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BSL: Breed Law

Victory! Montreal’s Pit Bull Ban Suspended Indefinitely

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On Wednesday, October 5, Judge Louis Gouin of the Quebec Superior Court rendered his decision in the lawsuit between the Montreal SPCA and the City of Montreal concerning a newly passed animal control bylaw that banned pit bulls. Agreeing with the Montreal SPCA, he ordered an immediate suspension of the sections of the bylaw targeting certain breeds, namely those prohibiting the adoption of “pit bull type dogs” and requiring these dogs to be muzzled.

Judge Gouin ruled that the contested provisions of the bylaw raise serious legal questions which the Court will need to consider in greater depth, but in the meantime, the ban would be suspended, effectively saving the lives of many hundreds of dogs that would otherwise have been euthanized this week.

The Judge called to attention the elasticity of the definition of the term “pit bull type dogs”, which, by including mixes of the targeted breeds as well as dogs who physically resemble these, is so vague and imprecise that neither the Montreal SPCA, nor dog owners are able to determine exactly which dogs are banned. The Court also raised the possibility that the City of Montreal had exceeded its powers by providing for the seizure and euthanasia of “pit bull type dogs”, without consideration of whether the targeted animals are, in fact, actually dangerous.

The suspension of the bylaw’s problematic sections is temporary, until a hearing can be held on the merits, at which time the Superior Court will consider the legality of these very sections. The dates for this hearing have not yet been determined, but it could take several months for the case to be heard.

“The fight is far from being over, but we are very pleased with this first victory” states Sophie Gaillard, lawyer for the Animal Advocacy Department of the Montreal SPCA. “We are particularly delighted to be able to continue finding adoptive homes for all of our healthy and behaviorally sound dogs, regardless of their physical appearance.”

While the ban is suspended indefinitely, pit bull owners are free to walk their dogs un-muzzled, they are free to play in off-leash parks, and, best of all, the dogs currently in shelters and rescue are free to be adopted into loving homes.

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4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. That’s completely unfair! And I don’t know why people cannot realize the fact that there are also some kinds of human who even want to be bad themselves, not by being trained. And for dogs, they’re just animals, they obey their owners like a way to show their loyalty.

  2. Avatar Of Annette

    Annette

    says:

    Seriously…do you ban humans because they are dangerous, or even certain ethnicities because ONE of them murdered, robbed or raped?!?!? No, you do not, because to do that would be illegal. BSL is illegal, pure and simple. Animals…and people…do as they are taught and trained. The difference is that animals stay as children while people mature and learn to think independently. Animals are at our mercy and should be treated with love, caring and respect. After all, they are as we mold them to be. Some of us are just not so nice.

  3. Avatar Of Leigh Leigh says:

    Yes the battle from breed ban is far from over and this is a little victory but a victory nevertheless still. May we keep vigilant on how things unfold on this unlawful and very unfair move.

  4. Avatar Of Tina

    Tina

    says:

    There needs to be national law making breed specific bans unlawful! Are people really so ignorant to the fact that ANY dog can be trained to fight and attack. These are things that PEOPLE do, not the dogs. BAN bad people!!

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