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Did the SPCALL fail to discharge of a legal duty?

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In short, did the SPCALL fail to uphold the law?

On Friday August 5, 2011 at approximately 9:00 pm, I received a phone call followed by an e-mail asking me to help locate 29 Huskies in Lachute, tied to trees in the woods, as dog rescuer groups on-line were trying to help, with the help of a rescue organization in Ontario called Canine-Feline Rescue.

At or around 12:00 am on the 6th, I located the dogs tied to trees in Lachute (video recording of dogs barking in the dark) and actually confirmed there might be more than 29, and they were extremely thin, no shelter was available to any of them, there were no signs of food nor water in sight. At or around 12:30 am, I confirmed that the dogs had been located to ****** who had organized the transport/rescue for these dogs (after an ad had been placed on the internet by the owner of the adjacent property asking for these dogs to be taken or they would end up at the Berger Blanc by that following Monday).

On Saturday August 6th, at approximately 12:00 noon, I directed the “organizers” to the location, and upon seeing these dogs, everyone was appalled and couldn’t wait to see them get rescued. We then waited for the Ontario rescue group to arrive with their transport, and unfortunately it turned into a fiasco, as the “rescue group” was just a fraud and no one was coming to help these dogs.

With the help of another Montreal rescue group who had come to help with transport if needed, it was decided that we could not close our eyes to this situation and re-grouped to find other rescues to help take these dogs in.

At approximately 3:00 pm, Mr. Daniel Charbonneau (the owner of the dogs) comes to the site (with no food nor water in sight), and decides he no longer wants “rescue” groups to take in his dogs, he wants people to come on the site to “adopt” these dogs (who are obviously not yet adoptable in their state/condition). Some discussions are undertaken, the SQ is called in to help resolve the situation (Sgt. Fillion is among the officers), and Mr. Charbonneau decides, after speaking to the SPCA/MAPAQ personnel in the file, to surrender some dogs to the rescue groups on site.

The owner of the property that Mr. Charbonneau was evicted from (next door to the wooded area where the 37 dogs were tied), had arrived within minutes of Mr. Charbonneau and mentioned to the SQ officers that the City had been advised, that the SPCA was aware, that he had another 50 dogs elsewhere, that he was squatting on “city land” and that the owner of the wooded area where these dogs were tied, had complained on several occasions. At this point, Mr. Charbonneau said that the SPCA and MAPAQ were in the file, and that they had “told” the owner she had to accept these dogs on her property until the case was “resolved”…. I did think that very weird, wanted the SQ officer to locate and reach the owner of the lot, but Sgt. Fillion claims that was impossible….

At approximately 7:00 pm, we leave with 10 dogs that Mr. Charbonneau surrendered and the agreement is to return the next day to take more in, as we had no “plan” yet as to where to put more of these Huskies if we took more in. The SPCA would then take whatever dogs were left on Monday morning.

At approximately 9:30 pm, CTV covers the story on-line

On Sunday August 7th, at or around 12:00 noon, CTV shows up on follow-up on the story, no one has yet arrived and they are turned away by Mr. Charbonneau. The “group” arrives at approximately 1:00 pm and plans are made to take in the dogs. We load 15 dogs into several cars, and as we are leaving the property, the SQ pulls me over, asks me what I am doing, I explain I am taking more of the dogs as agreed yesterday, and I am told to have a nice day and leave. We all meet up at the local McDonald’s in order to see which dogs are going where, and 2 SQ cars show up, at which time we are told by Sgt. Fillion that Mr. Charbonneau has changed his mind, that he does not want us to take the dogs and we must return them to the trees in the woods. I insist on speaking to Corinne Gonzalez of the SPCA Laurentides/Labelle, who was in charge of the file for the last several weeks/months, and after much effort to negotiate with her to bring these dogs into the SPCA right away in order for them to be safe, fed and sheltered, she assured me that they had a “file” and a “plan” to seize the dogs that next day, Monday August 7th, therefore insisting we return these dogs to their original locations, with no food, no water and no shelter (it had rained quite heavily that day).

Under the threat of being arrested, at approximately 10:30 pm, we all complied, drove back to the location to tie the dogs back up to their chains, and were let go.

Monday August 8th, 2011, CBC covers the story, showing the SPCA getting involved, at which time the SPCA declares they were “just informed” of this situation, but did not “seize” the dogs, instead, they made a deal with the owner to “surrender” the dogs to the SPCA in exchange for no charges being laid against him. In that same news report, Corinne Gonzales is clearly heard saying they had just “discovered” a new location with as many as possibly 50 other dogs, also in bad shape, that will need to be “investigated” and the dogs may need to be seized. It is also mentioned that Mr. Charbonneau is squatting with the dogs, his wife and kids.

On Monday August 8th 2011, at approximately 10:00 pm, we heard that following the Media and SPCA visit, Mr. Charbonneau had “left” the land he was squatting on. I also got confirmation from people who had been following the story, that there was in fact 2 kids living with them. At approximately 11:00 pm, I contacted Youth Protection to make them aware of the children living in this situation.

On Tuesday August 9th, 2011, I went to the Montreal SPCA to see if and how they could get involved. I was told they could not get involved as it was in the SPCA Laurentides/Labelle jurisdiction. I inquired to see if Humane Society International (HIS) could get involved, at which point I was told they could only get involved if the SPCA asks for their help….

On Wednesday August 10th, I received a call from Alana Devine of the Montreal SPCA, who assured me that she spoke to Corinne Gonzales of SPCA Laurentides/Labelle, who confirmed they very much had an open file, were following up and would be taking action. I was told that they had been “checking” on him daily, the dogs were fed and all was “under control”. However, I knew at this point Mr. Charbonneau was no longer on the site where the SPCA had “checked” on the dogs.

On the 10th, I received a phone call from Youth Protection telling me they went to the location and could not locate Mr. Charbonneau. I informed them the SQ knew exactly which lot he was on, and they could get the information from them. I tried to find the lot number from the SQ at that time, and spoke to Sgt. Filion who told me I had no more business in this story, that he had no reason to give Youth Protection any information, warned me to “stay out of this” as I didn’t know who I was dealing with.

On Friday August 12th, my “source” tells me that Mr. Charbonneau is broke, wants to borrow money as his dogs have not eaten in at least 2-4 days., at this point he was losing his mind, his wife said she would rather kill herself and all the dogs then let the SPCA take their “investment”. The oldest kid was old enough to be on his own, the youngest could go live with his grandma…

On Saturday August 13th, at approximately 1:00 am, we confirm that he no longer is on the site CBC/SPCA knew of. We could hear the dogs, but could not locate their new site.

