Montreal Bans All Pit Bulls

[Illusion]

Montreal passes controversial pit bull ban
CBC News Posted: Sep 27


Nearly four months after a brutal dog attack that claimed the life of a Montreal woman, the city has passed its contentious pit bull ban.

City council voted Tuesday in favour of changes to its animal control bylaw that include a ban on new ownership of pit bull and pit bull-type dogs. The final vote was 37-23 in favour of the ban.

"My duty as mayor of Montreal is making sure I am working for all Montrealers," said Denis Coderre. "And I am there to make sure they feel safe and that they are safe."

The bylaw vote was supposed to take place Monday, but was pushed to Tuesday due to a busy agenda.

The city announced that the new rules, including the ban on new ownership of pit bull or pit bull-type dogs, will go into effect across all 19 Montreal boroughs starting Oct. 3.

Members of Opposition Projet Montréal questioned whether the Coderre administration would be able to enforce the new rules.

"This is going to create a bigger problem than a solution," said Coun. Sterling Downey.

Attack leads to action

Supporters argue the new regulations give priority to human safety over dog safety and that pit bull bans in other jurisdictions decreased the number of severe dog bites.

"A Montreal woman died because someone didn't have control of their dog," said Anie Samson, the city executive committee member in charge of the animal file.

The city had originally intended to update its legislation concerning dangerous dogs by 2018, but plans were accelerated following the mauling death of 55-year-old Christiane Vadnais.

Court challenge planned

The announcement has led a Montreal-based coalition, composed of lawyers and experts in animal behaviour opposed to the ban, to say it will move forward with its plan to launch a court challenge.

"I think it would be a shame if people allowed Montreal to get away with this," lawyer Julius Grey told CBC Montreal's Homerun.

"This is very serious. It's not an object, it's not the right to seize a car — it's a right to take a member of your family and that should not permitted."

Animal rights advocates were also quick to pan the bylaw, pointing out that many cities that have implemented similar legislation have since repealed it.

"We are extremely disappointed with the council's decision to adopt archaic bylaws that are proven to be ineffective," Ewa Demianowicz, campaign manager for Humane Society International/Canada, said in a statement.

Demianowicz said the new law would kill "innocent dogs without any improvement in public safety."

The Montreal SPCA said in a statement it was "disappointed, but not surprised."

"If the city of Montreal truly wanted to ensure public safety, it would not have forced a rushed adoption of controversial legislation which is unfair, unenforceable, and, most importantly, ineffective," the animal protection agency said.

The bylaw comes as the Quebec government prepares to introduce legislation of its own. Public Safety Minister Martin Coiteux said the province wouldn't interfere with municipalities that choose to impose stricter rules.

"What's important is that we come up with common standards for the area that make sense, that will actually ensure safety for all. If some towns want to go farther, then I don't see why the Quebec government should stop them," Coiteux said.

What's a pit bull?

The new bylaw will apply to all 19 boroughs and will define pit bulls as:

Staffordshire bull terriers.
American pit bull terriers.
American Staffordshire terriers.
Any mix with these breeds.
Any dog that presents characteristics of one of those breeds.

Those who now own a dog of those breeds and already live in Montreal will have to acquire a special permit in order to keep their pet by Dec. 31, 2016.

The bylaw also creates two categories of dogs of all breeds: at-risk and dangerous. At-risk dogs are those that exhibit aggressive behaviour, such as biting someone. Dangerous dogs are those that have killed someone or are deemed dangerous by an expert.

"No matter what, if your dog is dangerous, we will be able to act accordingly," Coderre said.

An amendment to the bylaw made Tuesday morning aimed to address concerns that a pit bull would be automatically euthanized when its owner dies. The changes allow the pit bull's licence to be transferred to another person who was living at the same address, a direct family member or a spouse.

http://www.cbc.ca/

[el_topo]

I remember there was this really interesting thread somewhere in these vast message boards, about what to do in case of a pitbull attack. I live by those words. Nothing like gouging the eyes out of a rampant dog.

[Steve]

We have had a pitt bull ban in effect since 1991, but that doesn't include staffies as well it shouldn't.

Banned dogs.


The Pit Bull Terrier

The Japanese Tosa

The Dogo Argentino

The Fila Brasileiro

[Desensitisation]

It's not going to fix anything.

The fuckwits will just move onto the next dog they can mishandle and turn into a dangerous animal. It's not the dogs that need banning, it's the humans...

[Nite]

Harsh

[Nite]

Originally Posted by Top Gear

We have had a pitt bull ban in effect since 1991, but that doesn't include staffies as well it shouldn't.

Banned dogs.


The Pit Bull Terrier

The Japanese Tosa

The Dogo Argentino

The Fila Brasileiro

England being England they're probably banned because you can attach a nationality to them

[lesslis2015]

To me, the only possible good that comes out of breed bans is it may prevent Cletus from getting a cute little pup from uncle Festus who allows cujo to breed to anything!
More crackdown on puppymills and backyard breeders that have no fn clue or just don't give a fuk about temperament tests, health tests etc... In any breed. Spay and neuter should be enforced. Of course $$$ is behind all of it for these breeders but those that buy and support are just as guilty. Had a German Shepherd rescue years ago, he was a massive mess genetically.
Spent countless training hours, negative and positive training. This big beautiful dog had a brain tweek, may have been perfect patrolling for immigration but as a active house pet.....no way. He was a weapon that was a huge liability. I actually loved the dam dog but put him down for his sake, my sake and the public's sake. Ban the human sobs that create these messes for a few bucks.

[Illusion]

Originally Posted by Desensitisation

It's not going to fix anything.

The fuckwits will just move onto the next dog they can mishandle and turn into a dangerous animal. It's not the dogs that need banning, it's the humans...

Targeting ‘dangerous’ dogs as opposed to dangerous breeds is the better alternative. Publicly shaming dog owners whose dogs are guilty of biting humans or other pets. Also, requiring them to put a warning sign on their property, and the dog itself should wear a dog tag declaring its dangerous status. But who's going to pay for that? You? The tax payer? Not likely. It's simply more cost-effective to eliminate the most dangerous kinds of canine.

[Desensitisation]

Originally Posted by Illusion

Targeting ‘dangerous’ dogs as opposed to dangerous breeds is the better alternative. Publicly shaming dog owners whose dogs are guilty of biting humans or other pets. Also, requiring them to put a warning sign on their property, and the dog itself should wear a dog tag declaring its dangerous status. But who's going to pay for that? You? The tax payer? Not likely. It's simply more cost-effective to eliminate the most dangerous kinds of canine.

Agree that this would be better outcome, and sadly you're right that no-one would want to pay for this system.

The only thing wrong with your statement is that it will be more "cost effective" to simply ban the breed; it won't be. The cost to other breeds of dog out there, and the cost to the people who will continue to be injured by mishandled dogs of ANY breed, will persist unless the real problem is addressed.

[Pyramid_Head]

Bunch of morons. Blaming the dog as always.