Comments on: OSPCA Act requires transparency, accountability, panel says

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:21:20 +0000

In today’s society; I am totally amazed and saddened at the ignorance of people who are considered educated. In Canada and the majority of the world dogs are considered pets, not livestock.
I pose this question to you; if the laws were changed, would these “dog farmers” be paying tax on the revenue they make from these poor dogs, better yet, are they currently paying taxes on the revenues they are making.
Sent from a rescue mom who adopted a dog rescued from one of your local “farmers”

By: Paula Frost

Paula Frost — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:04:32 +0000

Well said Natasha…I find it quite shameful that you, Bob L, would criticize anyone with concerns of possibly causing animals distress and notice I said “possible”. No one is lumping all farmers together and I don’t think anyone here is claiming to know first hand what happened with Mr. Nyenhuis’ pigs. Hence the importance of having an overseeing body to ensure the welfare and proper treatment of all animals as well as farm animals. While most farmers I’m sure are caring and compassionate, what about those that are not? I have witnessed terrible treatment of animals and while i am very frustrated with the lack of action by the OSPCA in those cases, to take away their rights or inhibit their ability in any way is absurd. Who else is going to be able to help? No one?? Are you kidding me?? I do feel the OSPCA should have more transparency in regards to their management of funds and exposure of their actions related to calls related to animal distress but they absolutely should have policing rights when it comes to the removal of sick and distressed animals. It goes to court and needs to be proven anyway. And like like everyone here has said, the bottom line is you’re not guilty of anything than you’ve got nothing to worry about right? I am so sick of hearing the term that people who could obviously care less of the welfare of animals like to use “animal rights activists.” They just love to make us all sound like renegade vigilantes who don’t have a real clue! Wow, since when has being a caring and compassionate citizen for all animals been a bad thing!

By: Dennis Battler

Dennis Battler — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:59:29 +0000

As advised by the publisher, as per the policy of this paper (“Bullet News Huron does not public links to other websites in its comments section. The section is reserved for your thoughts.” Heather Boa Publisher, Bullet News Huron) I cannot include a direct link to 3 specific documentaries which fully express my thoughts – my thoughts being, full consciousness includes the recognition of our human acts which exploit and abuse animals, as practiced in traditional farming and view of dogs as livestock. Dog-Livestock, kept in conditions that rival the most inhumane practices of Factory Farming.
There is nothing humane in caging dogs, or housing dogs in barns to then be sold FOR MAXIMUM PROFIT (inherent in this dictum is minimal care cost) and presented as fit “goods” for human companionship WITHIN the homes of those purchasing the dogs.
MY thoughts: viewing “Harold Brown: From Cattle Farmer to Animal Advocate”, “Mad Cowboy” “Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home” … stories of Traditional Farmers and their experience of conscience and animal welfare, is critical to this situation in Huron County and all Ontario Counties and their Land Owners and Associations.
Dennis Battler / Animal Ashram.

By: Natasha Hawley

Natasha Hawley — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:05:25 +0000

Wrong Bob! I grew up and worked my whole life on a farm! We never had a problem with the OSPCA because we treated our animals in a respectful and humane way. While you are lumping us all into the same category as “a bunch of animal activists” I have never said that all farmers are abusive. We don’t care if the people who own the animals are farmers or not…we simply do not want animal distress to continue to be allowed and want to see the changes needed to bring that into reality.
If someone is doing something illegal on their property regardless of whether or not it involves animals they do lose the right to privacy. If you are doing nothing wrong why is there a problem with an inspection being done? Any charges that are laid by the OSPCA have to be proven in court before a judge not according to the OSPCA’s opinion but with legal evidience that is based on the law in order for a gulity verdict to be brought. If there is nothing illegal going on what is there to hide? What is there to be afraid of? Why is there such defensiveness?

By: Bob L

Bob L — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:08:10 +0000

What a bunch of animal rights activists comments. None of you above have any idea of what is involved in the business of farming, looking after animals and providing for your own food. If it was not for farmers, NONE of you would have anything to eat, on your tables. Don’t cut off the hand that feeds you.
Something, that unfortunately in every walk of life and people involvement, the right to privacy of the accused has been abused.
The OSPCA has to be controlled. What, in their minds may be unjust or proper treatment, as above, in the comment by the farmer’s vet was not abuse, but was to the OSPCA. THEY, as anyone else, must and should be held accountable. Someone mentioned carte blanche, well, again, the OSPCA CANNOT be allowed to do things without reproach or someone to be able to follow up and for them to answer for their actions. I do not believe in animal abuse, but I also do not believe in the OSPCA being given POLICE authority to walk into any situation, just on their own, without the person being investigated having rights to come back on or demand that these people can not walk over private personal rights. If a Policeman broke the law or did something questionable, he has to stand before the police board and respond as to his actions. Why should these OSPCA people not be bound to do the same?

