BACKGROUND: This petition is in honour and memory of Captain, a 2-year-old German Shepherd dog, who was discovered on July 18, 2012 wrapped in a bloody sheet and left in a dumpster in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. When Captain was found he was emaciated, cut, stabbed, and brutally beaten (likely being rendered quadriplegic, and with brain hemorrhaging). Captain passed away from cardiac arrest shortly after being rescued from the dumpster. Brian Whitlock, Captain's "owner," pled guilty on April 9, 2013 to one count of wilfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering, or injury to an animal in accordance with Section 445.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. His sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2013.

We, the undersigned, are tired of hearing about animals who are abused while their abusers walk free. We therefore petition our government representatives, at all levels (British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Prime Minister Stephen Harper), to ensure meaningful laws to protect animals are constructed and enforced. We wish to see those responsible for abusing, neglecting, torturing, or otherwise harming animals, held appropriately accountable.

The link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans has been well-documented, and protecting the animals will serve to benefit humans in the long run. Nonetheless, animals deserve humane treatment and adequate protection in their own right, so we call upon the British Columbia and federal Canadian governments to ensure laws are in place to provide such protection and see that those who do not uphold the law are punished accordingly. Thank you.

Captain was not garbage and we must do everything in our power to ensure the person who did this to Captain is brought to justice with an appropriate penalty.

After you sign the petition, you may be directed to a page on which you are asked to make a donation. The request for donations is from ipetition, the website which hosts this petition free-of-charge, and I (the petition creator) have no ability to disable that request. If you choose not to make a donation, when the request comes up just close the window and you are finished. Any donations made to ipetition are for maintenance of the ipetition site and are not for Captain's fund.


PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN ANOTHER PETITION ASKING FOR THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR BRIAN WHITLOCK (the petition will open in another window, but please remember to come back and sign this petition after you have signed the petition for maximum sentence).


CLICK HERE to join my Facebook page to get updates on Captain's case and participate in further initiatives to ensure Captain did not die in vain.

Justice for Captain

UPDATE. APRIL 12, 2013 -- BRIAN WHITLOCK HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO ANIMAL CRUELTY AGAINST CAPTAIN!!!

CLICK HERE to read the story.

CLICK HERE to sign another petition to ask for the maximum sentence for Brian Whitlock.

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CLICK HERE to join my Facebook page to receive updates on Captain's case and information about further initiatives we are undertaking to ensure Captain did not die in vain.
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PETITION BEING PRESENTED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS!!!
Three Members of Parliament have offered to present PRINTED COPIES of this petition in the Canadian House of Commons! 2,300 physical signatures have already been presented by Member of Parliament Mr. Alex Atamanenko. A huge "thank you!!" to MPs Alex Atamanenko, Dick Harris, and Kennedy Stewart for supporting this petition. If you wish to help with the printed petition, please go to the link below, print out a petition form, ask 25 CANADIAN RESIDENTS to sign it, and send it to Ottawa for presentation in the House of Commons.
(click here to download petition file and cover letter)

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UPDATE!! - ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE LAID AGAINST  CAPTAIN'S OWNER
(click here to read full story)
Despite charges, we need to keep signatures coming on the petition. Charges are only a beginning -- we need to continue to pressure the government to strengthen and enforce animal cruelty legislation, in Captain's memory.

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FINAL TOTAL FOR DONATIONS TO CAPTAIN'S FUND - $76,160.00!!! Click on the link above to learn more about Captain's story and donations made to a special fund in honour of Captain, created by Nat and Drew of Virgin 95.3 radio in Vancouver. All funds raised are to support the investigation and prosecution in Captain's case.