Residents are urging at one Windsor-Essex community to change bylaws in a case of dogs suspected of being mistreated and later reported stolen.
The fate of a group of beagles, that some residents claim are being abused, has been the subject of a grassroots effort. In posts on social media and calls to the BlackburnNews Windsor newsroom, there were claims that the dogs were being held in a structure on a plot of land in Lakeshore, and were not being let out.
The Municipality of Lakeshore acknowledged on Friday night that it had been notified of the situation, and provincial animal welfare officers have been called in. Then, on Saturday, Ontario Provincial Police took a report that the dogs were stolen.
"Police are looking for assistance in locating the stolen dogs in the shortest available time to prevent undue harm or stress to the animals," said OPP Constable Steven Duguay on Saturday.
Members of the Facebook group Save The Beagles #BetterLawsForPaws, have begun contacting the administration at the municipality of Lakeshore and appealing directly to Mayor Tom Bain and Lakeshore councillors.
"We are writing to request an immediate review of the bylaws pertaining to animal rights and kenneling in the municipality of Lakeshore. Currently, these bylaws are lax in addressing numerous conditions when it comes to animal safety," read the open letter posted on the Facebook page. "Unfortunately, not all citizens have the same moral compass when it comes to doing what is in the best interest of animals, and it is up to us as a municipality to protect the voiceless."
The open letter provided a series of suggestions on improving bylaws on crates and kennels, as well as animal tethering. The letter also called for more thorough background checks on animal control officers.
The Facebook group is working on a Day of Action, set for Saturday. The group has asked for the participation of representatives from each Windsor-Essex community, as well as local MPs and MPPs.
As of Monday evening, there was no word on the progress of the OPP investigation or the whereabouts of the animals.
---with files from Kirk Dickinson