On Saturday August 13th, at approximately 10:00 am, we drove to SPCA Laurentides/Labelle (Ste-Agathe) to see what their next step was as it was obvious nothing had yet been done. Couldn’t speak to anyone, so drove down to St-Jerome where the “seized/surrendered” huskies were temporary housed.

Upon arrival at approximately 11:00 am, I spoke to Elizabeth Pierce, employee of the SPCA Laurentides/Labelle, who tells me they cannot do anything…. A file is open, they’re investigating. I, along with my source, confirm to her that the dogs have no food (it’s now been anywhere from 3-5 days), that the wife has threatened to kill all the dogs rather than let the SPCA take them, and try to see what exactly they are waiting for in order to act on the P-42 by-law. She tells me it’s the MAPAQ…. They are the ones in charge, and are also investigating. I insist that they have to act on the very weak laws (P-42) as the dogs have no food, water nor shelter… She then tells me that if I can “re-locate” them, get visual confirmation that there are still approximately 30 dogs on site, that there is no food/water visible and still no shelters, and that if these people “sign” an official complaint, the they would have to act immediately. She tells me I would not be “credible” as I am directly involved, so it must be someone else. 4 volunteers there at the moment, decide to do this as they are appalled at the conditions of the Huskies, and certainly want to help these other dogs.

We drive back to Lachute, and at approximately 1:00 pm, we locate Mr. Charbonneau and his pack of dogs, on another City lot in the same general area of the Lachute City Dump. We come back with visual and video confirmation, hoping to get the inspector to act immediately, and I am told by Mrs. Pierce, “this information will be given to Corine Gonzales on Monday morning, for the MAPAQ to open a file”……

On Sunday August 14th, I contact Youth Protection in order to update them on the location of Mr. Charbonneau and his family.

On Monday August 15th, I contact MAPAQ and speak to Mme Hebert, trying to see why no one has acted on this file yet, why dogs have to suffer with no food, water nor shelter, when they are the ones who wrote the law, and can enforce them. She tells me they have no power, that they need a “warrant” to seize dogs, I tell her they have the power to seize the dogs for 90 days, while they “study” their case and if need be, the dogs would be returned to Mr. Charbonneau. At least they would be sheltered, fed and given water to, but she does not agree and hangs up on me.

On Tuesday August 16th, 2011, Corine Gonzales declares publicly that this case is not one of animal cruelty, but one of neglect, as according to the MAPAQ veterinary report, these dogs have been malnourished and are too thin.

At approximately 12:00 noon, a group of us decide to go looking into the woods to see if dogs have been left behind every time Mr. Charbonneau moves location, and/or to see if we find any of the dogs that have been reported through different sources, to have died…. 8 people, within 5 vehicles, meet at the local Church parking lot to organize a search through the wooded area of the City Dump, in order to locate dogs if any are there. At this point, we were unsure of whether these lots were located within Lachute or Mirabel city limits, who they officially belonged to, and wanted to see if Mirabel would uphold their municipal By-Law concerning dog control as well as to see the City cadastre map in order to locate exactly in which City the lot Mr. Charbonneau was squatting on, belonged to.

At approximately 1:15 pm, upon turning on Sources Road, off Charles Renaud road, Mr. Charbonneau happened to be at that very stop sign, heading in the opposite way. He looked directly at me, then in a rage, cut off the second car after me, almost sending the 3rd one off the road, and went after us. Feeling a little scared, I contacted all the cars behind me and told them not to stop anywhere, that the “white van” following me/us was in fact Mr. Charbonneau and his wife. Not sure of what to do (I have a broken front driver window), we thought of driving into the Dump property to get help, but having no “visible” personnel, we continued driving towards the nearest police station (which happened to be Mirabel). Mr. Charbonneau continued to follow us, at one point on a long stretch, he cut off the cars behind me and got right on my bumper. I speeded up to 115km/h (on an 80km road), hoping for an SQ officer, having to go through stop signs by fear of him catching up. At 1:27 pm, I pulled out my cell and called 911, at which point he passed me and applied the breaks (tape can probably reveal my fear at that point)….. He then drove off, up the hill a ways, waited while I was still on the phone with 911, once he “disappeared”, I drove myself and the other cars directly to the Mirabel police station where a report was made. I was told it would be “wreckless driving”, and nothing much would happen, however I explained my whole situation to the officer at the time, who explained a little about the costs associated with “seizing” dogs, and how the “Chow-Chow man” had never been stopped because of financial reasons……

We then left and proceeded to City Hall in Mirabel, checked the cadastre lots, tried to locate the “owner” of the lot to see if it was public or private land, they told us it was in fact Lachute. Not sure of where to turn to at this point, we decided to return to Sources road to look for dogs as originally planned, and not to let this high-speed chase intimidate us. We also knew at this point that SQ was in fact acting as local police, and that if no one else, they had the power to enforce municipal By-Laws (dog control). After searching the woods and finding no dogs nearby, ****** (who had a talking relationship with Mr. Charbonneau) and another lady from the group, decided to go bring him a large bag of dog food and gallons of water, as well as try to talk to him about this situation.

Upon their leaving the site, we all met at the McDonald’s in Lachute, where she relayed that Mr. Charbonneau had made direct threats, saying “si Sophie se presente sur mon terrain, je vais la tirer/tuer et ca ne sera pas un meurtre car je protege mon terrain, et la SQ sont mes amis”. The other people and myself all looked at each other and said “so he does have guns”…..At which point ***** was a little “scared”, as she had not heard about him having guns.

I proceeded to the SQ office to press charges for these death threats, and to have them investigate the high-speed pursuit of earlier that day. I met Agent Lafleur, who took our 3 statements, told us if we agreed to go to court and testify, they could act right away. I did at this point fear for my safety, thinking that even though he may not pull a gun and shoot me, he could easily hurt me with one of the chains he uses for his dogs if he was to spot me in town, track me down, follow me and corner me……I told them I could totally see him vandalizing my car, flinging one of those heavy chains at my head and wanted to see some “conditions” given to him. I also wanted Mr. Charbonneau to know that this was not going to intimidate me into letting these dogs die at the end of their chains, which is why I was in fact pressing charges. He had previously made allegations to the fact the SQ were his friends, that he had everyone’s license plate number, and that he would have us arrested if we came back to Lachute. ******* was very nervous, and Agent Lafleur confirmed that he could do no such thing, that we had every right to be in Lachute.

Later on that night, after discussing the day with others, we were informed that Youth Protection and Anima-Quebec (MAPAQ) had been there earlier that day, both had given certain recommendations, both had an “open file” and I figured that was what had angered him when he saw me in town.

