It’s all doggy kisses and hugs for two-year-old pit bull Brie who spends her days diligently looking after her foster siblings. Brie came to Saskatchewan from Ontario, where there are laws designed to remove the breed and even dogs that look like them to curb serious bites. On Monday, the same rules will apply in Montreal.
“I don’t agree with breed specific legislation, it doesn’t solve the problem,” said New Hope Dog Rescue coordinator Vanessa Martens.
READ MORE: Abandoned pit bulls arrive in Sask. after Montreal moves to ban breed
As of Oct. 3, it will be illegal to acquire a ‘pit-bull type dog’ in Montreal. But where will all of the dogs currently in shelters go? Some rescues in Saskatoon are preparing for a possible wave of bull breeds.
“We don’t know whether any will come to Saskatchewan or not, so we’ll open our doors happily and take however many we can,” said Martens.
But according to dog rescuer Brent Arstall, opening our doors might be a bad thing.
“The problem is our province is so out of control with the dog population. Thousands of dogs get killed every single year inhumanely in this province, “said the We All Need a Rescue owner & operator.
“Until that problem is a bit under control we don’t need to be bringing in other dogs from other provinces and countries. It sounds bad but, it’ll flood the market for the people who are looking to adopt a dog.”
“You’re saving a life, but technically ending a life for a dog here in our own province,” Arstall said.
READ MORE: Pit bull bites armed man who attacked pet owner by Saskatoon park
Nonetheless, everyone agrees the legislation doesn’t work. In fact, Toronto’s reported dog bites have risen since the 2005 ban.
“No, breed specific legislation does not work that’s what the research says. To foster and support responsible pet ownership, that does work,” said Saskatoon SPCA executive director Patricia Cameron.
“People that make these rules are uneducated towards animals. On paper it looks great, but they don’t understand what’s actually going to happen to these dogs,” Arstall said.