LEADING POLITICAL DOG ADVOCACY IN ONTARIO
The Hershey Anti-BSL Group is a grassroots association of dog owners and concerned citizens committed to repealing breed-specific legislation in Ontario since 2006 through public education, political involvement, and the promotion of responsible dog ownership. Hershey’s mandate is to restore fair and equal treatment of all dog owners across Ontario. Our Hershey group supports breed-neutral evidence based legislation which would be applied fairly and equally to all Ontarians. Hershey’s group endorses the City of Calgary’s Responsible Pet Ownership By- Laws which is considered the gold standard in North America. Known as "The Calgary Model" shifts the focus on punishing specific dog breeds and holds owners accountable for their pets behaviour by treating pet ownership as a responsibility rather than a right and indeed is highly respected worldwide. The Calgary Model is praised for achieving high compliance rates in dog licensing, and for reducing dog bites without discriminating against specific breeds. https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/dogs.html#:~:text=Every%20dog%2C%20by%20the%20age%20of%20three,must%20have%20a%20City%20of%20Calgary%20license.and encourages
Over the years, Hershey’s Anti-BSL group has organized and participated in numerous rallies in the greater Toronto area, bringing awareness to the street and educating the public on how to be better pet guardians and about the brutality of BSL. Hershey group administrators and supporters have attended many dog/pet related events as well as concert venues to spread the word and encourage people to become involved. Our motto is to educate, not legislate. Print off Hershey Anti-BSL Group’s brochures, which will provide information to advocates wishing to distribute information in and to their communities. Visiting your local dog park, veterinary office, or other pet-related businesses will go a long way to spreading the word and bringing Ontario closer to the repeal of breed-specific legislation.
Hershey Anti-BSL Group is not an animal rescue organization. Should you require the assistance of a rescue group in Ontario or looking to adopt, please contact https://www.ontariodogrescues.ca/ or https://www.dogtales.ca/ for more information.
HERSHEY’S STORY
One of the many stories which emerged from BSL in Ontario, is the story of Hershey. At the approximate age of 6 years, Hershey found herself at Barlee’s Angels Rescue Network where it was love at first sight for Jennifer. Hershey had been an over-bred puppy mill mother, caged 24/7. Her jaw had been broken in two places with no veterinary intervention, and had been left to heal on its own. With Jennifer Waite, Hershey went on to become a confident and healthy therapy dog in Halton Hills. Hershey received an award from Toronto Humane Society as Therapy Dog of the Year. Under the loving guidance of Jennifer, Hershey overcame her unfortunate beginnings, going on to be an award winning certified therapy dog with the St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog Program in Ontario. After 2005, when BSL was legislated throughout the province of Ontario in 2005, Hershey was then legally required to be muzzled in public and had to stop her award winning therapy work. BSL forced his retirement from the therapy program, as Hershey could no longer perform his duties while muzzled. Sadly Hershey’s stellar record as a therapy dog and Jennifer’s experience as a dog owner, were not enough to protect them. Hershey passed away in March, 2009 but is not forgotten. Animal advocates named a number of Queens Park bills to remove all breed-specific language in the Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act in her honour.
Ontario Coalition Against BSL
Hershey Anti-BSL Group is a active member of the advocacy group Ontario Coalition Against BSL. We work with, participate with and support the coalitions efforts to end breed bans.
Please visit their website for additional information, such as educational tips, videos, stories of dogs seized, and dog safety resources for young children.
https://ontariocoalitionagainstbsl.com/