On or around Friday the 19th, I contacted the Dog Control service for Lachute, Alexandre Roy, told him of the situation and asked him if he would enforce the municipal by-laws since at this point no one else seemed to want to enforce any laws to help these poor dogs. He told me he had no power to do anything, that he in fact had ticketed Mr. Charbonneau and had ordered him to be gone by Monday the 22nd. As per the By-Law, Mr. Roy has the power not only to ticket Mr. Charbonneau for non-compliance of the By-Laws, but the right to seize dogs who commit a “nuisance” on public property. Equally, the SQ has that same power, as they act as local police for the City of Lachute, and therefore can enforce municipal By-Laws as well.

On Monday August 22nd, we went to Lachute City Hall to get the dog control by-law (96-490) and were refused a copy, as well as the possibility to “consult” it. I was told I needed to fill out a request, that it would be sent to me by mail…. I then asked to consult the cadastre map, again I was turned down, claiming I needed an appointment with the Urbanist… I thought that very odd, as I just need the map to locate the lot myself, after a bit of insisting they get me an appointment that day, that I would remain in Lachute and wait, they got me an “assistant” who opened up her computer and found me the lot in question. Her answers as to who the lot belonged to was very vague, claiming she had no clue who la Regie Inter-Municipale was, who ran the dump, and so on… I asked for a copy of that cadastre plan, wanting to then locate the “owners” to see if in fact Mr. Charbonneau had permission to squat there with his family and 50 dogs, unfortunately the server was down, a copy could not be printed, a copy could not be sent to me via e-mail, I was given a pad and a pen to write down the lot numbers….. We confirmed once again their location was unchanged from the last time, and headed home.

On Tuesday August 23rd, CBC contacts me and does a follow-up story with the SPCA Laurentides/Labelle as well as with me, asking if I thought that the SPCA had done everything in their power at this point to help the Huskies as well as the other remaining dogs. I told them I felt that the MAPAQ as well as the SPCA Laurentides/Labelle, had certainly been trying to wash their hands of this situation, and were just dragging on in hopes that Mr. Charbonneau would disappear and they could close their file, claiming they had “lost track of him”…..

On or around the 23rd , we decided to organize a sort of peaceful demonstration, by organizing a “free camping week-end” in Lachute, on these lots the following week-end. Equality of the law we call it, if this family can live for free on City land, why can’t everyone” This was a way to get the City to move on this issue.

On Wednesday August 24th, I contacted RCI to try and find out who was in charge of these lots that Mr. Charbonneau was squatting on, I was given the name of Pierre Gionet, but did not have the chance to contact him. He is with the Regie Inter Municipale, the owners of the lots in question. It seems these lots are in fact owned by 4 municipalities who make up this Regie…..

Later on that day, we found video footage of a City Council meeting that seemed to expose some “not so clean” stuff going on within city administration, so decided we may have an “ally” with City Councillor Louis Seize who didn’t seem to totally agree with her administration on the way things were being handled. I also noticed that Mr. Pierre Gionet (who I was supposed to contact about this situation on their lots), was in fact the Director of the City of Lachute…. I was kind of happy I had not contacted him.

I decided to try and communicate with Mrs. Louis-Seize, she returned my phone call and I exposed this situation. She had not even heard of this guy and his dogs, squatting on City property, who had made the news….I informed her of my displeasure with the whole situation and how these dogs needed help, and at this point my only hope was with the City since SPCA and MAPAQ didn’t seem to really care…..I told her I was planning a “camping trip” on their property this coming week-end, at which time she informed me she would look into this and get back to me.

On Friday August 26th, at approximately noon Mrs. Louis Seize called me, told me she had contacted people at City Hall, and that Mr. Charbonneau had in fact been “evicted” from this lot, that cement blocks had been put on the lot to avoid him from returning, that he had left the City limits, and they did not know where he was relocated, but affirmed it was not on City land within Lachute. She then passed me the City Director, Mr. Gionet, who also confirmed this information.

At or around 4:00 pm, I arrived in Lachute, went to get gas on Bethany, went to the McDonalds on Bethany, and on my way out towards the “lot” to verify that in fact it had been blocked off by the City, I spotted Mr. Charbonneau’s truck/trailer in the parking lot of the WalMart (on Bethany street).

At or around 4:30 pm, I confirmed that the lot had been blocked off by the City and that Mr. Charbonneau was no longer “squatting” on it.

I then went back to Lachute in order to go to the SQ office (on Bethany) to follow-up on the death threat charges for which Mr. Charbonneau did not seem to have been “arrested” yet, and to ensure that they would follow up on it regardless of the fact he was no longer “squatting” where they knew.

As well, I wanted to inform them that despite their telling me they cannot enforce municipal by-laws (dog control by-law), the Police Act in fact does give them the power to uphold and respect municipal by-laws for Lachute, as they are mandated to be “local police service”.

At or around 5:00 pm, upon driving towards the SQ office, Mr. Charbonneau’s truck came out of the Wal-Mart parking lot directly in front of me at that exact time, he then gave me the “finger”, and drove himself to the SQ office, which I thought was “curious” and decided to wait in the Gas station next door to see what would happen, then I would go in to find out where the “case” was.

At that point, Mr. Charbonneau came out of his truck, waited to have someone open the door (as they are closed), eventually an officer came out to the gas station to ask what I was doing. I informed him, at which time he replied that was fine, Mr. Charbonneau “lost it” on me and was very unhappy about the fact the officer was not “arresting” me.

I was told “have a nice day”, the officer went back inside, Mr. Charbonneau waited a few more minutes in his truck, came back out, rang the bell, went inside, and within less than 5 minutes, Sgt. Fillion was coming to the gas station telling me I was under arrest.

I followed the sergeant in, Mr. Charbonneau left and gave my son the “finger” as he drove away. I was then arrested, and prohibited from returning within the City of Lachute limits. I was also told that if I did not sign a promise to appear, as well as agree to respect these “conditions”, I would be detained until Monday due to the week-end.

All these facts can be confirmed by video and audio recordings within my possession, as well as gas receipt, and times can be verified via the Facebook postings of my every move.

I feel that under section 16 of the Private Security Act, I have investigated the facts of this situation and brought it repeatedly to the attention of the SPCALL/MAPAQ, and as a result of their inaction, I am now suffering the consequences of Mr. Charbonneau’s accusations of “criminal harrassment” as I have only been trying to get the appropriate authorities to act on this very serious situation. There has never been any ill intent towards Mr. Charbonneau or his family, the only goal is to help the dogs in need through the legal methods available to me.

