Dangerous Dogs: Nagareboshi Gin

One thing leads to another.

Surfing a website listing Commie menaces dangerous dog breeds, I guess I was mildly surprised to see the wolf-dog hybrid on the list. The Wikipedia entry for the hybrid pointed to the Shikoku Inu, which was slightly more of a surprise. Golden retrievers, neither of them!

Shikoku’s are a medium-sized primitive Japanese breed of dog from Shikoku island that is similar to a Shiba Inu. For those of you that aren’t familiar with either of these, they are rather like small huskies. Both breeds are living “national monuments” of Japan. These spitzes are bred for hunting small game, deer and boar in the mountains. The Shikoku Inu is sometimes referred to as a deerhound.

Anyway, following a link from the Shikoku’s Wiki page led me down the rabbit hole to a web page for Nagareboshi Gin, an adventure manga by Yoshihiro Takahashi.

The series tells the story of an Akita Inu pup called Gin (Japanese for “silver”) who leaves his master, a young boy named Daisuke, to join a pack of wild dogs. The pack is gathering strong dogs from all over Japan to fight a deranged bear named Akakabuto and his minions.

Yes, the Japanese lyrics are included, so feel free to karaoke along with the vid.

Takahashi was reportedly inspired by a news article about hunting dogs that had been abandoned by their masters and had begun living as wild animals.

Akita pup, Gin, ultimately leads the final battle against Akakabuto. Gin is courageous and loyal, if a little headstrong. He is quick to anger when lives are taken needlessly. Dangerous.

It’s a cultural thing: the Japanese might prefer to call it: Kan’i (spirited boldness), Ryosei (good nature) and Soboku (artlessness).

The Shikoku Inu in the manga is Kurojaki. He is the leader of the Kōga Ninja Dogs. He has the distinction of being the only dog to actively use a weapon. When a house is set on fire to end the feud, Kurojaki flings himself into the fire, declaring that the war is his only purpose.

So there.

Other dangerous dogs featured in the manga are: tosa inu, doberman, husky, weimaraner, mastiff, rough collie, spaniel and dachshund in addition to others with dangerous-sounding Japanese names.

Oh, there are dangerous humans in the story too.

More on Nagareboshi Gin at Wikipedia.

Dangerous dogs part deux: Weed, son of Gin.

Want more? Visit Ginga site.

Merry Christmas, Rambo!

Selma at Caveat shared good news this week about Rambo, who is home for the holidays with his new family in Nova Scotia.

For those of you who have been following this story, Rambo was seized by Mississauga Animal Services last Christmas, and put on trial for being an illegal pit bull. His owner, Gabriela Nowakowska, went to the ends of the earth to save her puppy. Her courageous efforts paid off, with the help of Carolyn Parrish and others, although Ontario’s draconian legislation forced Rambo to take the Underground Railroad out of the province.

John Stewart has the full story at Mississauga News.

Let’s hope this little poster guy’s tribulations are starting to change the way things are done here in Ontario.

Rambo Goes to Nova Scotia

We have been awaiting news on the fate of Rambo, the pup of indeterminate parentage that attracted the attention of Mississauga Animal Services when he escaped from his home last Christmas. He has spent over nine months on death row, charged with being a banned pit bull.

A Visit for Rambo

To the relief of everyone who was rooting for him to be spared the needle, Rambo will be flying off to Nova Scotia to find his forever home.

Rambo will likely be forever in Gabriela Nowakowska’s mind. The 21-year-old Mississaugan captured our hearts when she went up against the City of Mississauga to save her dog.

“It was very difficult losing my dog,” she told The Mississauga News. “But now, Rambo is going to have a life and he’s going to be free…The only thing that’s important to me is that he’s still alive.”

Rambo is headed for a farm in Nova Scotia run by Ador-A-Bull Dog Rescue after a deal was struck in a Mississauga courtroom on October 8. He will be trained with a number of other dogs and then could be adopted to a loving home.

Nowakowska pleaded guilty to possessing an illegal dog and received a suspended sentence. The City agreed to waive the pound fees for Rambo, who has been kept for the longest-time ever at the shelter. Those fees were estimated at $3,000.

Justice of the Peace Karen Jensen commended Nowakowska, who works two minimum-wage part-time jobs as a waitress and at a deli counter, for her efforts on behalf of Rambo. “You’ve suffered the loss of your dog but you have made some gains … for which you are to be commended.”

Those gains include the change in City policy that now permits dogs like Rambo accused of being pit bulls to be sent to another province rather than automatically being put down.

The City’s application to execute Rambo will be withdrawn Oct. 20 if all goes well.

“By then, he should be in a whole new province and everyone’s happy,” the Justice of the Peace said.

Nowakowska’s lawyer, Anik Morrow, told the court that as time passed his client realized that nothing could be gained by going forward. “Her concern is ultimately the dog,” she said.

Ward 6 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who championed Rambo’s cause, was “delighted” at the outcome.

“We’ve learned from this that this law is very difficult to enforce and it breaks people’s hearts,” the councillor said. “Saying that something looks like something else is a very poor basis for a law.”

