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*SEE THE BERGER BLANC ARCHIVES FOR CONTINUING UPDATES*
About the Berger Blanc and the undercover investigation:
- A recent piece from The Montreal Mirror: Pet Heaven’s Waiting Room – by Elisabeth Faure
- read our blogger Caroline Ross’ piece about the feral dog colonies living near the Berger Blanc
- watch the video of the feral dogs living behind the Berger Blanc, courtesy of Caroline Ross and Eleven Eleven Animal Rescue (WARNING: scenes of dead dogs)
- read this FAQ from the Montreal SPCA about what THEY have planned for the Berger Blanc
- The Berger Blanc submitted this open letter on their website and plan to release an ‘official statement’ later this week
- read some personal horror stories about the BB on this Facebook Page
- Immediately following the undercover report, the City of Boucherville suspended it’s contract with the BB.
The Videos: (WARNING: graphic and disturbing scenes of animal cruelty)
- (Wednesday, April 20th) on CBC News, this piece featuring undercover video went nationwide, about the cruelties at the Berger Blanc.
- (Thursday April 21st) at 8pm, Radio Canada’s Enquête presented a deeper exposé of Berger Blanc
- Mauvais Berger will be repeated on Radio Canada on April 23rd at 1pm, on RDI on April 24 at 6pm and April 25 at 2am EST, and will be available on-line from April 22 onwards at www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/enquete/2010-2011; click on “Regardez l’intégrale” just below the broadcast date.
- An interview with the undercover ’employee’ at the Berger Blanc will be available here soon.
How is the Berger Blanc a For-Profit Organization?
Here is an explanation:
The images and issues addressed in Mauvais Berger invite a wider consideration of how this for-profit business, unrestrained by weak municipal by-laws, inadequate provincial legislation or effective monitoring, thrives on an ever-expanding supply of abandoned animals. Berger Blancs’ disregard of this fundamental problem of overpopulation ensures a constant flow of ‘clients’, and hence its own financial advancement.
Further, a lack of demand for rigorous contractual accountability by the municipalities who deal with Berger Blanc aggravates this disgraceful situation. Neither the treatment and ultimate fate of the more than 30,000 animals transiting annually through the Berger Blanc (with sky-high euthanasia rates), nor the exact use of taxpayers’ cash, appear to be of significant concern for any of those associated with this scandalous enterprise.
(FYI – the vast majority of “for-profit” facilities have failed in North America. The structure does not work for animal control, only animal profit).
The City of Montreal’s Official Statement:
On Thursday, April 21st at 2:30 pm – the City of Montreal released their statement regarding the Berger Blanc:
La Ville de Montréal condamne la cruauté faite aux animaux
MONTRÉAL, le 21 avril /CNW Telbec/ – La Ville de Montréal prend très au sérieux les images présentées dans le reportage de Radio-Canada sur le Berger Blanc. Deux des dix arrondissements qui sont actuellement liés par contrat avec le Berger Blanc ont pu visionner des extraits du reportage, à l’invitation de Radio-Canada. Dès lors, ces arrondissements ont pris contact avec les responsables de l’entreprise, par des visites et par des lettres, et ont demandé que soit déposé un plan d’action visant à garantir le bien-être des animaux confiés à Berger Blanc.
« La Ville de Montréal ne tolère pas la cruauté envers les animaux, nous condamnons ce genre de geste. La Ville exige de l’entreprise que les animaux soient traités avec respect et dignité en tout temps », a déclaré le vice-président du comité exécutif, responsable des services aux citoyens, monsieur Richard Deschamps.
Hier, la Ville a reçu une copie du plan d’action proposé par le Berger Blanc où l’entreprise s’engage à prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires pour s’assurer du bien-être des animaux qui lui sont confiés. La Ville a aussi précisé qu’elle effectuerait, de concert avec les dix arrondissements qui ont un contrat avec le Berger Blanc, un suivi encore plus serré des activités de l’entreprise, notamment par des visites non planifiées encore plus fréquentes, et qu’elle instaurait à compter d’aujourd’hui des rencontres régulières entre la direction du Berger Blanc et la direction de la Ville et des dix arrondissements concernés.
Bien que toutes les visites effectuées à ce jour au Berger Blanc n’aient démontré aucune irrégularité, la Ville continuera d’agir avec diligence dans la gestion des événements reprochés au Berger Blanc et invite la population à porter plainte à leur arrondissement si des situations inacceptables se présentent. ( Here’s Google Translator if you need it!)
Basically, they are giving the Berger Blanc another chance. Another chance! After viewing images of undeniable cruelty. After being innundated with calls and e-mails from horrified Montrealers. The City’s response is dangerous. They had the opportunity to speak for it’s citizens and for it’s animals and they did not. They had the chance to denounce blatant cruelty and remove all animal collecting contracts from the Berger Blanc.
This now puts Montreal on the world stage – squarely in the crosshairs of not just animal lovers, but people who believe in compassion, period. What does Montreal have to lose? The respect of it’s own citizens – outside tourism dollars – the ramifications of a ‘second chance’ for Berger Blanc could quite possibly be deep and lasting. It’s wrong. It perpetuates the view of Quebec as a province that does not believe in animal welfare. We KNOW that isn’t true. And now is the time to speak out, loud and clear.
What You Can Do:
- SIGN this petition courtesy of Humane Society International and share! English version / French version (please also scroll to the Step 2. part of those links!)
- SIGN another petition here (24,000 signatures and counting!)
- Come to the NEXT demonstration outside City Hall Friday, May 13th, 5:30 pm (there will be one in Quebec City on the same date).
- Write to the Mayor of Montreal via this portal
- “Like” this group on Facebook: The Truth About The Berger Blanc
- “Like” Mayor Gerald Tremblay on Facebook to tell him what you think (comments under his press release posting)
- TELL EVERYONE! KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!
The First Protest:
On April 23rd, 2011 at 1pm, hundreds of Montrealers braved the rain and wind to tell City Hall exactly what they think.
Check out protest photos:
- On the Montreal Dog Blog Facebook Page
- On the PetitsPawz Rescue Facebook Page
- On the Truth About Berger Blanc Facebook Page
Here is a newspiece about that protest: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM0LYIBB5Js[/youtube]
The City of Montreal’s Official Statement after the first protest:
“We have heard the protestors’ message today. After the shocking images were broadcast, we strongly condemned all animal cruelty. We are keeping an eye on the Berger Blanc. We will have more inspectors carrying out regular inspections and spot checks.“
Tuesday April 26th, 2011:
- A notice from the Quebec Government was released, stating that Anima Quebec and the Order of Veterinary Surgeons of Quebec had visited Berger Blanc today and would keep the public updated. Read it here.
- The City of Laval, for now, decides to keep it’s contract with the Berger Blanc. Read it here.
Not good enough. The Berger Blanc must be SHUT DOWN. And we won’t shut UP ’til it is. Please join us for the next demonstration on May 13th and keep watching this space for updates! Montreal’s city council works for YOU – and your tax dollars are funding a model of animal ‘control’ that is inhumane and does not benefit animal welfare. And thank you, Montrealers. We know what you believe in. It’s time to be the change that we desire.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFh4GL1NzMM[/youtube]
