The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Montreal SPCA to Take Legal Action Against New Bylaw Targeting Pit Bulls The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Montreal SPCA to Take Legal Action Against New Bylaw Targeting Pit Bulls

Friday, September 30, 2016

Montreal SPCA to Take Legal Action Against New Bylaw Targeting Pit Bulls


Montreal's SPCA will ask the Quebec Superior Court to review the city's new animal control bylaw in a bid to have the sections targeting "pit bull-type dogs" declared illegal.

The SPCA said the action will be presented at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday.

The bylaw, which will ban new ownership of pit bulls and pit-bull type dogs, was passed by city council on Tuesday, and goes into effect Oct. 3.

But the SPCA wants the sections of the new bylaw concerning "pit bull-type dogs" declared illegal on the following grounds:

  • It discriminates by creating additional and punitive obligations for owners and guardians of pit bull-type dogs, which the SPCA argues are not dangerous.
  • It is "vague and imprecise" in its definition of pit bull-type dogs and makes it "impossible to know which dogs fall into this category."
  • It fails to include a means to challenge the designation of a dog as a pit bull-type breed.
  • It contravenes Article 898.1 of the Civil Code of Quebec, which grants animals the status of sentient beings, as well as sections of the Animal Welfare and Safety Act.
  • It is unreasonable that the bylaw treats all pit bull-type dogs as dangerous dogs despite what the agency says is the lack of credible evidence that they are inherently dangerous.

Animal rights advocates have criticized the bylaw, pointing out that many cities that have implemented similar legislation have since repealed the laws.

A spokesperson for the City of Montreal said the municipality has a "well-recognized" right to pass animal control regulations, especially where it concerns the safety of Montrealers.

To read more on this story, click here: Montreal SPCA to Take Legal Action Against New Bylaw Targeting Pit Bulls

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