Service dog taken from Bruce County, Ont. family
Two families are fighting for the permanent return of their dogs - one of them a service animal - seized by the municipality because they resemble pit bulls.
Lulu is home, for now, after being taken by Arran-Elderslie’s Animal Control officer in early August. The Quarry family's other dog, Blue, a PTSD service dog for Ralph Quarry is also back home, but they are not sure for how long.
“Blue has never, ever, ever hurt anybody. He’s never bit or gone after anybody. He went after a cat. That’s what this all stems from, a cat. All dogs go after cats,” says Ralph.
Deanna Irvin-Wheeler lost her dogs, Dexter and Nove, to the same animal control officer in March, after they got loose from her property in nearby West Grey.
Their resemblance to a pit bull, although they are both American Bullies, is the reason they were taken.
“I was never charged, and they shipped them to Quebec,” she says.
Dexter and Nova, two American Bullies, are seen in this undated photo. (Source: Deanna Irvin-Wheeler)
The Quarry and Wheeler families are pushing to try and repeal parts of Ontario’s Dog Owners and Liability Act, also know as Ontario’s pit bull ban law, put in place in 2005.
Specifically, the parts that focus on breeds deemed similar in looks to pit bulls, like Lulu, an American Bully.
“Innocent sweet, lovable, well-adjusted family pets with responsible, loving owners, are getting caught under this, and not actual criminals,” says Robyn Minifie, a local animal advocate.
For their part, the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie provided this statement from Arran-Elderslie CAO Sylvia Kirkwood about the Quarrys' dogs being taken.
“The Quarry matter is still in litigation. We cannot provide any commentary on this matter as it still remains before the courts. Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control Services continue to be provided in Arran-Elderslie in accordance with our Bylaws on a complaint basis.”
Ralph has been charged with owning a dangerous dog.
“He’s my rock when I need a rock. When my wife’s not home, he’s there to comfort me, to love me,” he says.
Irvin-Wheeler is working her way through the courts to try and get her dogs returned as well.
Until then, the focus is on trying to change the legislation that allows dogs like these, even service animals, to be taken from their homes.
“In other townships and municipalities, they’re heroes, these service dogs. But here, for some reason, under one animal control officer, they’re villains,” says Minifie.
Correction
An earlier version of this story stated that Ralph's PTSD service dog was still in custody.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'