Considering all the events resulting from the lack of enforcing the laws applicable in this case, the SPCALL failed to discharge a legal duty resulting as a common nuisance to the public’s enjoyment, safety, health as well as putting my safety at risk, as per section 180 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Common nuisance 180. (1) Every one who commits a common nuisance and thereby (a) endangers the lives, safety or health of the public, or (b) causes physical injury to any person, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. Definition (2) For the purposes of this section, every one commits a common nuisance who does an unlawful act or fails to discharge a legal duty and thereby (a) endangers the lives, safety, health, property or comfort of the public; or (b) obstructs the public in the exercise or enjoyment of any right that is common to all the subjects of Her Majesty in Canada. R.S., c. C-34, s. 176.


Adopted

Leo 2

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A sort of Terrier mix named Leo 2, well that’s me! Not sure what I am, have long white/cream hair, have a sort of howl as a bark, short legged, long body and sweet as can be.

I am about 2 years old, male, a good dog but definitely terrier mix, so for someone with experience. I can be stubborn, protective, yet sweet, cuddly and very friendly.

I have a mysterious past, having been rescued about a year ago at the SPCA, unfortunately ended up with a wonderful family with young kids, but not enough experience to deal with my protective side, and I bit the UPS dude, so I had to find a new place.

Ideally, someone with a fairly mellow lifestyle, I wouldn’t do so good with a very busy household, one or two person home would be best. I am “high maintenance” but am very good in the bath, with the dryer, getting my nails done, etc. I am used to it and can be kept beautiful if you wish to have a long-haired dog!

Give me my chance to find that final and lasting home, I too deserve to settle down with a cozy bed, a warm home and loving family.

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Adopted

Sasha

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My name is Sasha, and I am a big, beautiful, brindle female Neapolitan Mastiff. I am 4 years old, and even though I have lived all my life with another Mastiff, a St-Bernard, and most recently a French Bulldog, but I am very dominant with the St-Bernard and am therefore looking for a more suited home. You see, the Saint is very submissive, very old, and I keep picking on her, and it’s just not fair. I am great with all the other dogs in the house, not this one.

As a rule, I seem to be very dominant with female dogs…. However I am great with little dogs, males in general, and absolutely love people.

I am not for someone who thinks we’re a “cool breed”, I am for a very experienced Neapolitan Mastiff person, as we are big dogs and can be quite stubborn. But we are very gentle giants, deep inside.

Adopted

Doodzy

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I am Doodzy, cute name isn’t it? Well I’m as cute as my name is. I’m a 2 year old Pomeranian mix, male, extremely loving and affectionate, great with all dogs (big and small), and able to stay alone during the day. What more can you ask for? Oh, and I love kids, so that’s an extra bonus!

I am not one of those yappy little guys, will bark pretty much when there’s a reason to, otherwise I’m on the rather quiet side.

If you think I could be a good candidate for you and your family to adopt, don’t hesitate…. Make that move and make me a member of your family. I will give you kisses again and again, and will be your most faithful and loyal companion.

Adopted

Rocket

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So I’m Rocket and I’ve been held hostage by two previous foster homes in the last year, resulting in two “adoptions” by these “captors” in order to protect me from these people who where not capable of adhering to the conditions of Sophie’s adoption process, giving her that right to reclaim me once these people, “as she knew would happen” are unable to properly care for me.

My first foster dad, Robert, refused to let me go to the family Sophie had approved, hence refusing to let me go, so after many attempts from Sophie she decided to make him sing a contract and finalize the “adoption”. He had no money and was making “payments”, but before my “adoption” fee could be paid off, Robert had lost his apartment and was literally out on the street. He called Sophie to see if she could take me back for a couple of weeks until he got himself “together”. She immediately jumped on the opportunity as it was obvious he could not properly care for me. (He also had another dog). Months went by, she never heard from him, and one day after being on the News because he was losing yet again his home, he started making threats to Sophie about claiming she had stolen me from him. Of course she won as only my interest is what matters to her.

Now comes Jude, a new foster home. Sophie finds me the perfect home (remember I’m a typical Min Pin – for Min Pin lovers only), but Jude refused to let me go to this family because they had jobs and work during the day. I have absolutely no problems staying home alone, but Jude is of the opinion that dogs should always have someone with them. You see he doesn’t work, but not everyone has that privilege. So once again my foster dad wont release me and insists on keeping me because he feels that he’s the only good home for me.

Sophie figures “here we go again”. She attempted by all possible means to make Jude release me, but he wouldn’t. So she decided to once again let him finalize my “adoption” with a contract as she knew I was not the right dog for him and this was the only way to protect me once again from ending up at pound.

This was December 2010. By March 2011, Jude was emailing Sophie complaining about how annoying I was and how I disrupted the dynamics of the household (two other dogs), and even though he kind of liked me, he really hated me more and wasn’t sure that he wanted to keep me. He wanted to find me an “appropriate home” but as per the contract only Sophie can do that. He signed the contract, yet he didn’t want to comply to it by returning me to Sophie’s Dog Adoption, yet he didn’t love me as per one of the conditions of the contract.

As time went on, he hated more and more and asked Sophie to take me back for a week or two until he decided if he wanted to keep me or not. What do you think Sophie said? This was her way to get me back once again from this “captor” and agreed to “take me in”. Weeks went by, no one heard from Jude, we all thought I was a “done deal” and that he had washed his hands of me. But surprise! A couple of emails, couple of phone calls, couple of threats and then… The police… Jude claims she kidnapped me.

So this time around she will not sign a contract with a family that is not fully committed to loving me and providing me with the best of homes. That means you must know, love, and appreciate the typical Min Pin, as that is what I am. Loving, endearing, funny, cuddly, but jumpy, barky, excitable, and as people say “annoying”, that’s the typical Min Pin!

I’m only two years old, (well maybe 3 by now), and It’s time I find true love.

Adopted

Ralph

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I’m Ralph and despite my bad luck in my first 6 years in life, I’m already in a potential home. I’m a six year old Maltese, and I’ve already had at least 3 homes that Sophie is aware of. So I’m hoping this will work out and be my final home.

Keep an eye out if you see me on the adoptable side, it didn’t work out. If you see him on the adopted side, it worked out the way I’m hoping :)

Adopted

Kasper

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Kasper the tiny Maltese, that’s me! I’m 4 years old, weigh about 5lbs and I’m the sweetest thing you’ve ever met. When I first came to Sophie’s Dog Adoption, I had some bladder issues, but now that everything has cleared up, I’m pretty good about going to the bathroom in the right place. I have been paper trained, but since I’m a very smart boy I can eventually learn to only go outside.

