The fight over Montreal’s proposed animal control legislation, which proposes to ban pit bulls, is heating up.
While legal experts are gearing up to fight the pit bull ban in court, dog lovers and politicians are speaking out.
Despite growing opposition, the city’s mayor is digging in his heels and refusing to back down.
READ MORE: ‘My Canada includes all dogs’: Montrealers rally against pit bull ban
“We need to focus on dangerous dogs,” Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said Wednesday.
“I think that we have to do something about pit bulls too, that’s it.”
Luc Ferrandez, the leader of opposition party Projet Montreal, said he is determined to fight the proposed legislation because most experts have advised against banning one breed.
“We want to put our energy on all dangerous dogs and we have to do it and the mayor is right to say the time has come to do it, yes, but let’s do it right,” Ferrandez said.
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Some politicians have gone as far as suggesting the recent death of Christiane Vadnais could have been avoided if the city had enforced the current bylaw, which forces animals to be assessed after they’ve bitten someone.
READ MORE: Quebec government working group recommends most pit bull owners keep dogs
In the Vadnais case, the dog is believed to have bitten people on two previous occasions.
“This is two red flags. Nothing was done, and on the third occasion, it killed somebody,” said Sterling Downey, Montreal city councillor for Verdun.
“It was completely avoidable. If anything, the city is responsible for criminal negligence.”
Dog lovers are also on a mission to change the mayor’s mind.
READ MORE: Montreal artist teams up with SPCA to counter anti-pit bull sentiment
While city councillors were meeting behind closed doors about the upcoming legislation Wednesday, Mary Towers was handing out pamphlets outside city hall.
“I found out that there are not only no experts attending this information session, there is no question and answer period for these officials voting on this bylaw on Sept. 26,” Towers deplored.
The mayor is standing his ground and said he has no intention of abandoning the proposed bylaw.
READ MORE: Pit bull owner worried her dog could be killed if breed-specific legislation is passed
“Do we remember what happened to Madame Vadnais?” Coderre asked.
“What do we think about that two-year-old kid who was bitten this weekend?”
The mayor argued his administration has done its homework and despite opposition, pit bulls will be targeted in the upcoming legislation.
“There’s some people who are against the ban and I’m saying to govern is to choose and I’m there to make sure that we make this place safe and people feel safe,” Coderre said.
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