to sign it. Here’s the website for the petition:

http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/brigs_law.html

If you think this is a good idea but doubt the power of the online petition, you might also like to write a letter in your own words about the proposed law making the deliberate injury or murder of law enforcement service animals covered under the Criminal Code of Canada. A post card would do, bonus points if it has a picture of a Mountie. if you want to be taken seriously. I don’t think you actually need postage to send letters to govt officials, check with the post office near you and chat them up about Brigs Law while you’re at it. Try:

The Honorable Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington St
Ottawa ON
K1A 0H8

Or:

Office of the Prime Minister80 Wellington StreetOttawa OnK1A 0A2

Or try any MP or MPP or elsewise that you can think of. Thanks for reading, thanks for considering the proposal. Have a fabulous weekend.