Discussions

Toronto rally to back animal abuse officer  
Suffering dog's owner handcuffed to door of SUV  
Wed Aug 15 2007  
 
By Karen Pinchin  
 
TORONTO - Animal-rights supporters are set to rally Wednesday in support of an animal abuse investigator who was suspended for allegedly handcuffing the owner of a suffering dog to the door of his own SUV.  
 
Toronto Humane Society officer Tre Smith was suspended from active duty by the Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the unconventional rescue of Cyrus, a 50-kilogram Rottweiler.  
 
The society received a report the dog was locked in a sweltering car. When he arrived at the scene, Smith said Cyrus was foaming at the mouth and appeared to be close to death.  
 
He smashed a window of the car and began to resuscitate the dog, but Smith said he was soon confronted by the dog's owner, who was acting very aggressively.  
 
"I was faced with a tough situation,'' Smith said.  
 
"Does this dog die in my arms while I wait for the authorities? Or do I rush this dog to the humane society and get the medical attention he needs to save his life?''  
 
Smith handcuffed Cyrus's owner to the car and left with the near-comatose dog. He was later told the man had been beaten by the crowd and was bleeding when police arrived.  
 
As a result, the officer is no longer allowed to work on the front lines of animal rescue while the incident is being investigated.  
 
The suspension has sparked public outcry, including plans for a rally Wednesday and an Internet support group of more than 2,500 people on the popular networking website Facebook.  
 
Smith's supporters, which include his brother, the group's co-founder, understand that when he became an officer he took a vow to save the lives of animals and to protect himself and others, Smith said.  
 
The group is calling on Monte Kwinter, Ontario's minister of community safety and correctional services, to clear Smith's name and make abuse laws more strict.  
 
 
The ongoing furor stems from what many animal rights groups claim is outdated and ineffectual legislation that governs animal rights abuse.  
 
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies said Canada has a "shameful'' record on renewing archaic anti-cruelty legislation, which was originally enacted in 1892 and has been minimally revised since.  
 
"This has touched on a 150-year-old fight,'' said Toronto Human Society spokesperson Lee Oliver, who said the agricultural industry lobby is afraid of being targeted if animals are given more rights.  
 
The current maximum penalty is six months in jail and a $2,000 fine, which humane societies say is too lenient and doesn't deter the worst offenders.  
 
- Canadian Press