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BSL (Breed Specific Law) in Ontario - What's Happening?
I believe it was October 2005 when Ontario passed the Breed Specific Law that bans all Pit-Bulls and any dog that is like a Pit-Bull. As owner of the most lovable and laid-back "pit-bull-like" (an American Staffordshire Terrier mix) I avidly followed as this unjust law was proposed and eventually was passed by the Ontario Legislature. Many dog owners and organizations were aghast and lobbied against this law, even raising funds and hiring a lawyer. What's intertesting is that since the law was passed over 3 years ago I cannot find any updates on any websites of dog organizations about the fight against this despicable law nor about what the hired gun (aka lawyer) did or is doing. I've heard 1 or 2 mentions in the news, whenever someone's pit bull gets into trouble.
Does anyone know what efforts there have been since this law passed, and about this lawyer's day in court??
a pitbull is there to be a loyal gardian to love and protect and you are there to train and love and have them a family because they dont get to choose there family.
think about a reason a dog would attack were they beaten left to starve dumped and forgotten. happens to people all the time but we can say somthing they just remain silent frietened and loyal.
and just like people some are born bad. some are trained to do bad things but does that mean turn your back o them no you stand up and fight for what is right and banning this breed is just plain wrong.
For updates, info & efforts to repeal BSL in Ontario & what you can do, please see:
Supporting Cheri DiNovo In Removing All Aspects of BSL In Ontario
on Facebook -
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Supporting-Cheri-DiNovo-In-Removing-All-As...
Also: Stop K-9 Profiling - http://stopk9profiling.com/
You should look at the bylaw adopted by the City of Calgary.
They do NOT ban "pit bulls" nor any breed of dog, but they've reduced incidents of aggressive dog attacks and bites since introducing the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.
Many more lost cats and dogs are also being returned to their owners because people are complying with their licensing requirements. Their Animal Services is actually profitable!
See "Let's Clone Calgary's Animal Control" by Senior Legislative Attorney for Best Friends Animal Society, Ledy VanKavage -
- http://animals.change.org/blog/view/lets_clone_calgarys_animal_control
Maybe you have heard about the colossal oil leak outside of the Gulf. You think this will have a very major negative effect on our animal population in the vicinity of Mexico?
I've known many people that owned "vicious" breeds that were the sweetest dogs I've ever known!
Think it's been said, but the dog usually only as vicious as its owner trains it to be. It's not these poor animals fault that they're being misused and abused and it's up to us to set the example by raising properly.
:)
Hanna
Hi to all!
Hi
Sadly, (it is my strong opinion that) this BSL has helped to generate flaming of other dog breeds as well. This legislation has enabled certain people to both exploit and hide behind this BSL as a means to gratify and justify their own bad attitudes, behavior, and agenda.
It is understandable and necessary that our Gov't and it's administrators of "justice" (CDN) would want to do what they can to ensure the safety of its communities, but this BSL has cultivated a fear-based, control mongering mentality. The sort of mentality that "breeds" ignorance and hate.
There must be a more intelligent and humane solution out there - somewhere...
Hi
Hello All I am newbie..!
if pitbulls were banned everywhere, all the bad owners will just move on the the next type of dog, like a golden labrador for example.
What is man without the beasts?
if all the beasts were gone,
man would die from great loneliness of spirit.
for what everhappens to the beasts,
soon happens to man.
all things are conected.
Hello
I'm glad that I came across such a wonderful place.
I feel everyone's pain when they read about someone blaming the breed for their behavior. Fact is, a dog is a dog is a dog. All of them are capable of hurting someone or another dog, or animal. They all have sharp little teeth, some might be bigger than others of course, but it is all about how you take care of your dog.
Many people lack the experience and the know-how to raise a good dog. Many people think, omg this puppy is soooo cute, they bring it back home, don't practice any discipline, it has no rules, it's left outside, doesn't get walked, and later bites someone or another dog and the family decides to put it down. To many people, a dog, and any other pet, is just a thing. Pet's are apparently disposable to some people, so they have their dog, they don't give it the right stimulation, it ends up off-balance and does nasty things that should have been corrected long ago.
NEVER, is any behavioral trait part of the breed. People say dalmatians are hyper and they don't listen, that chows can turn on children, that pit bulls will harm your children. All of this is falsified information passed down by ignorance to the plight of some very misunderstood animals.
Sorry about the rant, but ignorance fuels me sometimes, especially on the internet. As a proud owner of this misunderstood breed, I feel it's my duty to be an ambassador to the breed. In fact, my best friend is one of the most respectful, well-balanced dogs I have ever met. Should a dog like this be forced to be put into the category of "dangerous" and be made to wear a muzzle despite his walks after dinner with his morky friends, I don't think so. The most I can do is just be responsible and show people my dog, show them that they don't have to be afraid and to inform other people that they are completely misunderstood.
You will never see the small dog attacks on the news, because they are not vicious killers, they are cute little cuddly things right? wrong, many small dog owners don't train their small dogs, but we never see them come up in the media because it's not a newsworthy story, they are not monstrous enough, they are not the evil creatures that society has made "dangerous breeds" out to be.
My whole point is, all dogs have the capability to be dangerous. ALL OF THEM. They are ALL DOGS. They all have sharp teeth capable of tearing through flesh. Please, don't base opinions on the breed, base it on the owners. An owner makes the dog what it is, and a bad owner will make a bad dog.