I’m really sweet, love to be on your lap, a little shy around other dogs and fine with cats. I’m cute and very much look like a stuffed little toy, but you have to keep in mind that I am NOT! I do not want to be a gift for the kids nor do I wanna be seen as a fun toy but rather as a member of the family. That means through thick and thin, for better or for worst, sickness and in health till old age takes me away.

Adopted

Shaggy

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I am named Shaggy and I arrived at Sophie’s Dog Adoption last year, very shaggy looking and already 8 years old.

My story is a very common one, I’m a high maintenance dog and my family finally decided “We have no time for him”.

My first family had always done the grooming themselves, which led to many skin problems when I arrived, as well as bad fungus on my feet. But after a good shave, treatments and good care, it all went away.

I was adopted by a senior lady last year, but she decided to move to Thailand and thought I may not be able to make such a long trip. So here I am now at 9, again looking for a home. I don’t require a lot of attention, I have no anxiety problems but will need professional grooming at least twice a year. I’m not at all barky, I get along well with other dogs, no problems with cats and no aggression whatsoever.

Unfortunately I am no spring chicken, and I do have an enlarged heart, which in the last year has caused me to cough somewhat more and more. So I am what one would now consider a “special needs” dog, I have lost most of my hearing, and my eyesight is not all that great. Because of my age and mellow attitude, I would definitely see myself in a quiet and mellow home, and obviously someone who could care for my medical needs financially. I may not be in the best of shapes, but I am still full of life and pep, and if I find someone to love me for the rest of my life, I will give it back a thousand times!

Please give me the chance to get out of foster and into my own, wonderful and final home.

[wp_ad_camp_2]I am named Shaggy and I arrived at Sophie’s Dog Adoption last year, very shaggy looking and already 8 years old.

My story is a very common one, I’m a high maintenance dog and my family finally decided “We have no time for him”.

My first family had always done the grooming themselves, which led to many skin problems when I arrived, as well as bad fungus on my feet. But after a good shave, treatments and good care, it all went away.

I was adopted by a senior lady last year, but she decided to move to Thailand and thought I may not be able to make such a long trip. So here I am now at 9, again looking for a home. I don’t require a lot of attention, I have no anxiety problems but will need professional grooming at least twice a year. I’m not at all barky, I get along well with other dogs, no problems with cats and no aggression whatsoever.

Unfortunately I am no spring chicken, and I do have an enlarged heart, which in the last year has caused me to cough somewhat more and more. So I am what one would now consider a “special needs” dog, I have lost most of my hearing, and my eyesight is not all that great. Because of my age and mellow attitude, I would definitely see myself in a quiet and mellow home, and obviously someone who could care for my medical needs financially. I may not be in the best of shapes, but I am still full of life and pep, and if I find someone to love me for the rest of my life, I will give it back a thousand times!

Please give me the chance to get out of foster and into my own, wonderful and final home.

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Adopted

Teddy 3

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I’m Teddy 3, a 9 year old Schnauzer mix, who ended up at Sophie’s Dog Adoption for the same reason as many others; My mom was placed in a nursing home and no family member wanted to take me in.

I’m such a great dog and so easy to live with that I just don’t understand why I can’t spend my last years with family members. I guess when our folks are no longer able to care for us, unlike the TV that everyone will fight over, us pets are looked at as the garbage that nobody wants.

So here I am hoping to find a wonderful family, one who will help me get in shape (I’m slightly overweight), take good care of me (I hadn’t seen a vet since 2003) and love me until my final days.

I love people, great with other dogs, wonderful to stay home alone and just an overall fantastic dog.

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Le Berger Blanc – Your expiration date is almost here.

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Saturday, April 23, 2011 – 13:00 pm – Montreal
Montreal City Hall
275 Notre-Dame East
Champ-de-Mars Metro

SPA Canada invites you to join them for a demo and to ask Montreal’s Mayor to cancel all contracts with le Berger Blanc and to stop making business with profitable companies for the care of animals.

Consult the list of the areas in Montreal where le Berger Blanc have contracts with the city.

Animal welfare is a collective responsibility…asking the cities to take animal welfare into consideration in their regulations is an individual responsibility… your participation as a citizen is important and will make a huge difference. You can send an email to your elected representatives and invite them to watch the investigation.

See what municipalities are dealing with le Berger Blanc here: http://on.fb.me/iks5Mz and R.S.V.P here: http://on.fb.me/eH1SJM.


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Tyson 4 – In April

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Sophie Cognyl-Fournier

vs.

City of Montreal

April 11,12,13 – 2011

Sophie’s Arguments

  • Sophie’s expert witness proved that Tyson 4 was not a danger to humans, however because he was not properly socialized at a young age he’s not good with all dogs.
  • Sophie’s lawyer proved everything Sophie said and did, by putting her and the inspector on the stand.
  • Sophie’s lawyer proved the City did not make the necessary changes in the administration process since 2007 (The Renegad case – Mario Paquet vs City of Montreal), and that the same process was used on Sophie in 2010. The Judge had ruled it illegal in 2007 and that Renegad had been saved from euthanasia after biting a Montreal Police officer on the leg.
  • Sophie’s lawyer argued that if a dog is property it can’t be both the public and property. So how could property attacking a dog that is property be considered the public as the by-law states.
  • Sophie’s lawyer argued that if a dog is property, seizure requires expropriation laws as stated in the Quebec Charter of Rights, making it one’s civil right to own property. Therefore, as if it was land, a car or any property, she has to be compensated for “it” if legally taken away.
  • Sophie’s lawyer proved that the City had preformed illegal searches in her domicile since 2003 and that her domicile was her castle and that the city could not breech it without due process, as it is her constitutional right given to all Quebec citizens by the Quebec and Canadian Charter of Rights.
  • Sophie’s lawyer argued only the Attorney General of Quebec can contest the constitutional issues that would require those arguments void and null, however he refused to exercise that right, thus this court had to hear these arguments.

City’s Arguments

  • The City’s lawyers argued that Sophie could not fight the constitutional issues in this case and court, but in fact she could because the Attorney General of Quebec refused to exercise his right to defend the Charter of Quebec, so they argued on a 30 day limit from when Sophie’s lawyer came into the picture and sent an amended notice to the Attorney General. Sophie was representing herself so they argued they should have more time to prepare this case against a lawyer.
  • The City’s lawyers argued that it is too late for Sophie to contest this by-law based on it’s constitutional breech of rights, since it would have had to be done in a reasonable delay when it was created (1999) to protect the city from previous illegal search and seizures (in case this Judge was to rule it unconstitutional).
  • The City’s lawyers argued that this by-law was constitutional because they had to protect the “public”, and they had the right to breech people’s constitutional rights in prevention that someone refused to obey their order, therefore allowing search and seizure without a warrant and police presence and without due process (48hrs notice) in case the “dog” was to disappear, and that in this case Tyson 4 had disappeared.

