Cause
2021 was probably the hardest year of my entire life. It was this year, shortly after his birthday, that my registered ESA (Emotional Support Animal) Brooklyn was stolen. Brooklyn was and is not only my other half, but also a very important and treasured piece of the DTES (Downtown Eastside) Community. When he was stolen, it was not just a major and traumatic loss for me. The entire community was devastated.
The thief stole Brooklyn, yet then abandoned him within the same 24HRS, leaving him at a bench with a good samaritan. The samaritan and their family then surrendered him to a private rescue, all the while making it clear to the rescue that they were not the owners. Once surrendered, the rescue did not follow proper rescue standard protocols, and instead sold/adopted him out. The rescue never checked in with the police, SPCA, Animal Control, etc... to check for missing report’s. Therefore, he was never located and returned to me.
I spent close to 3 long and grueling years searching for him, updating the police reports, continuing to check back in with SPCA, Animal Control... Putting up poster’s (which were suspiciously all torn down by the very next day, every single time I’d put them up), repeatedly posting and sharing his photo’s and information all across social media, as well as putting his pictures and info on missing pet websites... Even paying to have him featured as the #1 Featured Pet for BC, several months in a row on Pawboost.
Out of all this, there were no leads... Until FINALLY we crossed paths by a freak chance, just before New Years 2024... ALMOST 3 YEARS LATER! If you'd like to learn more about our story, you can find his Facebook page at the link below.
Brooklyn The Pitt: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555012237894&mibextid=ZbWKwL
I took the private rescue to court, fighting to get my beloved Brooklyn returned to me. After speaking to several lawyers, they all advised I have a strong case. However, due to costs, I chose to go with a law school for assistance, and self represented. The defendants lawyer continued to get the hearing adjourned, until they filed for a dismissal. The day of the hearing, the judge chose to hear the dismissal before my case, and chose to dismiss my entire case. My case was never even heard...
This experience lead me to begin further investigation into the animal rescue world, particularly dog rescue. As it stands, there are next to no laws currently in place, in which private rescues are required to follow. I learned these standard rescue protocols, are merely just guidelines. If the rescue chooses not to abide by the protocols, there are zero legal reprocussions... Because of this, many private rescue owners have discovered large loopholes, and are committing illegal crimes with ease, while making it appear to the public eye as though they are "saving" or "rescuing" dog's, who would otherwise have been put down or in detrimental situations.
Though it's certainly understandable why adopters love to believe they are saving the dog they are adopting... This storyline they have been given from the rescue, is more often than not, false. While not all private rescues are engaging in illicit activities, an alarming number of them are.
Some of these illegal activities include; sourcing dogs from puppy mills (yet advertising as rescued), smuggling dogs across the US/Canada border, as well as selling stolen dogs, forging documents and vaccination reports, lying about health concerns and temperaments, breeding dog's within their rescues (claiming the dog was pregnant when "rescued"), and unbelievably going as far as targeting and threatening individuals and their families, when the person speaks up against this animal cruelty and corruption (this tactic was shockingly common among specific rescue owners)!
With even further investigation into this "rescue" world, it's opened up an absolute rabbit hole of hidden corruption. There is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done to put a stop to all of this corruption and animal abuse. However, implementing these standard protocols, into a set of actual laws would make a massive impact on the current state of corruption that is currently running rampant within the rescue world.
If you would like to take a stand, for the sake of the animal's at hand, and families being affected by this corruption and abuse, please follow the link to the petition!
Implementing Animal Rescue Standard Procedures Into Actual Laws: https://chng.it/Y492NDcKFz
As for my boy Brooklyn, after speaking with more lawyers, I’ve learned there is another course of action I can take, to continue the fight and bring Brooklyn home! I am currently raising money to cover the costs of retaining the lawyer I have chosen, and will pursue this until the end! I will NOT quit, until Brooklyn is home! If you would like to join in the fight for us to reunite... Just know, you are going down a LEGEND! Word’s truly cannot express the bond Brooklyn and I share. There is no thank’s that will be enough, but thank you from the bottom of our heart’s! If you would like to donate to our cause, this link will take you to Brooklyn’s GoFundMe!
Bringing Brooklyn Home: https://gofund.me/e4cf6954
