Brigadier outside Horse Palace
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Lydia McWade
A huge thank you to MP, Dan McTeague, who on 24 October 2006 introduced Brigadier's Law in Parliament as Bill C-361 for first reading!!!! We greatly appreciate Dan's efforts in our joint resolve to amend the Criminal Code of Canada with respect to the protection of law enforcement animals. We also thank Dan for his honourable mention of our organization at that time. For more, please refer to "Support the Bill" link.
8 October 2006 - Make a difference now! Many of you may not be aware that the founder of Brigadiers Law, Dan Sandor, is running for office in Scarborough Centre, Ward 38 in the upcoming Municipal election. If elected, Dan will put a motion forward at Toronto City Hall to have a bylaw in place to protect animals (while we wait for the Federal Government to enact a law that will protect animals from animal cruelty). Dan will act now, you can help.
16 September 2006 - A walk has been planned by Sarah Turnbull and Brenda Christian-Turnbull in support of drawing attention to Bill C-50 (Brigadier's Law).
Find out more by visiting by visiting their site at http://brigswalk.tripod.com/
August 16, 2006 - Excellent news, the police dog, Wizzard, who was repeatedly stabbed on 27 July 2006 while apprehending a suspect in Edmonton is recovering from his wounds. He will be returning to duty with his Handler in early September 2006. As the Criminal Code presently exists, the maximum that MAY be charged for this offence is a $2,000.00 fine or 6 months in jail for animal cruetly. Under the proposed Brigadiers Law, criminal charges could be laid for such an offence of up to 5 years in jail; a $10,000.00 fine; and, financial restitution for Wizzard's veterinary care.
August 8, 2006 - Due to some concerns raised by visitors to our website, please be advised that although our site is dedicated to the protection of police enforcement animals, we are working to have the Criminal Code of Canada amended to move ALL animals from the property section of the Code. We are supporting Bill C-50 of which Brigadiers Law forms an important part under Section 182.7. Please click on the the following link for access to the entire Bill being presented.
July 07, 2006 - The Spirit of the Horse Memorial Garden will be unveiling a plaque honouring Brigadier at their Fundraiser in Campbell Valley Park in Langley BC on July 25, 2006. Tickets and more information can be obtained by calling Joy Richardson at 604.534.7541.
Please note that as of 25 July 2006, the online petition on the Toronto Humane Society Website is no longer available, as it is being prepared for submission.
You can still help! You can become a volunteer and distribute our paper petition in your area; you can sign one of our paper petitions that may be posted in your area; you can write to your Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister or the Minister of Justice. The law has not been changed yet. We must keep up our efforts. Your help is appreciated and needed.
July 04, 2006 - Just a reminder that the PETITION for Brigadier's Law is available ONLINE at The Toronto Humane Society. If you have not yet "signed it" please do so now. Also, did you know that a personal letter to the Prime Minister or Minister of Justice goes a VERY long way? Personal and individual letters are read and carry a lot of political weight, if you could write a letter to your Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister of Minister of Justice it would be greatly appreciated. A sample letter is available here.
June 29, 2006 - The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board has passed a Resolution on Injuring or Killing a Law Enforcement Animal. This was approved by the Police Services Board at its meeting on June 29, 2006. The Board will be forwarding this resolution to the Canadian Association of Police Boards for consideration at its Annual General Meeting in Edmonton Alberta on August 18, 2006. The Board has expressed its support for the offence provisions outlined in Section 182.7 of Bill C-50. June 15, 2006 - The Toronto Police Services Board called for a new law making it a crime to harm an animal used for law enforcement. The move follows the death of Brigadier, a Toronto police horse who was struck by a speeding car in April as his driver attempted to elude police. The Criminal Code currently makes no mention of law-enforcement animals, meaning there are no criminal penalties for someone who kills a police dog or horse. "Right now, police service animals are considered no different than barnyard animals," said city councillor Gloria Lindsay-Luby, who is lobbying for the law. "We all know this is not true. They are highly trained and serve alongside our officers to protect the public."
June 08, 2006 - The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police at their most recent Law Amendments Committee (LAC) meeting in Halifax, discussed the "Brigadiers Law" and as a committee they have indicated the will support the Brigadiers Law initiative. The mandate of the LAC is to recommend improvements to the laws which affect policing, ecploring both legislative and non-legislative options for change.
Brigadier outside Horse Palace
Jun 05, 2006 - A video tribute to Brigadier was created by Greg Adams, Augustus Brightman and Gary Clifton, whose hearts were touched by Brig's story so much that they have spent the last few months working on a tribute for him. Loads of people donated their time to putting it all together and it really is beautiful.
Toronto Police 43 Division
May 06, 2006 - Dan Sandor, from Brigadiers Law, attended the Open House and Free Barbecue at Toronto Police 43 Division, Toronto's newest Police Station, on Saturday, May 13th between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to present information about "Brigadier's Law": the movement to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to protect Law Enforcement Service Animals. In addition there were tours of the station, children's activities, fire trucks, police vehicles, mounted unit, entertainment and community displays. The station, pictured above, is located at 4331 Lawrence Avenue East, east of Morningside Avenue. This station is a state of the art, environmentally friendly "green" building and is a welcome new neighbour to the residents of southeast Scarborough. For more information about the event, please click here.
May 03, 2006 - Members of Brigadiers Law forwarded the approved wording of the Criminal Code Amendment to the House of Commons who should put the bill through first reading in Parliment very shortly. "It is now a very crucial time for this cause and very important that your Member of Parliament knows your views on this subject", says Dan Sandor who initiated "Brigadier's Law". "If you haven't already written to your MP, please do so right now with a brief, to the point, letter addressed to your Member of Parliment requesting that they support this amendment to the Criminal Code of Canada to protect Law Enforcement Animals". Updates are expected within a week and will be posted at brigadierslaw.ca. A sample letter that Dan Sandor wrote to the Prime Minister of Canada in early March, is available here.
