Montreal passes controversial pit bull ban
'I have a responsibility as the mayor of Montreal to protect the citizens,' Mayor Denis Coderre says
CBC News Posted: Sep 27, 2016 2:00 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 27, 2016 4:23 PM ET
Nearly three 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 afternoon 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 for the ban.
"I have a responsibility as the mayor of Montreal to protect the citizens," Mayor Denis Coderre said prior to the vote.
Pit bull owners dogged by confusion over how to prove a breed
Quebec veterinarians urged to know their rights if faced with putting down a pit bull
The bylaw was supposed to be voted on Monday, but was pushed to Tuesday due to a busy agenda.
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.
The dog that attacked her was initially identified as a pit bull, but police now say they are still waiting for DNA test results.
Animal rights advocates were quick to pan the bylaw, pointing out that many cities that have implemented similar legislation have since repealed it.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."
Others, including the Opposition Projet Montréal, questioned whether the Coderre administration would be able to enforce the new rules.
"If I thought for one second this bylaw would make our community safer, I would vote for it without one ounce of doubt," said Projet Montréal councillor Guillaume Lavoie.
Projet Montréal opposes ban
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.
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.
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.
'I have a responsibility as the mayor of Montreal to protect the citizens,' Mayor Denis Coderre says
CBC News Posted: Sep 27, 2016 2:00 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 27, 2016 4:23 PM ET
Nearly three 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 afternoon 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 for the ban.
"I have a responsibility as the mayor of Montreal to protect the citizens," Mayor Denis Coderre said prior to the vote.
Pit bull owners dogged by confusion over how to prove a breed
Quebec veterinarians urged to know their rights if faced with putting down a pit bull
The bylaw was supposed to be voted on Monday, but was pushed to Tuesday due to a busy agenda.
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.
The dog that attacked her was initially identified as a pit bull, but police now say they are still waiting for DNA test results.
Animal rights advocates were 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."
Others, including the Opposition Projet Montréal, questioned whether the Coderre administration would be able to enforce the new rules.
"If I thought for one second this bylaw would make our community safer, I would vote for it without one ounce of doubt," said Projet Montréal councillor Guillaume Lavoie.
Projet Montréal opposes ban
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.
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.
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.
