Good news!

I’m delighted to share some happy news. After far too long, the Ontario Society for the PROVISION of Cruelty To Animals has re-opened the off-leash park here in Midland, the one that so many of us dog lovers have relied on. After more than a year and a half of being closed – for no good reason – we can once again see our pups frolicking around in the acreage amongst the trees. Does my heart good.
 Quick background. Several years ago, a generous local family donated nearly 10 acres to the SPCA specifically to be used as an off-leash park for dogs and their owners. This acreage is very cool: totally fenced in, hilly, with trees, and a gazebo in the centre where people leave water in dishes for the pups. It’s an outstanding facility. But in March of 2020, the SPCA shut it down with no warning and no reason. Well, sure, under pressure, they claimed they were concerned about COVID-19 and had to worry about the general public and their own staff. But we dog owners know it’s not the job of the Society for the PROVISION of Cruelty Animals to look out for the general public. We have government agencies that take care of that. Who elected the SPCA to be the guardian of human health? And as for their own staff, goodness knows they shouldn’t be exposed to danger, but I’ve been at that park well over 300 times with my two dogs and have never once seen an employee of the SPCA there! Social distancing was practiced by ALL owners who attended the park after the pandemic hit. Those of us who relied on the facility for the exercise of our pups are convinced the SPCA should be ashamed of themselves for foisting such nonsense on the public and for closing this beneficial animal resource that has been so relied on by animals and animal lovers.
            There’s been a rumor that the real reason they shut the park was because someone was bitten by a dog and sued the SPCA. Don’t know if that’s true or not. But if it is, the Society for the PROVISION of Cruelty to Animals has shown their true colours! They’re supposed to be there for animal rights but clearly, they don’t care. And they feel lying to the public is A-OK.
            What’s sad here is that I, and many others, used to contribute funds to the OSPCA but no more: We don’t support frauds!
            Anyway, the good news is that perhaps through public pressure (we wrote to various levels of government as well as the SPCA management), they’ve been forced to do the right thing. And my pups Molly and Macy join me in being thrilled to have “our park” back.

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