8 Oakville Beaver Weekend Sunday October 10, 1999 L e t 's k e e p t h e w i l d l i f e w h e r e t h e y b e l o n g I like to share, really I do. And over the years, there's been a lot of sharing of this or that when it comes to living quarters - many pairs of socks and the odd sweater or two among my sisters. Shoes, scarves, hats, the whole bit. With four girls under one roof, you might as well just keep your closet door open all the time. But when it comes to ani mals, that's when my sharing largesse begins to recede. Big time. Not that I don't like animals. But wild ones ought to stay that way, out in the fresh air having fun in trees and meadows. Not in my bathroom, my kitchen, the rec room. They should not be trying out its new digs under our deck or flying about the back room, carefree. Open closets I can do. But only to humans. But tell that to the mouse under the counter or the bird that made its way down our chimney. Tell it to the multitude of car penter ants that made me into a raving lunatic one day about a year ago: "Lady," said the patient man at the end of the line, "are they big or small because that will tell us if you have a problem." To which I replied, I think not very nicely, not very lady-like: "I don't care if they're big or small....they're ants and they're in my cup boards and you've got to come over and get them out!" That was not my finest hour. I was much more sanguine about our friendly opossum we found hovering on our fence and not so casual about the skunk that wasn't pleased at having its handy route to under our deck blocked one evening. And told us so, very distinctively. I think the final straw was the raccoon that our feisty terrier chased along the fence in the middle of the night last week, just after he pried off our raccoon-proof garbage can lids and feasted on the remains of our dinner. The raccoon, that is. But what is it with this place? I mean, I don't mind sharing my home. With my fam ily, dogs, the odd hamster or two. I'll even do a fish, but I warn you, they'll die if I go with in two feet of the tank. Really. But when it comes to those wild critters, get me out of here. No, get them out of here. Pronto. Some rural types think this is so amus ing...you know city gal goes berserk in her own home. But it's not a pretty sight, me out there in my tattered bathrobe trying in vain to tie up the garbage cans with more elaborate bungie cords before they slip and fling back into my face. Problem is, I love living here. Really. And I know it's what you do in an older area. My question is, when will it end? I know, I know. I sound like one of those city people turned rural, the ones who energetically build massive homes in the country and then whine about the smell of manure. Is that it? Is it just that I want it all - a cottage-styled home in an old part of town...but sealed, ani mal-proof. No ants, no mice, no skunks (please no skunks) no possums from the States or anywhere else. And while I'm at it, no slugs on the back deck that are positively nuclear-sized, believe me. Is all of this too much to ask? Well, perhaps. Talk to these busy fellows at critter catch ing businesses (ITn their best, if not favourite, customer) and they'll stand in front of you and nod their heads, sagely: "Hmmm, yes, you're right. Sure looks like something might be there. So let's try this and just see what happens." They are the first ones to tell you that urban areas are no longer just for the twolegged animals like us. Increasingly, w e've got to share. "Sure," one guy continued, a veritable tank of good news stories about the armies of animals taking over the neighbour hoods, "I caught a raccoon in a backyard one night and took him north of the highway to let him go. And then, just for fun, I followed him. And wouldn't you know it, that little guy found his way back. Amazing, eh?" Great. Just for fun I'd like to wring its lit tle neck. No, just kidding. I suppose I must set aside my natural grumpiness and just face facts: it's Thanksgiving - so get over it, for heaven's sake. Share. A Monthly Look At Our Areas Legal Minds F a m ily L a w n S. N a u m e t z Barrister ir Solicitor PURCHASERS' REM EDIES: GETTING OUT OF THE DEAL A few months ago you signed an Agreement of Purchase and Sale to buy a home. You were looking forward to having a place of your own. And then, it happened, your husband lost his job and you are six month's pregnant Even if the bank would lend you the money to buy the house, you could not afford the mortgage payments. How can you get out of the deal and not lose your shirt? It is highly unlikely, but if you could prove that there was something wrong with the agreement you signed with the ven dor, you might be able to walk away from the deal without losingapenny. 