By: Denise Dunkley

Denise Dunkley — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:24:32 +0000

I have got to say… YET again…. though I DEPLORE and do not in ANY circumstance ANY level of abuse or suffering of ANY being… be that animal… human being or the planet…. but yet again…. everything I have read in terms of comments here is EXTREMIST and is WHY people who are TRYING to do right in the world get branded as such….. my former boyfriend before I married my husband AND my husband BOTH had VERY VERY BAD hernias….. and my nephew had one too….. and there ARE SOME HERNIA’s even quite bad ones that yes CAN give pain IF they are put into “stress” lifting or doing things that one shouldn’t equally there are times when they give NO trouble at all… PLEASE PEOPLE if you WANT MY CONTINUED support… less of the extremism and more of a balanced view on things….. the OSPCA in this country has MORE powers then the police…. that can’t be good….. AND equally…. this hiding behind anonymity is cowardly and wrong and lends itself to abuse… I have OFTEN remarked about abuse when I have been at horse auctions.. shows etc… and I have the BALLS to do it to the peoples faces AND then … ADVISE them that I intend to take the matter up with the OSPCA… and shall I tell you something… when I witnessed a woman beating a WILLING horse at an auction AND reported it… after giving the ABUSER a mouthful to her face…. the OSPCA tho I gave them the woman’s complete details that were visible on the stall… NEVER took up the complaint… so how is that for OSPCA action… and where are they when it comes to ABOTOIRES I will tell you where… NOWHERE to be seen…. so for all their pouncing on people like my brother who they harassed for having his bird out in the garden UNDER a shady tree in a SAFE CAGE… for weeks… terrorizing an old man.. who ADORES and cares for his bird and cats and dog….. and I KNOW that bird was safe from (their words) imminent threat…… because I actively do rescue work for the Hamilton Parrot club and before that for the Southwestern Ontario Parrot club when I was a member there… and I had to threaten them to involve the experts from both clubs and the Guelph Avian vets… when you are on the end of a BOGUS bullying by the OSPCA… then you can speak…. as for agriculture…. OR puppy mills… we NEED a BALANCED SYSTEM that WORKS…. not one that is SELECTIVE in its process and bullying in its tactics… and make no mistake I SUPPORT the closing of puppy mills… I do NOT accept that dogs OR cats are livestock AND I believe that ALL animals be they livestock or pets… DESERVES to be treated compassionately and with respect… but I refuse to be ABUSIVE verbally or otherwise of Agriculture generally… it is NOT in a farmers interest to abuse his livestock… and think about it LOGICALLY…. SICK or DISEASED or ABUSED animals DON’T MAKE MONEY…. a pig that cannot stand will be refused at sale OR to be trucked…. smarten up… speak to the truth… speak from knowledge… and stop putting your efforts back ten years by being militant…. when you are militant people turn away from you

By: Dennis Battler

Dennis Battler — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:37:02 +0000

Nothing New:
Present within this friction between “Landowners” and Citizens for Animal Justice is the essence of all frictions I’ve encountered in the past 14+ years of seeking change and compassion for those deemed “lesser” beings, thereby abused, exploited … living in the impact of non-caring perceptions of innate superior rights.
That presence being unevolved consciousness of a 2yr old. “MINE!” “MY SANDBOX!” “MY TOY!” “MY FREEDOM!” … “YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!”
To disturb this annihilistic path of self-indulgence exhibited more and more frequently by those intent on exploitation and abuse, the path currently destroying the earth and its inhabitants, one faces the challenge of “how to communicate” the impact on the whole by those believing themselves and their actions to be righteously THEIR OWN DOMAIN and not to be tampered with by anyone else.
This basic premise needs yet again to be stated. No man is an Island unto himself. With the aid of the internet the world shrinks and conduct of any one person becomes the interest and business of every human being. As it has existed within local community, our community is now the entire world and all its inhabitants.
Special Rights:
1) Being a “Landowner” does not provide special rights to conduct your life and business above the law and above society’s scrutiny.
2) ALL businesses are conducted within parameters of law, ethics and good practice (fair and equitable conduct).
3) Scrutiny of business parameters are constantly evolving with the constant evolution of life, day by day, moment by moment.
No doubt had it been useful to the Landowners Association, they would be calling for increased duties for the OSPCA rather than spinning their rightful role as protectors of animals into “private police force” with its sinister evil implied. Nothing new here either.
Of utmost concern to those awake to the evolution of life is the well-being and suffering of all beings. A reality possibly new to the members of the Landowner Association. Upset by being “dragged” into evolution of life as it is occurring in the 13th year of the 21st Century is not new. We all know the common adage “Time stands still for no man” &; “Time marches on.” Use of today’s communication tools of the internet is available to band together every group, including those evolved to understand the role of human-animal relations as a relationship of duty, respect, appreciation and quite frankly, awe.
Life declared the cave man evolve in spite of himself. We have reason to hope and believe Ontario Landowners and Farmers will too.

By: Kim Francis

Kim Francis — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 15:01:36 +0000

It sounds to me as though John Nyenhuis was not concerned with doing the right thing: he allowed those pigs to suffer. The inspectors at the abattoir did not like the condition the pigs were in. Somebody reported what they saw to the OSPCA who also did not like the condition the pigs were in. So now, somehow someone thinks that the OSPCA has to be accountable for all of this. Mr Nyenhuis, you have to be accountable. Do the right thing this time. Take responsibility, learn from your mistakes, be a better man and move on.

By: Amy Brown

Amy Brown — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 02:25:00 +0000

Oh, well cry me a river. He “couldn’t believe it was happening”? He “was in shock”? Why? His animals had hernias the size of grapefruits and basketballs! Any responsible livestock farmer would either have them fixed (if possible) or put the animal down. I hope we aren’t supposed to feel bad that he has “had to euthanize a lot of pigs” because that is what should have been done to those ones, not keeping them alive and suffering for months. The only sad parts about this story is how those poor pigs suffered, and the idiocy of the OLA.

By: Natasha Hawley

Natasha Hawley — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:34:39 +0000

If these people were not breaking the law (animal distress) they would not have to worry about the OSPCA. It’s as simple as that!!! I wish that the particular famer in this story could experience the pain of a hernia let alone one the size of a basketball!!!! And his argument is that it wasn’t bleeding or dragging on the ground??? Is he for real??? I am astonished at these people’s inability to have compassion or empathy at the least for these poor animals who are at their mercy.