Brigadier Poster
April 30, 2006 - The memory of Brigadier continues to be honoured with the printing of a beautiful poster. A tribute, both in images and word, is made to Brigadier and is available for sale through the Ontario Veterinary College with proceeds going to the memorial fund created by the Toronto Police and the College. Details can be found here.
April 27, 2006 - Dan Sandor of Brigadiers Law has received the wording for the Criminal Code and will attempt to put it forward to Parliament soon. "Please be sure to WRITE YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT now to encourage them to vote to accept the bill once it is presented to them" pleads Dan Sandor. "Individual letters have more weight than form letters so please write a short personalized letter today". A great guide on political activism and letter writing can be found on David Suzuki's website in which he describes effective methods to reach the political powers that be. Take his advice and take listen to Dan Sandor's plea to write your MP today.
April 13, 2006 - Two members of parliament have agreed to put forward a bill to amend the criminal code to better protect Law Enforcement Service Animals and they will need your help to ensure it is accepted. It is very important that you send a letter, email and fax to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada urging that they allow this bill. Now is the time, please make your voice count and your words heard; write that letter today and drop it in the mail, fax and/or email. A sample letter that Dan Sandor, who initiated "Brigadier's Law", wrote in early March, is available here.
PC Kevin Bradfield
April 12, 2006 - The Mounted Unit held a recruit class graduation ceremony with eight officers that have completed 15 weeks of training today. Immediately afterward, Mr Michael O'Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of the Humane Society of Canada, presented a posthumous Animal Heroes Award to police mount Brigadier. Dan Sandor, of Brigadiers Law, met with Toronto Police Mounted Units to both congratulate the new graduates and also to offer condolences, again, for the loss of one of their partners.
April 08, 2006 - A letter from the Prime Ministers office was received today to acknowledge receipt of the letter from Dan Sandor, founder of Brigadiers Law, assuring that the comments have been carefully reviewd and a copy of the letter forwarded to the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Supt Paul Gottschalk & S/Insp. William Wardle
April 07, 2006 - Toronto's paramedics and police officers held their official opening this morning of the combined Police and EMS facility station in Scarborough, the division where Brigadier was run down more than one month ago. Toronto EMS Chief Bruce Farr and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair hosted the event attended by Mayor David Miller, City Councillor David Solnackli, Councillor Gay Cowbourne, the Police Services board chair and Dan Sandor, who initiated "Brigadier's Law". Dan Sandor returned from the opening ceremony pleased to report that the movement to propose a bill in Parliament is moving well. Support from Chief Bill Blair, the Association of Chiefs of Police and several Members of Parliament, who intend to back said bill, are expected and forthcoming. The new community room at the station proposed by the Community Police Liaision Committee, of which Dan Sandor is a member, was approved by the chief and officially named "Brigadier Community Room" today in honour of the fallen horse. "While things look on track and a bill is expected, one must be careful not to become to comfortable and complacent", says Dan Sandor, "this is the time to act and write", (letters), "to your member of Parliament and the media to keep the issue forefront". Updates on this issue will be made available at brigadierslaw.ca.
March 29, 2006 - Today a motion was presented to Toronto City Council with over 1500 signatures to have a vote after the budget on the matter of "Brigadier's Law". Councillor Luby is asking for a meeting with Justice Minister Vic Toews and also arranging a meeting with Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair to encourage him to get endorsements from all the police chiefs across Canada. "This is a crucial time in this fight to ensure better protection under the Criminal Code of Canada for Law Enforcement Service Animals, so please be sure to contact your Member of Parliament today to encourage them to bring this issue up in Parliament now", says Dan Sandor of Brigadier's Law.
March 21, 2006 - A beautiful blog about Brigadier's Memory is constantly being updated with beautiful pictures, moving stories, and useful comments. Photos of Brigadier are courtesy of professional photographer Anne de Haas who frequently photographed the Toronto Police Mounted Units and graciously provided her services to them for many years.
March 17, 2006 - A letter writing campaign was started requesting that the Federal Government ensure that Police Service Animals are properly protected under the Criminal Code of Canada. A copy of the letter to Prime Minister Steven Harper is available and it is strongly advisable that you also write similar letters to your Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister as well, to encourage the discussion to amend the law.
March 14, 2006 - A letter from the office of Chief Blair of the Toronto Police Service was received today to acknowledge receipt of the letter from Dan Sandor, founder of Brigadiers Law, and to extend their appreciation for our support for the loss of their police horse Brigadier.
Ricoh Coliseum
March 06, 2006 - The Memorial Service for Police Horse "Brigadier", a police horse killed Feb. 24 in the line of duty, was held Monday for close to 1,500 mourners who gathered at the Ricoh Coliseum to pay their respects. The horse's bridle and saddle rested nearby, alongside an enlarged photo of the beloved Belgian cross. Brigadier was killed while on patrol in Scarborough after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run. Strangely, the driver returned and hit the seven-year-old horse a second time before taking off again. The horse was injured so badly that he had to be put down at the scene. Bradfield suffered broken ribs and injuries to his neck, back and leg after being thrown from the horse. At the memorial, several tributes were given in memory of Brigadier including one from the police chief. A memorial fund was created to honour Brigadier at the Ontario Veterinary College in partnership with the The Toronto Police Service. Donations are currently being accepted at the OVC Website.
*Most images on this site graciously provided by: Anne de Haas Photography