Nowakowska was convicted of owning a dog that was “substantially similar” to breeds of dogs generally known as pit bulls.

A Visit for Rambo

Earlier we and many others blogged about Rambo, the puppy that got away from his owner in Mississauga on Christmas Day, and was wandering the streets unleashed and unmuzzled in direct violation of the law. Animal Control collared the dog and took him into custody. Rambo’s owner, Gabriela Nowakowska, was charged with owning a prohibited animal and the dog faced the prospect of being put down.

Those of us who wrote to Council received an update today from Councillor Pat Saito:

“Action was taken on April 9, 2008, by Mississauga Council. Although the case is in the courts and we can not interfere in that process, we did pass a motion that will allow his owner, Gabriela to visit him while he is being held in our Animal Shelter. We also passed a resolution that would put in place procedures for future visitations in other similar circumstances should they occur.

Rambo is being well cared for by our staff who are animal lovers and he is getting socialization and exercise. But we know that this is not the same as being able to spend time with his “mom”. Also we are hoping that seeing that her puppy is being well cared for will ease some of the concerns Gabriela has over his well being.

It is not the best solution given the provincial legislation that we are compelled to enforce, but hopefully it is a step in the right direction.”

Councillor Saito ended her email with a reference to Ontario’s draconian breed-specific legislation which still threatens Rambo’s welfare. Authorities say Rambo is a pit bull, a breed that has been prohibited since 2005, and must be put down. Nowakowska is contesting that judgment in court.

Mississauga City Council spent 45 minutes on the issue before voting unanimously to let the dog’s owner visit him at the pound.

“City-owned pounds should be showing people how to treat dogs by example. It’s not going to be thousands of people. We only have one incarcerated dog right now,” said Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who proposed the motion. Visits are currently prohibited at the city pound.

Council directed city staff to come up with a visitation procedure before its next meeting in two weeks. Meantime, a visit will be arranged for Nowakowska.

Parrish, who has two dogs, has visited Rambo twice and said he is being well cared for.

“That’s not the issue. The issue is that Gabriela, his owner, is fairly frantic. If she were to see how well he’s being cared for it would go a long way to relieve the anxiety she’s living with,” Parrish said. Rambo has already spent more than three months of his short life separated from Gabriela.

“Humans and dogs have very strong bonds. I am very concerned about the dog, but I am more concerned about the human being.”

Councillors heard from Selma Mulvey, of an owners’ group called the Dog Legislation Council of Canada, who presented research on the stressful effects of long-term kennelling. Keeping dogs cooped up without much human contact, particularly beyond six weeks, can have physiological and behavioural side effects, making dogs fearful and aggressive, she said.

“When the owner finally does regain custody of their pet, there can be a lot of work for them to do to rebuild the relationship.”

Parrish said it would be unfair to release into the community a dog that’s more testy and protective.

Councillor George Carlson agreed that allowing visits is “a measure of our humanity.”

“One year of jail for a dog is seven or eight years for us. That’s a long time to be away from your pet.”

Visitation “is the right thing to do,” said Councillor Maja Prentice. “The same thing goes for people that are incarcerated, waiting for their hearing or judgment.”

Gabriela, kudos to you for your courage and persistence. And thank you, Mississauga Council, for your humane action.

Toronto Star, April 10, 2008

Extensive coverage and discussion over at Caveat and at Barking Mad

Reprieve for Rambo?

The owner of Rambo, a 10-month-old cross-bred pit bull puppy, has been given a bitter choice: sign the dog over to the City of Mississauga to be killed or face a long legal battle she cannot afford.

“Rambo is harmless. He wouldn’t hurt anybody,” said his owner, Gabriela Nowakowska, 20, of Mississauga.

Nowakowska bought the puppy at a flea market last year and wasn’t aware of Ontario’s draconian breed ban on pit bulls or perhaps even that the puppy was a pit bull cross. Under the ill-considered breed ban, enacted in 2005 by the McGuinty government, pit bulls or “substantially similar” dogs are banned in Ontario. Although there is a grandfathering provision for existing dogs, the unfortunately-named Rambo is too young to be legal.

As a flea market purchase from a backyard breeder, Rambo hardly qualifies as a purebred Pit Bull (whatever that means), although he may be “substantially similar” with his square jaw and whip tail. Where does that comparison end…? Even Rambo’s veterinarian, Dr. Cetera, has stated that his lineage is questionable.

Rambo, who is thought to be 10 months old, was caught running free on Christmas Day by animal control officers in the pristine suburb of Mississauga. He had escaped via an open back yard gate from Nowakowksa’s home.

Animal control manager Dulio Rose outlined two choices to Nowakowska: sign Rambo over to the City to be put down or go to court on the unlikely chance that she can convince a judge that Rambo is not subject to legislation passed two years ago by Queen’s Park that essentially made it illegal to own new pit bulls. After all, what choice do municipalities, particularly those that observe The Letter of the Law have, given the provincial legislation? Well, other municipalities have managed to show leniency in cases like this. Surely Mississauga can think out of the box and do the same?

