'An ugly lie:' Ottawa Humane Society says they won't kill convoy protesters' pets
The Ottawa Humane Society is addressing misinformation online that it would seize and euthanize pets from "Freedom Convoy" demonstrators, calling it a "Big Lie."
A statement from Ottawa Humane Society President and CEO Bruce Roney comes after former U.S. politician Rudy Giuliani said on Twitter Monday that, "(Prime Minister) Trudeau has now decreed he will kill the dogs and cats of the protesting truckers."
Roney says misinformation online spiralled from "misinterpretations" of a tweet from Ottawa Bylaw on Feb. 17, that was directed at animal owners taking part in the demonstration in downtown Ottawa.
"If you are unable to care for your animal as a result of enforcement actions, your animal will placed into protective care for 8 days, at your cost. After 8 days, if arrangements are not made, your animal will be considered relinquished," Ottawa Bylaw said.
Roney says that tweet was misrepresented online that protesters' pets were to be confiscated and euthanized as "payback" for the protest.
"No humane society would agree to euthanizing pets out of spite," Roney said Friday.
"It was an ugly lie invented by someone with an agenda."
The Ottawa Humane Society has a contract with the city of Ottawa to provide temporary care for the pets of people who have been displaced by a fire, are hospitalized or evicted, or who are arrested.
"Frankly, the lie is absurd. No humane society would agree to euthanizing animals out of spite. No employee would ever participate in it," Roney said. "No one from the city or police would ever ask us to, but that didn’t stop the falsehood from spreading. Media called us, donors threatened us, the public demanded to know whose side we were on.
"Whose side were we on? The side of the animals."
Roney says one dog was brought to the Ottawa Humane Society from the convoy during the four-weekend demonstration, and was released to his owner the same day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Remembering legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole. Oh baby, what a life
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Born June 24, 1933, the St. John's, N.L., native provided a distinctive soundtrack to Canada's game. He was known for his signature 'Oh baby' call, an expression that was not restricted to hockey arenas.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.