Notes: The Judge hearing this case happens to be the same Judge that heard the Mario Paquet case in 2007. The City called Sophie a responsible pet owner and never argued that Tyson 4 should still be killed, they argued that it was their legal right and not unconstitutional.

The judge was forced to go into deliberations by the City.

L’interrogatoire sur l’affidavit de Sophie le 25 Novembre 2010

Adopted

Chanel No. 3

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Chanel No. 3! Kind of a glamorous name isn’t it? Well my life has not been glamorous. I’m Chanel, a 8 year old Pomeranian who was purchased as a gift when I was cute little puppy. You see, my “purchaser” was a senior citizen who bought me as a gift for her caretaker. But… the caretaker didn’t want me, however she kept me since she wouldn’t have to take care of me herself.

During all those years, I never saw a vet, never went out for walks and lived a very sheltered life. Last week my caretaker was placed in a nursing home and her caretaker who’s gift I really was sent me packing to Sophie’s Dog Adoption after the vet she called refused to euthanize me and asked what was she supposed to do, just leave me on a street corner and was given Sophie’s number as an alternative.

I’m really sweet, but at this point extremely frightened and skeptical of new people. Since I’m pee pee pad trained, Sophie is just letting me come around at my own pace and try to accustom myself to this big change in my life. Because of my fears I’m not good with kids, I see myself more with a senior citizen who would be calm and patient.

Adopted

Patch 3

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My name is Patch 3 and this is my story: I’m a Jack Russel mix (maybe Beagle) born July 2009 and sold in September of 09. 7 months later (April 2010) I was sold again, this time to be a 12 year old’s gift. Great idea, two athletic boys to keep me busy… Two athletic boys who are on hockey teams, soccer teams, and involved with lots of after school activities… Result? I’m left in a cage up to 12 hours a day, and nobody has time for me.

So here we are April 2011, I’m now going on 2 and looking for what I hope to be my final home. You have to know that even tough I’m not a high energy dog, I do have some Jack Russel, maybe some Beagle, and require a certain amount of exercise and activity for us to be a happy family.

I am fully house trained, okay with most dogs, but having never been socialized with them some dogs intimidate me and I don’t necessarily react well. However I’m making progress as I am now getting out in the world. Sophie thinks I can be a great family dog, I love kids and I am very cuddly and affectionate.

Ideally I’m looking for someone who will exercise me by either biking, hiking, jogging, rollerblading or someone with a couple of teenagers who will throw a frisbee around, play fetch and get me running. Are you that person or family?

Adopted

Demi

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I was named Demi because I’m a beautiful girl, just like the actress Demi Moore.

I am a white Standard Poodle, a senior girl of 10, and up to now had a wonderful life. You see my mom is also a senior and unfortunately was moved to a nursing home today. I was always very well cared for, regularly groomed, always had the best of everything – I was a real princess.

Unfortunately life can sometimes take an unexpected turn and my mom having no family, I would of been put down my the end of the week-end had Sophie not taken me in.

Despite my age, I’m very healthy and still full of life and energy. I may not have a lot of years in front of me, but I have had a great life up to now and we all know that a healthy and happy dog will have a longer life than a sad and neglected dog. So all I need from you is to keep me happy & healthy, and I can easily have a good five years still ahead of me.

I’m good with dogs, cats, people, and would make anyone a wonderful companion. I love to go for walks, or just cuddle on the couch with you. Because of my age, I would rather not have kids around as I want to enjoy my golden years in a calm household. Seniors would be ideal.

Adopted

Buffy

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They call me Buffy but I’m no vampire slayer! I’m what you would call a Lebanese Terrier. You see, I’m a small Terrier mix who just arrived from Beirut, Lebanon. Not much is known about my past other than my siblings and I ended up at the Beirut shelter. We were part of the “Lucky Ones” who made the trip to Montreal recently in order to find the meaning of a wonderful life in Canada.

My siblings, along with a couple of other refugees, went to a rescue group in Ontario and I came to Sophie’s Dog Adoption, where I will soon fly to Alberta to be reunited with BJ, a former Beirut refugee who was adopted through Sophie’s Dog Adoption back in 2009.

I’m approximately 5 years old, female and friendly as can be. I love people, exploring this new world and even like the fashions. I’m may get used to this lifestyle very quickly. I’m just a happy story as I didn’t even need to wait for Sophie to find me a home, BJ’s family wanted me before I even landed in Montreal.

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Training Your Rescue Dog

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When you adopt a new dog, you must start training him immediately so he begins to learn what is and isn’t acceptable in your home. There are several training methods you can use, but one of the most powerful methods is positive reinforcement.

Most dogs love food. Grab a particularly delicious treat, and use this to reward your dog for doing the right thing. If you own a dog who is a fussy eater, he may prefer praise or a game of ball when he does what you ask of him. The theory behind positive reinforcement training is that any behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated. One common example is when your dog jumps up. If you give him a hug every time he jumps on you, he is being rewarded for doing it, so he’ll continue jumping on you.

Basic Guidelines for Dog Training

Timing. Whatever your dog is doing at the time you give him the reward is the behavior that he is going to repeat. So, if you ask your dog to sit, and he obeys, give him a treat. But, if he gets excited and jumps on you to get the treat, make sure he sits again before he is rewarded. Otherwise you’re training him to jump.

You can use a clicker to mark the exact behavior you want, and this is often easier than trying to get a treat into the right position at the right time. You dog can learn that the click means a treat is coming, and you can be much accurate with your timing.

Location. Start training a new behavior in a location that is not very exciting, such as your backyard. This reduces the opportunity for your dog to get distracted. As he becomes more reliable, gradually move to a more distractable areas, so he learns to obey you even if there’s something interesting happening nearby.

Short sessions. Several five minute sessions a day are much more beneficial than a single one hour session when it comes to training your dog, and it usually is easier to fit into your lifestyle.

Be careful with commands. Use a short, easy to remember command, rather than a multi-word phrase for each behavior you would like to teach him. For example, tell your dog to “sit”, rather than “sit down right now”. Also, to a dog, “sit” is a completely different command than “sit, sit, sit!”. Choose one word for each behavior, and stick with it.

Consistency. Be clear in your mind what you are trying to teach your dog each time you train him. That way you’ll get the most out of each session, and won’t become confused. Make sure all members of the family use the same command for the same behavior. You may want to create a list of commands that your dog is learning and pin it to the wall, so everyone can become familiar and re-read them as needed.