“I really do want to fight it,” Nowakowska said. “I don’t want Rambo to die.” But she’s worried about funding an expensive legal action.

Mississauga politicians are asking City staff to explore options that would allow Rambo, a pit bull cross-breed puppy scheduled for euthanasia, to be shipped out of Ontario to a reputable rescue organization.

In separate interviews yesterday, Ward 9 City councillor Pat Saito and Ward 6 councillor Carolyn Parrish strongly criticized the provincial legislation aimed at eliminating new pit bulls from being owned in Ontario and said they’re working with Animal Control staff to see if there are alternatives to killing the young dog.

“We’re going to see if we can get the dog neutered and approve a 24-hour exemption for him to be shipped out of the province,” Parrish said.

It wouldn’t be the first time a dog has been sprung out of an Ontario Dachau. Bandit, a “substantially similar” pup, was sent to Washington state where he is now a K-9 law dog!

Parrish, who owns a bulldog named Lady Charlotte, says this about Rambo: “I’m told he’s really a sweet dog and everyone at animal control plays with him. He’s just a darling.”

“It is perverse to pass a law that bans animals based on the fact they look like a pit bul”, said Parrish. “There has got to be a humane set of rules put in place when the law is an ass,” she added.

“Mr. (Michael) Bryant (who guided the legislation through Queen’s Park) should have to put on gloves and come out here and use the hypodermic,” to put the dog down, Parrish, a former MP, said. (Michael Bryant failed to identify a pit bull from photos of 24 “substantially similar” dogs, choosing a Presa Canario.)

Saito called the pit bull law, “terrible legislation that is poorly written and poorly worded.”

Bans based on breeds do not work, she said. “It should be based on temperament and the threat of the individual dog.”

Nowakowska said she has almost raised the $500 she needs to meet with Toronto lawyer Anik Morrow to fight to have Rambo returned. The lawyer has indicated that Rambo could be “bailed out” until the trial, although that would seem to fly in the face of the legislation, which requires municipalities to seize and hold prohibited dogs.

Nowakowksa said her preferred option is to have Rambo back as a pet. If the courts rule that he is a pit bull and subject to the legislation, only then would she consider having him given to a rescue operation, she said.

She acknowledged that holding the dog in a cage for several months pending a trial would be hard on him.

City Hall and The News have been flooded with e-mails about the issue since it came to public attention. Several animal welfare groups opposed to the pit bull law see the case as a classic example of the flaws of Bill 132 and are renewing their battle against the legislation.

An out-of-province placement would be a deserved reprieve for Rambo, and Mississauga councillors Pat Saito and Carolyn Parrish have been lobbying for that. Although, ideally, Rambo would be returned to Gabriela who seems to have a very big heart.

Here’s the opportunity:

This case challenges the ill-conceived breed-specific legislation brought in by Michael Bryant and the McGuinty government. It’s time to open that up again and repeal this nasty piece of legislation that doesn’t solve any problems whatsoever, and just creates heartbreaking cases like this one. Kudos to councillors Parrish and Saito for raising hell.

Michael Bryant and those who supported Bill 132 have the blood of over 2,000 dogs on their hands since 2005. How many humans have pit bulls or “substantially similar” dogs killed in Ontario since, oh, the beginning of recorded Canadian history? Perhaps a bill could be passed to protect other sentient beings from those who voted for this draconian bill.

Surely the creative minds on Mississauga City Council can figure out some wording with the Animal Services folks, so that this puppy can just be a puppy in a loving home?

Mississauga News

See the MPPs’ voting record on this bill here.

See what other bloggers have to say about this case:

Random Access (check the blog for further Rambo-lings)

Caveat

Find the Pit Bull Quiz at Social Mange

Check out Banned Aid, the website for a coalition which is opposing Bill 132.

Contact Mississauga municipal government to help spring Rambo for good. They really ought to be paying attention to Councillors Parrish and Saito. The mayor appears to be looking for some help over at Random Access (all this ruckus is costing money!): Rambo and Ronin

If you e-mail, change the (at) to the @ symbol. The (at) is to fool bots looking for e-mail addresses.

Here are the addresses for the City Councillors and the Mayor of Mississauga:

Her Worship Mayor Hazel McCallion: mayor(at)mississauga.ca
Office of the Mayor
City of Mississauga, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C1
Fax: (905) 896-5879

Councillor Carmen Corbasson: carmen.corbasson(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Patricia Mullin: pat.mullin(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Maja Prentice maja.prentice(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Frank Dale: frank.dale(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Eve Adams: eve.adams(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Carolyn Parrish: carolyn.parrish(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Nando Iannicca: nando.iannicca(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Katie Mahoney: katie.mahoney(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Pat Saito: pat.saito(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor Sue McFadden: sue.mcfadden(at)mississauga.ca

Councillor George Carlson: george.carlson(at)mississauga.ca

City of Mississauga, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C1
Fax: 905-615-4081

Janice Baker, City Manager – city.manager(at)mississauga.ca
Fax 905-615-3376