Our goal is to save the life of a rescue dog, a mutt named Brindi. We want to see her returned to her rightful owner and beloved human companion, Francesca Rogier.

Brindi has been locked up on death row for OVER A YEAR. YET:
She never attacked or threatened a person.
She never killed or caused serious injury to a dog.
Her owner has been denied due process, even to this day.

She is a good-natured mutt, six years old, rescued from a shelter in 2007. A few run-ins with other dogs were reported, but apparently never serious enough to lead to charges. On July 24, 2008, a few days after a minor encounter, animal control officers armed with a warrant and a euthanization order seized Brindi from her home without notice. Since then she’s been on death row at a city pound. Because it is run by the SPCA, Francesca could not even gain their assistance.

Our pets mean the world to us, and vice versa. Their only legal protection is through our rights. But in Halifax, it seems even owners' rights are in peril, as there is no appeal process in place. This forced Francesca, Brindi's owner, to file a lawsuit to keep her alive; she then succeeded in quashing an unfair by-law, voiding the euthanization order. But Halifax kept Brindi locked up. In retaliation, it charged Francesca with three by-law violations in a bid to get a judge to issue a new euthanization order. These charges stem from a six-month old incident and were the first ever laid. The trial has been scheduled for October 13.

Meanwhile, the city's legal basis for holding Brindi is doubtful without a valid order in place. No new warrant was issued.

Brindi was evaluated as "not dangerous" and highly trainable. During eight weeks of obedience class, which she passed with ease, she had no issues with other dogs. Trainers say her errant behavior might relate to her early days on a reserve, where dogs run in packs and guard their territory. They say it can be corrected with training. This is exactly what Francesca wants. She is willing to meet other conditions as well, if only the city return her dog - alive!

Recently, Brindi needed biopsy surgery and may have cancer because the SPCA vet found a lump near her spine. Her teeth are in bad shape as well, and it is incomprehensible that the shelter won't give her her favorite "chew", raw beef bones, that her owner and friends bring her regularly.

Please donate if you can to help with the huge legal bills! And stay tuned for requests for letters and calls!!!

FOR MORE OF THE STORY:
See under Discussion Topics.

Keeping a dog in a pound indefinitely is detrimental to its health. Killing a dog that is not dangerous goes against the principle of protection of animal welfare. Yet the SPCA is participating in this abuse. It is willing to kill this dog, while earning money for it (no less than $414,000 a year, at present). Having kept silent for six months, ignoring her owner's pleas for help, last January the Nova Scotia SPCA began repeatedly asking the city to "re-home" Brindi. Not only is this something the city cannot legally do (without a judge's order); it would be a wrong and cruel thing to do to an owner who has sacrificed so much for the sake of her beloved pet - and it would be cruel to a dog that was neglected for years and has never known any other home.

Brindi has already spent half her life behind bars. She may lose her life altogether unless somebody does something to let Brindi go home where she belongs!!!

HALIFAX DOG OWNERS: SPEAK UP FOR FRANCESCA AND BRINDI! OTHERWISE, YOUR DOG COULD BE NEXT!!
The fact is, if the city “wins”, EVERYBODY loses: an innocent dog will die, and a very dangerous precedent is set.

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PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON THIS URGENT PLIGHT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW: MEDIA COVERAGE IS ESSENTIAL!

BEFORE YOU JOIN: "Save Brindi" is a CALL TO ACTION GROUP!
We need you to send letters, make calls, gather signatures, help with
fundraisers, and participate in local events and demonstrations.
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• For more information, and the trainer’s assessment, see http://freebrindi.blogspot.com
• See letters of support at: http://supportbrindi.blogspot.com
• Sign the Free Brindi ipetition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/FREEBRINDI/
• Care2 Alert: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-brindi-this-dog-must-not-be-euthanized
• Write to public officials – see the discussion topics
• Donate to help pay for legal costs: Go to http://freebrindi.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button.
• Participate in an auction at: http://www.epier.com/auctions.asp?franya
• Buy a FREE BRINDI t-shirt at http://www.cafepress.com/freebrindi

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Our goal is to save the life of a rescue dog, a mutt named Brindi. We want to see her returned to her rightful owner and beloved human companion, Francesca Rogier.

Brindi has been locked up on death row for OVER A YEAR. YET:
She never attacked or threatened a person.
She never killed or caused serious injury to a dog.
Her owner has been denied due process, even to this day.

She is a good-natured mutt, six years old, rescued from a shelter in 2007. A few run-ins with other dogs were... (read more)