Use shaping. Sometimes you dog won’t learn the right behavior straight away. It’s fine to reward a behavior close to what you want him to do, so he gets the general idea. From there, you can then only reward behaviors that are closer to what you want him to do.

There are dog training clubs in most regions that would only be too happy to help you train your dog. If you’re having trouble with training, do contact them before things become too bad.

Leash Training

In many areas, the law requires you to walk your dog on a leash. Leash training should start straight away when you bring your dog home. Depending on their background, older dogs may take a longer time to become used to wearing a leash, but all dogs can learn to behave nicely while they are being walked.

Dogs are like people in that some learn faster than others. Don’t be frustrated if your dog takes a little while to learn to walk on a leash, just continue your training and he will get there. Never hit or yell at your dog while he is learning, and don’t jerk on the leash, it wont help him learn any quicker.

There are many different types of leash and collar combinations available. Most dog trainers recommend a flat fabric leash which is comfortable to hold, and one that is four to six feet in length. Use a flat collar on your dog when you are training him; choke chains or prong collars can be harmful in the hands of inexperienced trainers.

If you own a particularly boisterous dog, you may want to try a head halter. These have a combined loop around your dog’s muzzle and collar around his neck, and will gently control his heat as you train him. It’s similar to a halter that is used to walk a horse.

There are five main steps to getting your dog used to being on a leash.

1. Put the leash and collar on him, and give him his meal. The leash is unlikely to bother him as he eats, and he’ll also start to associate the leash with something enjoyable.

2. Let him walk around the house with the leash attached, so he gets used to feeling a little weight on him. Take him outside into your yard as the grass will offer more resistance as he pulls the leash around.

3. As your dog walks around dragging the leash, occasionally pick it up and walk beside him, so he gets used to you being near him. Keep it positive, with praise and treats as he walks.

4. When your dog is comfortable having the leash on, use a treat to encourage him to walk with you. Most trainers teach their dog to walk on their left side. This is just convention, and there’s no reason not to walk your dog on your side if it’s more comfortable for you.

5. As your dog becomes familiar with you walking with him on leash, he may try to surge ahead. If he does this, do a quick clockwise turn, encouraging him around with you and rewarding him when he is again beside you. Again, short but frequent sessions are most productive, and your dog will soon learn that he needs to walk next to you to earn a reward.

Training your rescue dog is an investment in your future together. It means that you’ll avoid the stress of a badly behaved dog, and he’ll have the security of knowing what’s expected of him. Training is also a good opportunity to give your dog the kind of mental exercise he needs to thrive. Best of all, training is a natural bonding opportunity, where you can demonstrate leadership and your dog can learn to become comfortable following your lead.

Adopting a Rescue Dog – The First Seven Days
By: Dr. Susan Wright & Misty Weaver

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Exercising Your Rescue Dog

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If you take home a rescue dog, you are committed to meeting all his needs. That includes his need for exercise.

Lack of exercise can lead to obesity, heart disease and poor muscle tone. It can also lead to behavioral problems because your dog hasn’t expended its excess of energy, and is bored. A dog who gets enough exercise is more likely to be calm while at home, and tends nor to be anxious when he’s left on his own.

If you spend time exercising your dog, you’ll have a lot of fun together and improve your relationship with him.

Before you start any exercise program with your dog, have him checked by your veterinarian to make sure there’s no reason you can’t increase his activity level. He may need to lose a little weight first, or he may be too young to do too much physical activity. Keep an eye on the weather – dogs don’t sweat like we do, and can suffer from heat stress in warm conditions.

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

Don’t think for a minute that owning a big backyard will mean you dog will get enough exercise. Dogs tend not to exercise themselves, and will lie around waiting for you to be active with him.

Different breeds, and in fact different individual dogs, have different exercise needs. Some dogs are happy with a walk every day. Others, especially the working breeds, need a lot more exercise to be satisfied. Aim to give your dog at least one exercise a day, and target the type and amount of exercise to his individual needs.

Your dog is telling you he’s had enough when is panting heavily, and no longer actively participating in the activity. He may no longer bring back a ball, or he may lie down under a shady tree during your run. Be watchful for these signals because over-exercising him when he’s tired may lead to injury.

Methods of Exercising Your Dog

There are many ways of exercising your dog, and you’re sure to find one that you also enjoy.

Walking. Keep your dog on a leash as you walk, for his own safety. Walking is a healthy activity for both of you, and is a great way to unwind at the end of a busy day. You may find, depending on your dog, that you can’t walk far enough to tire him out. If that’s the case, you may need to take up running or biking with him, or play with him when you get home.

Running. You don’t need to run long distances to use up your dog’s energy. Again, keep him on a leash and when you are starting, stick to grass, sand and other soft surfaces until his pads toughen. Dogs are like people in that they need to build up to a distance, so use a walk/run program such as the Couch to 5k (www.c25k.com) with him, until he is fit enough to go further.

Cycling. You can purchase accessories for your bicycle that hold your dog’s leash as you ride. This allows you to run your dog longer distances than you may be able to go on foot. Your dog will need some time to get used to being close to your bike, so spend a few days just riding up and down your sidewalk before you venture further afield. This is an advanced skill to take your time.

Swimming. This is particularly good for dogs with sore legs, because they can exercise without putting any weight on them. Your dog can swim in the ocean or a poll, and it will also keep him cool as he works out.

Retrieving. Playing fetch is a great option if you prefer not to exercise yourself, or if your dog needs to burn up a bit more energy after a walk. Your dog can fetch a ball or other toy, for as long he wants or as long as you’re prepared to throw it for him. You can teach your dog to play Frisbee with you, and this is a great party trick for when you go to the beach. Whatever you play with, keep your throws low and don’t allow your dog to leap in the air to catch his toy, particular on hard surfaces. This is a recipe for knee injuries.

Dog Sports. Dog agility, lure coursing and flyball are fast sports that keep a dog physically and mentally in great condition. There are clubs all over the country, and both you and your dog will have a lot of fun training and competing in these sports. They are particularly good for improving your mental connection with your dog, and a great way to build your relationship.

Exercising Your Dog’s Mind

Dogs are intelligent creatures, and need mental stimulation to avoid boredom related behavioral problems. You can play fun games with him to keep him thinking; alternatively consider purchasing toys such as the Buster Cube. You can put his kibble into this cube, and he will spend hours working out how to get it out.

Other fun games include:

Find it – take one of your dog’s favorite treats, and hide it in a room. Tell your dog to “Seek” and encourage him to search for his treat. You can also hide his favorite toy, but make sure you let your dog play with the toy before you hide it again. This will keep him interested in it for next time.

