203

Our letter to Prime Minister Harper regarding the passing of bill S203. S203 does nothing for animal welfare other than address the issue of inflation. Essentially it is the same bill that we have always had since 1892. Given the fact that 203 has been put through one has to wonder if it will take another 100 years for Canada to catch up with the rest of the world in regards to anti-cruelty legislation. Feel free to copy and paste this letter and forward to any friends, families or colleagues that need to be brought up to date on this issue.

Dear Mr. Harper,

Is with a heavy heart that I woke up this morning to find that Bill S 203 has been passed. As of this morning I can say that for the first time in 43 years I am ashamed to be a Canadian. I cannot imagine a government that will not listen to the people. A government that is so afraid to stand up for those who cannot speak. It makes me shudder to think what other types of abuse you would be willing to turn a blind eye to. The hypocrisy of it all, is going to your personal web site and seeing your ads for adoption of stray animals, to see you sitting with a kitten on your desk and yet you seem fit to assist the liberal and conservative governments in passing this ludicrous bill that does very little to prevent the abuse of animals. Perhaps what would be better Mr. Harper is to have you walk a day in my shoes, or a day in the shoes of anyone who has to field the 100's of phone calls each day about animals that are being abused. I WORK and VOLUNTEER in the industry. The stray animals need to be protected just as much as the domesticated animals, and those in the fishing and hunting lobby groups that are against 373 are down right wrong and you know it. There is NOTHING in 373 that would keep them from doing what they are doing. Perhaps you need a bit of education...I remember vividly about a dog that was 15 months old beaten to death by his owner's own hammer in their own bathtub. This just before Christmas. I remember getting the call that young children were throwing stray kittens into traffic for sport. I wonder what type of upstanding citizens they will turn out to be? I also clearly remember hearing of the numerous stories of teenagers that think it is fun to duct tape a kitten to the road, watch it squirm until it is finally driven over. This is acceptable behavior to you? If this were a homeless child would that be acceptable to you as well? If you think that I am angry, you have well underestimated me. I'm mad as hell, and I will see it through to my dying day that something gets done about this bill. You will hear my name again in the future Mr. Harper, so get used to it. I may be a nobody to you, but I'm a fighter, and I fight for what I believe in. I'm not bullied by colleagues or people who are spineless. Did I mention to you about the cat that we rescued from the back of a Chinese restaurant? Yes sir, was about to become someone's dinner. Her name is Anastasia. Or what about Tyson, who was a Rottie/St. Bernard cross, tied to a 3 foot by 3foot cement pallet for the first 8 years of his life. After the SPCA rescued him (after 8 years), he was brought to us at Action for Animals to care for until his dying day. He lived for 5 years, with total muscle wasting in his hind legs so he couldn't walk further than a block. He died happy with unconditional love for all humans, even though he came to us with both his spirit and his health destroyed. Even in his final days when his spine was seizing he would struggle to his feet each and every day to get up and greet the volunteers. We showered love on him, how could anyone do such a thing to an animal. Then there was Luna who was about 17 years old, a small calico cat, only 4 lbs or so, thrown out of a car window on the upper levels highway. Our organization responded immediately. We rescued her and she lived out her days with our shelter. Our registered charity works extremely hard for these tragic cases, and to put the band aids on the ignorance of many Canadians that animals are NOT disposable, and that a mandatory spay and neuter programs need to be in effect. Does it not bother you that Canada falls below countries like Malaysia and the Philippines when it comes to the protection of our animals? Is it not embarrassing to you that as a country we are supposed to be so civilized....yet we cannot even do this for our four legged friends? We spend billions of billions of dollars on the 2010 Olympics, yet my current charity, cannot get a grant for a new shelter, as we are forced to move from the one we are in.

My mind is swirling at this point. I know I am babbling on, and I don't speak fancy like your MP's or MLA's or your Senate...but I'm passionate, and I say what I mean, and I tell you the truth. I am deeply deeply saddened, but I will not forget Mr. Harper the next time it is time to vote what I need to do. I have over 1000 clients with fur-kids. The many notes of Bill S203 have been forwarded to them. I hope that they too will have the courage and conviction to contact you. I know that you probably won't even personally read this...but I had to get it out. I hope someone who is reading this for you will lay it in front of you on your desk with the model kitten sitting on it.

I've forgotten to mention that on Mar. 17th in small town Saskatchewan my mother rescued a cat. The pound in this town is non other than the vet clinic. The vet had left the cat in the trap for four days with no food or water. Need I stress that this is a VET. The cat was terrified and the only way it could get water was by reaching through the bars of the cage, and dipping his paw into water they had thrown on the floor which was mixed with his own urine and feces. Another example is a vet here in BC that refused a cat it's medication. The cat actually lived at the clinic and was denied treatment, as the vet felt he was old and not worthy of spending the money on meds for him. Meds that would cost around 3 dollars for a month. Someone had the guts and stole him from the clinic, brought him to another shelter, who ultimately had me pick him up for palliative care. He was so happy, he even played, but sadly the damage was done, and he died 8 days later. In case you care Mr. Harper his name was Samson.

I think I have made myself perfectly clear and there is no point in going on. It would be nice to hear back from you, and not just a simple canned response. I would like to know how you really feel. I will be joining the fight, and if it takes another 50 years I will stand up for the four legged creatures of this world. As far as I can see they are a lot more worth while standing up for than most 2 legged ones.

I await your response,

Respectfully yours,

Kristin Schumacher

New Westminster B.C.

Director, Action for Animals in Distress Society