APBTA_Inc@live.com

Killing Bruce for NO GOOD REASON

18 December 09 - This poor little dog is still in jail and no word about his hearing date. 

Petition - 16, 958

17 October 09 - Bruce's appeal has still not been heard.  Petition 16,659

16 Sep 09 - Unbelievable.  Bruce's case is now scheduled for a new hearing! Date to be set in two weeks.  He is still alive at least.  Petition 16483

Petition 16434 14 Sep 09 - Now we wait for the outcome of Bruce's case today.

Petition 16209 01 Sept09

"7:30 pm PDT, Aug 31, Daniel O., California
Dear Sirs,Writing this on behalf of bruce!!If all that's said is correct,this is a really digusting thing which you all have done,to have a poor lil guy,have a happy home & the the people like nazi's come in and tear away the only real home he knew."really sick & cruel",how would it be if your government came into your houses & just took your daughters & sons to do whatever they felt like.I bet you would be raising all kinds of hell,would'nt you!!& the state the dog was in with sores & such.give me ! min with all who were or are in charge of him ,let's meet in a dark alley so someone can give a taste of your own medicne you dish out!!sorry for being & sounding evil,not so but this kind of stuff really does something to my insides,when I hear of such things.China is just as bad & worse with skinning of live animals,in my mind those kind of people should be shot on site!!any who does harm to any human or animal!! that's all.as the old american saying goes."HAVE A NICE DAY !! Dan :)"

We SOOO know how you feel Daniel.

Petition 16110 27aug09

FINALLY!! This from Endangered Dogs:

Hi,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8209106.stm

Bruce’s story has now broke out into mainstream media-BBC, today it has
been confirmed that the court hearing is set to take place on 14th
September.

Please cross post this information.

Thanks



Amanda

www.endangereddogs.com

Petition at 09:54 18 Aug 09 - 15,664 - Bruce is still in jail. 

Petition at 14:10 03 Aug 09 15,441 and now exposed on PETAWATCH AUSTRALIA & NZ here:

http://petawatchaustralia.blogspot.com/

Petition at 14:47 29 July 09 - 15,298 - Add your vote to Bruce's PETITION

Mailed to:

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA

Dundonald House, Room 438

Upper Newtownards Road

Belfast BT4 35B

Northern Ireland

Dear Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA

I sincerely hope that as a veterinarian and the proud owner of a well behaved American Pit Bull Terrier (see attached photo), my experience in the area of dog behavior will help you to understand why banning a breed of dog cannot be justified. By stereotyping a breed of dog as “dangerous”, lawmakers mistakenly oversimplify the problem of dog aggression, and innocent dogs, like Bruce, get caught in the ensuing legal crossfire. When responsible dog owners are forced to use all reasonable measures to stop government from killing their beloved dog — something is seriously wrong as you have witnessed by the International outcry for Ireland to return Bruce to his heartbroken family. 

In the hopes that lawmakers will study reliable and factual information on this subject, an excellent five year study was published in the Cincinnati Law Review in 1982, vol. 53, which specifically considered both Rottweilers and "Pit Bulls" and concluded in part that:

·  The statistics did not support the assertion that any one breed was dangerous.

·  When legislation is focused on the type of dog, it fails because it is unenforceable, confusing, and costly.

·  Focusing legislation on dogs that are "vicious" distracts attention from the real problem, which is irresponsible dog ownership.

In light of this and numerous other studies I have read (available on request), I urge you to pursue legislation that would render owners liable for the actions of their pets. It is not the automobile that kills innocent people; it is the irresponsible driver of that vehicle. Seek to punish the actions of negligent dog owners and remove dogs at risk.

To be useful, legislation must be effective, enforceable, economical, and reasonably fair. Any form of legislative discrimination would fail in all of these areas, punish responsible dog owning citizens, and worst of all will not protect the public from dog attacks. Please remember that any dog can bite and seriously injure people, regardless of its breed.

Only with the proper training and socialization can we ensure that all dogs will be welcomed neighbors in society. This is the responsibility and duty of every dog owner, and those who fail this task are the ones who put the public at risk. To be responsible legislators, you must make laws that apply to people, not dogs.