Tunnel game – make a tunnel out of large cardboard boxes and encourage your dog to go through it.

Find your dinner – hide the kibble for your dog’s dinner in your backyard and help him scrounge around until he finds it. This can keep him busy for quite a while.

Pick a bowl – put a treat under one of three bowls and see if your dog can sniff it out. Watch him try and turn the bowl over to get at the treat.

It does take time and effort to exercise your dog’s body and mind, but it’s worth it. A tired dog is a happy dog, and is much less likely to into mischief.

Adopting a Rescue Dog – The First Seven Days
By: Dr. Susan Wright & Misty Weaver

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Feeding and Toileting Routines for your Rescue Dog

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Dogs are creatures of habit, and are happiest when they have a familiar schedule or routine to follow. This needn’t be cast in stone, but in general, they should fed and walked at a similar time each day.

There are two main areas in which you should establish routines for your dog: feeding and toileting.

Feeding

Frequency of meals: How often should you feed your dog? In the early stages, you should feed him as often as the staff did in the shelter. That may be once a day, or twice a day. By doing this, you reduce the chance of diarrhea associated with a change in feeding regimen.

Most people prefer to feed their dogs twice a day. Your dog may already be on this schedule, or you may want to change from a once daily meal to feeding him twice daily. If so, for the first few days divide his meal so that he gets most of his food at the usual time, and only a small amount for his second meal. Over the course of seven to ten days, gradually even out the amount he is being fed so that eventually, he is having two meals a day.

Give your dog only ten minutes to finish his meal, and remove any leftovers. If he doesn’t want it, he has been given too much. Overfeeding him will lead to obesity and its associated health problems: arthritis, heart disease and diabetes.

Similarly, don’t leave food out for your dog to have an all you can eat doggie buffet. This too will lead to excessive weight gain.

Young puppies may need three meals a day, until they are three to four months old.

What to feed your dog: Again, feed your dog the same food he was given in the shelter, to avoid diarrhea. Gradually transition to your preferred food over the course of seven to ten days, by increasing the amount of his new food and reducing the amount of his old food each day.

When it comes to dog food, you get what you pay for. Cheap foods have a higher cereal content, whereas more expensive foods have higher quality ingredients with more meat content. The more pricey foods are also highly digestible so you need to feed them less, and they produce less feces. You don’t need to buy the most expensive food, a kibble that is middle of the range is fine. You may have to experiment a bit to find one you like.

After meals, let your dog rest for an hour or so. Don’t run around with him, or take him for a walk. Dogs, particularly those with a deep chest, are at risk of bloat if they exercise too soon after a meal, and this can be life threatening.

How much to feed your dog: The feeding guide on the bag of dog food is a good starting point when it comes to working out how much to feed your dog. However, it is only a guide. Watch your dog, and adjust how much you feed him based on his body condition.

You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs as you run your hands over his body. Also, his abdomen should be tucked up. If he’s a bit curvaceous, cut back on the amount you are feeding him.

Treats

Many people associate treats with love – they give their dogs a yummy snack to show them how much they care. This can be killing them with kindness, as many dog treats are high in fat. Instead of showing your affection with food, why not give him some extra attention or play time? He’ll appreciate that just as much.

If you want to give your dog a treat, keep them from when you want to train him. Your dog will quickly learn to sit, drop and stay if there is a delicious reward for him.

Toileting

In America, over 90% of dogs live inside the home with their family. This means that if you rescue a dog, you’ll have to go through the same toilet training procedures that you would if you had a puppy. This will ensure he learns exactly where you want him to go to the toilet.

Most dogs are fully toilet trained within a matter of weeks, however it can take longer if he has developed bad habits in the past. Having a regular feeding schedule will allow you to better predict when your dog needs to go outside, and will reduce the risk of accidents.

For quickest results, follow these simple rules for toilet training your dog.

1. Never punish him if you catch him going to the toilet in the wrong place. This will only teach him that he mustn’t be caught, and he will become more secretive in his toileting habits.

2. Don’t punish him if you come home and find an accident. He won’t connect your anger with his toileting, and it won’t teach him anything. Not only that, it will teach him that you are someone to be feared.

3. Never leave your dog unattended inside. Keep him on a leash and bring with you wherever you go. If you see him sniffing and looking like he needs to go to the toilet, take him outside to his toilet area, and praise him enthusiastically when he goes.

4. If you can’t watch your dog, confine him in his crate. Dogs don’t usually soil their den, so he’s not likely to go to the toilet there. Make sure you take him outside regularly and praise him for toileting in the right place.

5. If you life in an apartment, you may prefer to use pre-treated toileting pads which encourage your dog to go to the toilet on them. If so, the training technique is the same.

6. When your dog is reliably toileting in the right spot, you can start to add a verbal command to this behavior. As he goes to the toilet, tell him to “Do your business” or “Potty”. It won’t take long for him to associate the word with going to the toilet, and you can then use the word when you need him to go in a hurry, such as before bed time.

7. Make sure you take him outside to go to the toilet even if it’s raining. He needs to know that he must go outside to the toilet, whether or not the weather is bad.

Dogs feel most secure when they can predict their daily routine. Initially, work out a schedule and be prepared to adjust it in those first few weeks with a new dog. It won’t take long until you have a routine that suits both you and your dog.

Adopting a Rescue Dog – The First Seven Days
By: Dr. Susan Wright & Misty Weaver

Adopted

Bill

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My name is Bill, and I am a 2 year old Miniature Pinscher/Boston Terrier. I am a bit bigger than a Pinscher, but smaller than a Boston, so in between the two.

I am very skittish, but very friendly once I get to know you. I am a nervous little guy, so I will need someone with patience and who can give me structure so I become a stable and social dog. I am clean in the house, but have a hard time staying alone right now. I need to learn that someone comes home, right now I cry a lot when alone.

I am great with kids, other dogs and good with cats. I would be a good companion for a family, a single person or a couple.

Adopted

Lenny

2 Comments

Out with the old and in with the new. My name is Lenny and at one year of age, I’m considered the old one. You see, my family bought me in a petshop when I was a cute little fluff ball and now a cute Pitbull puppy has taken my place. I’m a little bit shy but friendly and somewhat curious. What am I? A typical Quebec puppymill mutt, by my looks we could think Lhasa Apso / Bichon Frise. But I could really be anything. I was sold as a novelty, a gadget, something to play with and nobody really cared, I was just cute and fun.

Now I also want to be loved, groomed, taken care of and be a member of my next family, not just another novelty. I have lots of potential, dogs, cats and kids I would welcome, or just a simple quiet household would be fun too. All I want is that forever home.