Ontario Bans Pit Bulls in Wake of Attacks

[Constant]

Ontario Bans Pit Bulls in Wake of Attacks

By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press Writer

TORONTO - Ontario on Monday became the first province in Canada to ban the pit bull in the wake of vicious attacks by the dogs, but defiant owners have already challenged the law.

The measure makes it illegal to breed pit bulls or bring the dogs into the province. Those already in Ontario will be allowed to stay on a restricted basis, provided they're spayed, and leashed and muzzled in public.

There's a 60-day grace period, until Oct. 28, for owners to comply with the law. Any pit bull born after that will have to be shipped out of the province, sent to a research facility or destroyed.

Owners who violate the law can face up to six months in jail.

"I've seen enough, I'm glad the law is finally coming into effect," said Louise Ellis, whose 5-year-old daughter needed 300 stitches to close the wounds of a pit bull attack.

A number of serious attacks across the province prompted Attorney General Michael Bryant to make move. In another case, two dogs severely mauled a Toronto man, forcing police to shoot the animals repeatedly to stop the attack.

But opponents of the ban argue banning one breed of dog is unfair.

Catherine Cochrane, 22, who owns an 18-month-old, female, pit bull mix named Chess, says her dog is well behaved and shouldn't have to be muzzled.

"I don't think I'm going to muzzle her at all," Cochrane said.

Hundreds of supporters of pit bulls gathered in front of the provincial legislature Sunday to protest the new law.

Prominent Canadian lawyer Clayton Ruby announced a constitutional challenge of the law on Monday, saying the government chose a "cheap fix" instead of spending money to create a better registry system. Such a system could include a dog bite registry and have an enforcement mechanism for those who don't register.

He said those who want vicious dogs will just train another breed of dog. He also said there is no scientific evidence to suggest pit bulls are more dangerous than other dogs.

"The legislation will not improve the safety of the residents of Ontario and will not reduce the number of dog bite incidents in this province," Ruby said. "It will, however, force the owners of friendly, happy dogs who have never bitten anyone to leash them and muzzle them without any reason."

Ruby also said the definition of a pit bull is too broad.

The law forbids Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and any other dog with "an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs."

"It means I'm going to be moving out of Ontario," said Anne Mattews, a breeder of purebred American Staffordshire terriers. "It means I'll be leaving my three grandchildren, my five children and moving to a province that isn't so arrogant and isn't stupid about laws."

Pit bulls are already banned in several cities across Canada, including Kitchener, Windsor and Winnipeg.

In the United States, pit bull bans are in place in Denver, Miami and Cincinnati.

[PwrInTheBld]

This is such a touchy topic with dog owners. I don't have a pit bull. I do have a large dog though.

While delivering papers, my son was bitten by a dog that lunged through the screen on the house door. It was a German Shepherd.

ANY breed of dog will bite. To say that one breed is more dangerous than another, I don't know if I can agree.

I know of people who had to destroy a Cocker Spaniel because it would viciously bite people. I know people with pit bulls who have never had any problems with the dog.

My cat beats up my dog while playing and he is such a big baby. He would never hurt anyone....but am I positive of that? Not after my kids and I were horsing around one day. My son had a hold of my leg and I yelled "help"....my dog, who absolutely loves my kids, lunged for my sons crotch! He didn't get my son and we didn't play like that again with the dog around.

The dogs instinct was to protect his master, no matter how much he loves us or how much we think he wouldn't bite.

Where will the banning stop? Dobermans? Rottweilers? Chows? German Shepherds? Big dogs? Small dogs? ANY dog will bite/attack.

That's just my 2 cents

[Constant]

I think that the way the dog acts is on the owner. You really can't just rule out one dag because of attacks. Not all pit bulls do that. Some people I know have pit bulls and they are the sweetest dogs. But with any dog, they can turn against you or snapp. If you train your dog to attack for protection, what do you expect.

I used to hear that Rotties were mean dogs. I had one and it was the best dog I owned. It, again, is on how you raise them but they are STILL animals. MHO!

[PwrInTheBld]

If you train your dog to attack for protection, what do you expect. 

Actually, my dog was never trained to do anything but poop outside but I know what you're saying and I agree.

[refugepsa91]

An american pit bull was my first dog at the age of 9. My parents got her for me...but then there were no "bad wraps" on that breed. We had her for 14 years...

Terriors are very tough and bull headed, you have to be willing to love and discipline them accordingly, if they can take over the house they will. Sadly because of this some people get them to purposely make them mean...here in michigan, a town named Muskegon has banned them also. Because of the amount of bites and because most of them that did the biting were fighting dogs, they did that alot there, police were constantly breaking up rings of dog fighters. Its a horrendous life for a dog and so cruel to boot.

Pits are very hard to stop once they attack, you can't hurt them easily, whereas most dogs mind you will stop once you smack them in the head with a two by four...pits won't stop until they are disabled or dead. My grandparents bought the brother to our pit about 6 months after my mom and dad got me goldie, and he was vicious, he definately needed to be put down, he bit me on the leg once, I was very lucky I was moving back at the time cuz if he would have gotten a good hold on me he would not have stopped, only thing that saved me was he on a chain, at tow chain cuz he broke all the rest. My pony had her baby and this dog one day got loose and tried to attack it, my pony kicked this dog twice and actually bit down on the back of his neck and threw him into the air and he still kept coming back. Thats why he was put on a tow chain.

Constant is right, its all on the owner. My pit was very loving, and very considerate and tolerant of all the strays I would bring home, she would help mother them all My dad had very strict rules when he brought her home, rules which I live by now because I have kids. For instance when she was first brought home and it was time to feed her, I had to get on the floor with her and put my hands in her food dish, pick a peice of food and hand it to her, I had to do this for several months, dads orders. You see this stomped out all food agression, by the time she was an adult you could have put your face in her bowl and she wouldn't have cared. I have done this with my kids when we have brought home a new puppy.

Pits have the strength and endurance that some people find sickingly appealing, and thats where this breed has been given a bad name. Its on peoples heads for turning a pit or any dog for that matter into something vicious.

My mom and dad have a chiuaua (sp?) that is the most vicious thing you could meet...Praise God he only weighs about 6lbs...otherwise he would have to be put down...but again he was a rescue so he was horribly abused by the man that had him, he has no tail and his one back let doesn't work cuz he was thrown against a wall...little thing is lucky to be alive. Hes awesome with kids, has no problem with little ones, its male adults that he freaks out on. He loves my dad, but it took some time.

Wow after that novel....I'm done....

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[hmh]

I grew up with Rotts, Dobis, Huskys, and Mixtures. Rotts and Dobis got their bad names because of how people raise their dogs. None of mine were mean. On Rott I had, the meanest thing about her was her tongue. If you were not paying attention, you would have a wet, drooling tongue across your face. Banning a particular breed because those of bad character uses that type of dog makes about as much sense as banning a particular brand of car because those same people drive them when they commit crimes. We have enhanced penalities when a firearm is used in a commission of a crime, why not have enhanced penalities when a dog is used?