CLAYTON RUBY TAKES CASE

News Release

Dog Legislation Council of Canada

Ontario Division

For Immediate Release

November 8, 2004

Coalition Hires Clayton Ruby to Fight Ontario Ban

TORONTO — COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS HIRE CLAYTON RUBY TO FIGHT ONTARIO BAN ON PIT BULLS.

A coalition of organizations dedicated to fighting the Ontario ban on pit bulls announced Monday that they have retained renowned Toronto lawyer, Clayton Ruby, to assist in their efforts.

Mr. Ruby is a partner with Ruby & Edwards in Toronto, Ontario. Since being called to the Bar in 1969, Mr. Ruby has maintained an extensive criminal, constitutional and administrative law practice. Throughout his career, Mr. Ruby has served as counsel in numerous high profile human rights, aboriginal and criminal cases.

The coalition retaining Mr. Ruby currently includes five organizations:

     The Dog Legislation Council of Canada
     Advocates for the Underdog
     The Golden Horseshoe American Pit Bull Terrier Club
     The American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Canada
     The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada

The coalition expects a number of other groups to join with them by the end of the week, including other breed clubs, veterinary associations, kennel clubs, and humane societies.

"This proposed legislation seriously affects every dog owner, regardless of the breed they own", says Steve Barker, Ontario Director of the DLCC. "Most people believe that this legislation is just about pit bulls. We are hoping to make it clear that they will be affected, too."

"It is our opinion, based on precedent and on the experiences of other countries, that this legislation, even if passed by the Liberal government, is doomed to failure in a court of law. We feel that it is irresponsible of the province to deliberately cause the deaths of hundreds, even thousands, of dogs, then to expect the Ontario taxpayer to pay for the housing and euthanizing of these dogs and to pay for the numerous lawsuits that will result, when history tells them that the law will fail."

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The Dog Legislation Council of Canada is a Canada-wide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible dog ownership, assisting communities in creating accountability for dog owners, and educating the public in dog-bite awareness.

For more information, please contact:

Steve Barker
Ontario Director
Dog Legislation Council of Canada
(416) 779-0213
ondirector@doglegislationcouncilcanada.org
http://www.doglegislationcouncilcanada.org