Respectfully yours,

Dr. Paula Terifaj, DVM

Brea, California USA

12:27 21 July 09 - 14610 - Add your vote to Bruce's PETITION

Well aint this interesting...BUSTED? http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/3244/dda-confusion-in-northern-ireland-as-bruce-awaits-his-fate-on-deathrow/

petition is here - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BRING-BRUCE-HOME-X

The news of a reprieve is not correct.  This from Shannon:

"i dont know who is telling people that bruce is ok until august if anyone will no its me and no such thing has been said to me. there hasnt been a date givin yet and i no nothing new until there is! i will let every1 no then! xx"

o7:13am 19 July 09 - 14398

11:26am 18 july 09 - 14294

1:00pm 16 july 09 - Bruce's petition now stands at 13,900.

Bruce has been given a reprieve until August - we don't know what date yet.

Monika Court has joined the fight for Bruce and as is her usual modus operandi she is hitting it hard.  Monika suggests that 'snail mail' may be the best way to have Michelle Gildernew take notice, rather than emails that her p.a. can delete without a second thought.  Here are the contact details:

Michelle Gildernew MP MLA

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Room 438

Dundonald House

Upper Newtownards Road

Belfast BT4 3SB

No response from the NZ mainstream media.

A march has apparently been organised for 23 July 09 in Washington - we're waiting on details. 

An Ohio film maker has made contact and is preparing a documentary on BSL and the horrors it is responsible for.  We'll keep you all posted on that!

Questions have been asked about why the mainstream media haven't covered this, even in Northern Ireland & Britain, and everywhere else Breed Specific Legislation is killing dogs.

We'll let you know if we get an answer from the NZ Herald & Dominion Post. 

2:30pm 7 july 09 - Bruce's petition has received 11,684 signatures.

We have asked the Care2 Petition site people to let us know how significant such numbers are compared to other similar campaigns.

We'll let you know what they say.  Here's the petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BRING-BRUCE-HOME-X

Here are the politicians involved Pinched from Ryan O'Meara's "Comments" section on this story - Thanks to Guy Webster):

Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development - responsible for Bruce .

Minister in charge: Michelle Gildernew who today published a generic letter to “Bruce Supporters” that basically says that Bruce’s fate is in the hands of the courts but she will review dog legislation in the NI assembly after the summer recess.

Further Guy posted:

DARD.Private-Office@dardni.gov.uk Michelle Gildernew’s office email at DARD
paula.magill@dardni.gov.uk The email of her PA Paula Magill

I also received feedback from the office of MLA Alan McFarland alanmla@hotmail.com

Especially helpful is his PA, Pamela Stewart who is very sympathetic to Bruce’s plight pamela.stewart@niassembly.gov.uk She says McFarland who is not due back in his office until Tuesday or Wednesday this week- will take up the matter with other assembly members to see if he can do anything to help Bruce.

Finally out of about 50 mail shots, the only media reply so far has come from Denise Wright denise.wright@itn.co.uk she is the PA to Jim Gray who is head of Channel 4 news at ITN she forwarded my letter about Bruce for consideration.

From Alison Green - Thanks Alison:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Shaun Woodward MP
Northern Ireland Office, 11 Millbank, London, SW1P 4PN
Fax: 01744 24306
http://www.shaunwoodward.com/enquiry.html

• The Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA – First Minister
• Martin McGuinness MP MLA – deputy First Minister
• Jeffrey Donaldson MP - http://www.jeffreydonaldson.org
• Gerry Kelly MLA
Email: ps.ministers@ofmdfmni.gov.uk
Letters to: GD36 Stormont Castle, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3TT
http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk

• Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP - Home Secretary
Letters to: 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF,
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Urgent Plea to Refuse to Administer Fatal Injection:

Please urge your members not to participate in the death of Bruce.

• Veterinary Ireland – Representative body for veterinary surgeons in Ireland
Email: hq@vetireland.ie

• Veterinary Northern Ireland (VetNI)
Email: info@vetni.co.uk
Secretary General – jo.gibson@vetni.co.uk

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Email: admin@rcvs.org.uk & registrar@rcvs.org.uk Fax: (020) 7222 2004

Urgent Plea to Help & Support Innocent Dog Bruce:

• Northdown Borough Council
The Mayor
C/o Town Hall, The Castle, Bangor, BT20 4BT
Email: tony.hill@northdown.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9127 8067