Target: Scott Gillingham, Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Goal: Limit online sales and free giveaways of pets to protect animals from abuse.
A rash of troubling cases involving alleged animal cruelty have led to calls for urgent reform in a Canada province. The most recent incident unfolded in full public view, when a man who was walking two dogs was allegedly observed violently yanking the leash of and mistreating at least one of the canines. Authorities charged the man with animal cruelty and later released him on the condition that he surrender possession of any animals.
Two separate cases that occurred weeks earlier allegedly involved the torture and killing of multiple cats. In one of the cases, the suspects also reportedly made and sold videos of their crimes. These disturbing incidents – along with the dog-associated case – have renewed calls for laws in the locality that would more strictly regulate free giveaways and online purchases of potential pets.
Sign the petition below to urge leaders to follow through on their pledge to enact long-overdue protections for vulnerable animals.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mayor Gillingham,
Unscrupulous individuals involved in the pet trade often fail to vet the individuals they are handing living, breathing animals. In some of the cases that go wrong, a pet parent might be ill-equipped to handle the responsible of caring for an animal, leading to neglect or abandonment. At worst, abusers who wish to inflict harm on the innocent will procure “pets” for the purpose of enacting their violent and depraved impulses.
Recent cases in Winnipeg – particularly ones involving the alleged torture and slaughter of cats and the apparent violent yanking of a dog on a leash – tragically validate the consequences of lax protection standards. Leaders of Winnipeg have signaled an intention to help prevent these horrific outcomes. Please put your words into meaningful action by strengthening safeguards for animals subjected to online sales or free giveaways. Do not put another vulnerable living being at deadly risk.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Snapwire
