PITBULL ban is happening today

Shad0w · 10-15-04, 07:25 AM

Pit bulls face ban plan today

By ALAN FINDLAY, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

ONTARIO'S Attorney General Michael Bryant will announce legislation banning pit bull terriers across the province today. New laws will also include tougher fines and the prospect of jail time for irresponsible dog owners whose pets are involved in attacks, one source strongly hinted.

That provision would include all breeds, beyond just pit bulls, Bryant has said previously.

He has also expressed his support for mandatory restraints such as muzzles on existing pit bulls, which would be spared from the ban under a grandfathering provision in the legislation.

The attorney general's office has been considering a crackdown on pit bulls and bad dog owners since a Toronto man was mauled by two of the dogs in late August.

Bryant has spent the past six weeks examining the issue and consulting experts and victims of attacks about a potential ban.

In that time, several more pit bull attacks have peppered newspaper and broadcast reports across Ontario.

Since announcing the review, Bryant has received thousands of e-mails overwhelmingly in favour of tougher controls on aggressive dogs, including an all-out ban.

The move follows similar local bans brought in by Kitchener, Winnipeg and, last month, Windsor.

Animal control experts from Kitchener and Winnipeg have said the number of dog attacks on people and other dogs have since dropped significantly.

Opponents of a ban, however, say the problem is with bad owners and not certain breeds. Pit bull supporters describe the muscular, iron-jawed pets as extremely friendly with humans unless trained to be otherwise.

Shad0w · 10-15-04, 10:09 AM

Wow... quiet today.. I thought for sure people would be sounding off on their thoughts about the ban...

Ptindy · 10-15-04, 10:22 AM

it's only been 2 hours. and that's BS!!
Are we banning cars next? One of the top human killers in today's society...

soda · 10-15-04, 10:26 AM

That's really sad. There are so many irresponsible dog owners out there. Now the owners who really care for their pets have to suffer... I really think there should be a law where you have to go through specific screening if you are wanting to own a pittbull, dobey or rottweiler---it would weed out the a** holes who want to fight them.

Shad0w · 10-15-04, 10:31 AM

A few bad apples ruined the whole bunch..

Linds · 10-15-04, 10:41 AM

It's such an upsetting issue. I get all bent out of shape everytime it comes up

Down here in the Niagara Region, apparently they have made even stricter laws in regards to pit bulls and other large breed dogs... to the point where if your large breed dog gets out and even if it doesn't come near someone, but someone complains that it is out, it immediately gets put down

There's already been a few times Mike has come home saying that he's seen the SPCA loading some pitties in to the back of their truck

Quote:

Originally posted by Ptindy

Are we banning cars next? One of the top human killers in today's society...

LOL... funny you mention cars, that's the EXACT comparison I have been using anytime the topic comes up

There are a lot more 'car attacks' at the hands of 'bad drivers' than the ratio of dog attacks at the hands of 'irresponsible owners', but you don't see anyone trying to ban cars - and you never will, simply because EVERYONE wants a car, not everyone wants or cares to try and understand the dogs.

ChokeOnSmoke · 10-15-04, 10:45 AM

what breeds are being banned?

D J N · 10-15-04, 10:50 AM

That is deffinatly sad, another case of a few bad apples wrecking it for everyone. But then as herpers don't we know all about that eh, too bad for all the responsible pit owners.

Shad0w · 10-15-04, 10:50 AM

Any dog that is pitbull like..

dia · 10-15-04, 10:51 AM

I just read that in the Toronto Star.
Of course the article was paired up with the sterotypical snarling pitpull image. Though I give credit to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca">CBC</a>, no snarling pitbull picture!

Ptindy · 10-15-04, 11:20 AM

There are strict laws on the already owned pitbulls. But if you let some people keep pitbulls there will always be some that find their way into Ontario. I don't see how this will fix the problem that people don't know how to take care of their pets. There is an all out ban of rats in Alberta and I have seen a couple sites on people that say they drove to BC to acquire theirs.

Kimo · 10-15-04, 12:41 PM

I think maybe the reason people are quiet is because were all grieving(sp?). Today a thousand silent guns went off, and have hit their marks perfectly, the hearts of every owner of a pitbull. I am now left wondering, after my APBT passes on, what will fill the void in our family? and I'm sure alot of people are gonna agree with me, but my love for this breed is more than my love for this province, and it pains me to say this...But i'm moving! to hell with this government.

thats my vent!

Josh

mykee · 10-15-04, 12:52 PM

Kitchener has already banned them and I'm glad. A province-wide ban is what irresponsible pit bull owners need. As for the stricter fines for dog owners whose animals bite, I'm all for it.
Ptindy/Linds: Are you seriously making a comparison between an inanimate CAR and a living creature?! When was the last time a rogue car pulled out of a driveway and struck down a pedestrian? Car's don't kill people, the morons behind the wheel do. Pit bulls KILL poeple and other dogs. Wake up and while your smelling the coffee, read the paper.

gonesnakee · 10-15-04, 01:12 PM

mykee I see by your avatar that you obviously like a larger breed dog, I guess you won't mind when the new laws start to affect yourself either & the breed(s) you like or choose to keep? Don't kid yourself it won't be long. No matter what vehicle, animal or whatever there will always be idiots owning them & no # of laws will ever change that no matter what the circumstances. This to me has very little to do with Pitbulls, it has to do with a Govt. deciding to ban things versus taking the nessicary steps to govern/regulate them & overall paranoia as a result of the media. As far as it goes I've only been bit by one pitbull ever, but have been bitten 100s of times by smaller breeds such as poodles, terriers, cocker spaniels, etc. etc. A mentality such as yours will eventually result in an all out ban of all dog species I think you are the one who needs to wake up & smell the coffee. Its all about freedom from oppression IMHO & one ban will eventually lead to many more because its easier to ban than to regulate. Seriously Mark

MouseKilla · 10-15-04, 01:22 PM

If dog owners were held as responsible for the actions of their animals under criminal law as they are for their own personal behaviour the jails would be full of guys that wear wife-beaters and have pitbulls and bad tattoos... wouldn't that be strange? lol!