4 A title search might show that the vendor does not have good title to the property. The vendor's survey may establish that you were misled as to the size of the property. A building inspection may reveal structural deficiencies unacceptable to yourself. A number of other searches might reveal substantial problems. There may also be problems with the Agreement of Purchase and Sale itself. A failure to property execute this Agreement may render the Agreement void. As is more usually the case, it is very difficult to find any flaw in the Agreement It goes without saying that the first person you should speak with after discovering your predicament is your lawyer. Your lawyer will advise you as to the validity of your Agreement and he or she will then give you a clear idea of the rights and remedies to yourself and to the vendor. Your lawyer will explain your potential costs for your failure to close your trans action. Your lawyer should discuss with you the least "pain less" procedure to follow when you are unable to close your real estate purchase. Many seemingly hopeless situations have resulted in the ven dor re-selling their home with no loss and the purchaser expe riencing little or no financial loss themselves. The common denominator to these happy endings is full and immediate communication between you and your lawyer resulting in sim ilar communication with the vendor and their lawyer. By Brian J. H anna Mr. Hanna is a senior partner in the law firm o f Hanna, Henderson, Barichello. He has practiced law in Oakville since 1975 concentrating on real estate, financing, corporate and commercial matters and estate planning. Mr. Hanna can be reached at his Oakville office - 905-842-1148. HANNA HENDERSON BARICHELLO B A R R IS T E R S & S O L IC IT O R S F A M IL Y LAW SEPARATION AGREEMENTS · DIVORCE · CUSTODY · SUPPORT · MARRIAGE C O N TRACTS/COM M ON LAW AGREEMENTS ESTABLISHED 1974 BRIAN J. HANNA PAUL J. HENDERSON DANIEL C. BARICHELLO ·REAL E S T A T E ·F A M IL YL A W ·C O R P O R A TE -C O M M E R C IA L D IV O R C E ·P E R S O N A LIN J U R Y W IL L S /E S T A T E ·C O M M E R C IA LL IT IG A T IO N P O W E RO FS A L E EMAIL hhb@netcom.ca 3 0 3 R O B IN S O N S T . O A K V I L L F R E A L ESTATE W IL L S & ESTATES F a m ily 263 Church Street, Oakville (1 Block from Lakeshore & Trafalgar) L a w /D iv o r c e U eS # Im m ig r a tio n iia w S K R O W & Sd S n e b r 's k r o t IN B Q V IN A "S S S " M ich a el B. B e rg e r - O ver 24 years' experience in immigration law. " V oted B est L a w y e r in A m e ric a " b y F e llo w Im m ig ra tio n Lawyers W illia m B e r g e r - 30 y e a rs ' ex p erien ce as an atto rn ey with th e go v ern m en t Practice limited to all areas o f immigration anil naturalization law including NAFTA, deportation hearings, business visas, vehicle seizures. · FAM ILY LAW · REAL E S T A T E· W ILLS & E S T A T E S INITIAL CONSULTATION FREE 2 4 3 N O R T H S E R V IC E R D S U IT E 2 0 8 Opposite Oakville Town Centre At LIA Member. T oronto · A tlanta · R o c h ester · By A p p o in tm en t 4 1 6 -9 4 1 -9 7 5 6 5 5 5 In te rn a tio n a l D r . B u ffa lo N Y 1 4 22 1 Fax 7 1 6 -6 3 4 -0 4 1 5 · w w w .u sav isa .n e t F a m ily / R e a l E s ta te K aren Thom pson Barrister Solicitor N o ta ry Public l/ills · E s ta te L itig a tio n · F a m ily L a w 136 Allan Street, Oakville (9 0 5 ) 3 3 8 -7 9 4 1 If you wish to take part in this feature please call 8 4 5 - 3 8 2 4 an d a re p re s e n ta tiv e w ill b e h a p p y to a s s is t y o u . Fax: (905) 844-9765 B rian J . H anna