To finish off my useless rant which will be completely looked over because of it's long-winded nature, how can you support blaming the breed when so many of these perfectly good family dogs are put down in shelters? there are many pit bulls rescues, and with the ban, these numbers boomed. Many are struggling to find homes and many do not. A dog is a dog is a dog and I plan on rescuing many more pits over my life as I live in Ontario and continue to be an advocate for the breed.
This is not directed at people in support of this amazing breed, but to anyone stumbling by this site in the future.
Hi Muskies Daddy, I found this website - http://www.petfriendly.travel/pettraveltips/breedlegislation.php
Click on the Understand-a-Bull Canada BSL link for more information.
so the battle against this farcical, but deadly and dangerous legislation continues. Too bad we "regular folk" can't legislate a ban against stupid politicians (excuse the redundancy in those 2 words), or better yet - go back to medieval times when tarring and feathering and running idiots like these out of town was practised.
Hey, Muskies Daddy:
Your dog is in fact classified as a pit bull.There has to be good reasons for the legislation with respect to your dog's breed.
A case in point: Summer 2008 - My sister is walking her Husky in North York. From almost two blocks away, a pit bull tears away from it's owner, and for no apparent reason, visciously attacks the Husky. Before my sister could do anything, the pit bull literally rips all the flesh from the front leg of the husky. My sister had to lay on top of her dog to prevent further injury to her pet. Of course, it goes without saying that the pit bull bit my sister as well.
This pit bull was in fact put to sleep following this incident. It cost my sister upwards of $20.000.00 for several surguries, skin grafting and therapy for her dog. While the dog seems to have recovered from her ordeal, she will never be quite the same.
You could say that this was an isolated incident, but I'm sure there have been numerous "isolated incidents" that have caused dogs such as yours to be banned.
let me tell you somthing did you look at the owner the one responsible for the behavior of that dog. the dog was simply doing what he thought he should. people have choices animals dont i raise pitbulls and rescue them some are born bad just like people and just like people some are taught bad look at the big picture. did you here about the pomeranian that killed a 9 month old baby in 10 min. its the owner not the dog. but you wont see that until its your breed of dog.
"Dogs such as yours" was a comment that made me seethe. I have a dog such as that, and have owned more than one pit bull type dog. It is rather common knowledge that as a dog owner it is my responsibility to assure that my dogs do not get into trouble. However, blaming the breed itself and banning a whole laundry list of dogs that look like a certain breed is not the correct way to solve a problem. I am truly sorry your sister and her dog were injured, but would you be so up in arms about it if it were...say, a golden retriever? Or a poodle?
These "isolated incidents" happen with more breeds than just pits, but i never hear about any of those dogs getting in so much trouble because the media has made a villian of this breed. Personally, i have been bitten by one pit bull in comparison to several chiuahuas, many cocker spaniels, and a dalmation. Some dogs will always be dog aggressive and some will always be people aggressive, but it usually has nothing to do with the breed. It's usually the owner that has caused the dog to react in such a way. I can say one thing has been common in every bite i have gotten: they were my fault. The dog either gave me a warning sign or i had made it nervous in some way. I admit this openly and have no qualms about apologizing for making the dog react. Dogs do NOT bite for the sake of biting.
Banning a breed will do absolutely nothing to solve this problem but increasing awareness that pit bulls are not monsters and responsible owners can solve the breed's bad reputation are the proper steps to take.
While i'm sorry to hear about your story and hope your sister and her dog are doing ok, the basic point is being missed. The OWNERS responsibility is to control his/her dog. I was walking my dog last summer. She is a staffordshire terrier mix and has never bitten any dog or person. She was attacked and bitten in the head by a large mixed breed (german shepherd)that was off leash while I was walking my dog leashed. The owner admitted he knew his dog was agressive but had it off leash in a public park anyway.
Irresponsible owners should be held accountable for their dogs behaviour not the other way around! Ban "pit bulls" and these people who should probably not be allowed to own a rat let alone a dog will simply choose another breed. Seems to me it wasn't that long ago there was talk about banning rottweillers and dobermans after some media created misinformation surfaced about those breeds too.
To quote a phrase promoted by the people at "hug-a-bull"; BAN THE DEED NOT THE BREED".
I completely agree with you Mr. Hawks. Responsible pet ownership would address a whole host of issues from agressive behaviour, to allowing dogs to bark hour after hour, to cleaning up after their pets.
I wanted to point out that there are many dog owners who don't consider the consequences of their actions, no matter what breed of dog they have. I adopted a dog years ago who was a real cuddler with people but aggressive with other dogs. I brought her to a trainer and we worked for months until she would ignore dogs when we walked by them even at close quarters. She still didn't like other dogs but she would ignore them so long as they wouldn't get into her face. I always kept her on a leash, she NEVER ran free, and I exercised her every day. The problem was that other dog owners would let their dogs run loose and right up to her even though I would always call out to them to stop and recall their dogs! The worst of the bunch was a small terrier, maybe 20 or 30 pounds, who lunged away from the owner and bit my dog on the leg! I was able to control my dog but it took the other dog owner several minutes to catch her dog, and that was after she first tried calling her back multiple times with no effect. I was furious. My girl had to have stitches to close up the bite wound. No matter how responsible you are there are always some pet owners who will ruin it. There was some people who should not have dogs regardless of the breed. Sad but true.
I forgot to say that I always walked my dog in areas where dogs had to be leashed. People let their dogs off leash anyways!
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