Dear editor,
Regarding Chum and Champ, the Manseaus’ two Newfoundland dogs:
The only thing I know about this case is what I am reading in the newspaper, and what I am reading I find very disturbing.
I find it no less than absolutely appalling what the SPCA, CVRD and the complaining neighbour are doing to these dogs and their owners. There are so many things wrong with this situation.
Are the investigating employees in the regional district bylaw department qualified to investigate a matter such as this?
Who on earth decided that the Manseaus were not allowed to see the dogs? This is insane!
Stacey Gastis, the veterinarian who testified, could not find anything that he would describe as puncture wounds on the terrier, and he felt that the wounds were more typical of an industrial accident. Should that not have got the case thrown out of court by itself?
Behavioural expert Gary Gibson supported the dogs as well. A video was even shown of Mr. Gibson testing the dogs. Should this not have got the case thrown out?
Jack Russells are aggressive little dogs, as some breeds can be. Could it be possible that this Jack Russell initiated a confrontation with the two Newfoundland dogs and that Chum and Champ were simply defending their territory as dogs do?
However without puncture marks on the terrier, they couldn’t possibly have put up too much of a defence.
My husband and I lived in Black Creek, next door to a single retired woman who owned a beautiful Hungarian Kuvasz. The dog barked, she was a dog. She did not bark excessively. Her owner put a bark collar on her because someone had complained.
A five-foot-high fence enclosed most of the yard so she had lots of room. She was well-behaved, she was kept in at night. But because of neighbour complaints, the SPCA seized the dog. The owner was asked to find the dog another home, but could not find one, so the SPCA killed the dog.
The SPCA even spoke with my husband at one point, as we were the closest neighbours. He told them the dog was wonderful and we had absolutely no problems or concerns. That didn’t seem to matter.
I am disgusted with the SPCA, the CVRD and petty neighbours who stand by doing nothing when two beautiful dogs are on death row. If people cannot get along with neighbour’s dogs, maybe they should move into town and leave the rural areas for animal lovers.
C. Huber,
Black Creek
