Like any trial, nothing in particular was that different than the one for Gary and his black dogs. There was a justice of the peace, a prosecuting lawyer and an assistant, the accused and an apparent friend of his who wasn't a lawyer but was there to offer whatever help he could. I would say that everything proceeded fairly smoothly and without much theatrics like the old Perry Mason shows that we used to watch on tv. The microphone system was not on, so hearing what some of the witnesses said was a little difficult but the important things were evident enough.

The prosecution brought forward a total of nine people to make its case and the accused had only one person that attempted to defend the black dogs by saying that she visited Gary's house on a regular basis and she would be greeted by the two black labs referred to as Jasper and JJ with wagging tales.

During most of the trial, we listened to how the black labs on many repeated occasions ran at large due to the irresponsibility of the many borders that Gary had to take in due to financial difficulties to help pay for expenses. These so-called boarders would not take precautions in assuring that the dogs would not escape the confines of Gary's home while he was either not there or asleep. Asked by the prosecution why this occurred so many times in the last few years, Gary was quick to respond that the boarders that he had were not as responsible as he had wished.

We also heard how on so many occasions Jasper and JJ escaped the pen that the OSPCA had ordered Gary to build for the dogs as part of their release on one occasion when the dogs were brought in to the pound due to an incident. When asked how the dogs escaped from their pen, Gary could not explain why, but did say that was the reason why he kept them chained so they could not escape. It was difficult to sit there and listen to all of this and deep down inside ask myself....if the dogs were chained and could not escape, then how did they manage to attack Freddy (a little pomeranian) on two separate occasions..the second being fatal enough to cause Freddy's death. If the dogs were chained, then how did they manage to attack Gnocchi and tug on him until his intestines left his little body. If a dog or dogs were chained, would that not mean they could not run at large and cause damage to other people's belongings? At one point when the prosecution drilled Gary on the various charges of failing to keep vicious dogs confined or failure to muzzle and leash the dogs, Gary lowered his head and said that he was sorry for the grief that his dogs had caused everyone. A little too late Gary in my opinion, but then again maybe the justice felt for you. Those of us that attended at one point were also made aware of all the outstanding fines that Gary had failed to pay due to the irrisponsiblity of confining and muzzling and leashing his dogs and fines due to not licensing his dogs and fines due to not posting signs saying "beware of vicious dogs".

When asked how the trial went by close friends, I wasn't really certain how to respond. I know that the prosecution presented a very concrete case against the actions of the dogs and the irrisponsiblity of the owner, but when it was all over I was a little confused by the Justice's one week deliberation. The case appeared to be well presented and it was more than obvious after hearing all the testimony that there was not a doubt in anyone's mind that Gary did fail to restrain his dogs on many ocassions therefore causing the death of two dogs and the injury to a third dog's leg. I'm not sure why the justice required a week to review the case, but then again I am not a justice of the peace or a lawyer. During the trial there was talk about destroying the dogs and talk about Gary not being able to own dogs for a minimum of ten years but the one thing that I did not hear any mention of was a prison term. I'm curious as to what punishement awaits Gary and in what form the punishment will be carried out. Will huge fines affect a person who has failed to pay the fines he has already been served with. Does the fact that he will not be able to own dogs in the next ten years really do anything for justice? Can he not just have a friend purchase a dog or dogs under a different name and bypass the punishment altoghter. I along with my friends who knew little Gnocchi for the last three and a half years are all asking the same question. Was does justice in this country actually mean, and will justice actually be served when it is all over. We will have to wait and see.

We were forced to make some changes to the format of this webpage because certain individuals repeatedly commented on issues not pertaining to what this crusade represents. People find it very easy to hide behind a name and throw rocks at people who have something viable to say. It is even more disturbing when the names of the people posting keep changing but the person remains the same.

Because of this, we chose to remove the comment page where access to the public was possible. We still believe that people will always have something to say, so therefore we shall continue to post the comments, but only the ones that are received through e-mails. Thank you all for your co-operation and we hope to see you at 3 Cross Street in Welland, Ontario on October 29th. For everyone's sake, I hope justice will be served. May Gnocchi's spirit rest in peace.

Yesterday morning I received a phone call from City Hall in Port Colborne, and was told of an incident where someone broke into the Animal Shelter in Port Colborne on Elm Street, and took both black labs. The person that I spoke to told me that the story was still at that time unconfirmed but that I should speak to Ted at the Welland Humane Society. When I called , Ted was not in his office.

Later on in the day, I received another phone call confirming the break in at the shelter and the dissappearance of both dogs. I had always been under the impression that the black dogs were being held at the Welland shelter but today was told that the break in occured at the Port Colborne shelter. I ask myself this; why in the name of God would the authorities keep two dogs that are so vital to a trial in such an unsecured location as Port Colborne? The shelter is in a remote part of the city where there happens to be very little traffic at night and such an easy place to break into without being noticed.

I am asking anyone who may have any information regarding the break in and theft of the two black labs to e-mail me. I will keep your name anonymous. Gary and the dogs must be brought to trial and dealt with in a legal manner. Thank you.