Aired Saturday, January 13, 2007 on CFRN

Please note that the first few seconds are missing. 

Anchor: …named Daisy Duke has inspired Canadians to pressure Ottawa for changes to animal rights legislation.  A resident from Didsbury where Daisy Duke’s death made such an impact handed a local MP a petition today with signatures of support from more than 100,000 people.  Kevin Rich reports.

Kevin Rich:  Those signatures come from everywhere—thousands of names calling on the federal government to protect animals from abuse.

Tamara Chaney, petition organizer:   British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario… I even got five signatures back from Hong Kong, if you can believe that.

Kevin Rich:  The petition was started by Tamara Chaney after Daisy Duke was dragged to her death behind a truck last November.  Two local teens are making their way through the courts, charged with animal cruelty.  But regardless of the outcome of the case, Chaney said Canadians recognize changes to animal protection rights are long overdue.  

Tamara Chaney:  Since 1891, I believe, there haven’t been changes made to animal welfare laws to offer protection and more serious punishments for abusers.  

Kevin Rich:  Chaney is hoping MP Myron Thompson can help further the cause by getting the petition before Parliament and then on to a federal justice committee.  He says Bill S-213 does increase punishments for animal abusers, but he says it also protects farmers and ranchers.  

Myron Thompson, MP:   Well, at the same time I have to make certain that the bill as presented does not hinder normal animal husbandry,…uh, animal production in livestock.

Kevin Rich:   Thousands of hours have gone into collecting the names on the petition according to Tamara Chaney.  She hopes that by the end of the month, Myron Thompson can give Parliament more than 100,000 reasons to care.

Tamara Chaney:   I’m very positive about it.  There’s never been a petition with these numbers before being presented in regards to animal welfare, so I don’t know how they’re going to be able to ignore this one.  

Kevin Rich:  Kevin Rich, CTV News, Calgary.