Ban will cause pit bull slaughter: activists

Canada -- Animal rescue organizations and humane societies fear that hundreds of pit bulls will be abandoned and then have to be destroyed after Canada's first provincewide pit bull ban comes into effect in Ontario on Monday.

They also fear there will be a "slaughter" of puppies born after Nov. 27, at which point they will be considered illegal in the province.

A slew of pit bulls were abandoned to shelters or simply let loose in Windsor, Ont., as some owners found it too difficult to comply with the city's strict pit bull ban brought in last October, said John Roushorne, general manager of the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society.

Now, as a result of the provincewide ban "we can't take dogs that we identify as being pit or mixed pit as anything other than a euthanasia," Roushorne said.

The shelter's space is limited and there is little prospect of adopting out a pit bull.

"We have no place to put them, I'd have them stacked on top of each other if I wasn't euthanizing them."

About 20 pit bull-type dogs have come to the society every month so far this year -- a significant jump from previous years, Roushorne said, and there's no sign that's abating. Dozens of those dogs had to be euthanized.

The pit bull rescue agency Advocates for the Underdog estimates at least 350 pit bull or pit bull mixes have been destroyed since the Windsor ban was instituted. They warn that's now the fate for many dogs across Ontario.

In recent months, the society and other rescue organizations have been able to find homes outside the province for "the cream of the crop," mainly young, friendly pit bulls. But that's drying up as the provincewide ban looms on the breed the Ontario government has declared "inherently dangerous."

Pit bull rescue organizations outside Ontario will only be able to take so many dogs, said Jennifer Windh, founding director of Barlee's Angel's Rescue Network in Guelph, Ont.

The rest will "go down. They'll be put to sleep," she said.

Attorney General Michael Bryant put the law in place after a public outcry over a spate of horrific and bloody attacks by pit bulls on children, adults and other pets last year.

Humane societies oppose the ban, stressing that outlawing the breed won't stop all dog bites. Society officials say there needs to be stricter penalties for irresponsible owners of all dog breeds, and applaud some of those measures in the new law.

"They could have done that in the first place without forcing us to euthanize all these delightful pit bulls," Roushorne said.

But, now, people are wary of keeping or adopting a dog that has to be leashed and muzzled in public and could draw harassment from people who hate all pit bulls because of the breed's reputation, animal officials say.

Pit bulls already in Ontario as of Monday are "grandfathered." These restricted pit bulls can stay in the province as long as they're sterilized, and leashed and muzzled in public. There's a 60-day grace period -- to Oct. 28 -- for people to comply with the law.

"That dog can continue to live out its days," said Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Crawley said the government doesn't anticipate that people will give up their dogs, since that's not required.

While the law also makes it illegal to breed pit bulls or import them into the province, those that are here already can be adopted.

If a person didn't own a restricted pit bull as of Monday, they can acquire one, either through adoption or through a bequest, but they can't buy one, Crawley said.

Another question is the fate of puppies born after Nov. 27, the last day they will be considered restricted. Pit bull puppies born after this date must be shipped out of the province, sent to a research facility or destroyed, said Crawley.

More pit bulls will be euthanized by animal agencies in the coming months "because you've still got the jerks out there that are breeding these pit bulls," Roushorne said.

"So it's basically going to be a slaughter."

In Winnipeg, more pit bulls ended up at the city's pound after a ban was instituted in 1990. They were euthanized because of a policy not to adopt out dangerous dogs.

Humane societies in other cities such as Toronto and Ottawa haven't and don't expect to see an influx of stray or surrendered pit bulls, officials say.

Owners have been calling in search of information about how to comply with the new law. Others have inquired about how to adopt another pit bull in a bid to rescue them from a dire destiny.

Windsor isn't the only city with concerns. Lorna Chamberlain, executive director of the London Humane Society said people are giving up or leaving their dogs in the street already.

"We're certainly worried about it, however it's already started in humane organizations," she said. "We've seen it mostly with abandonment."

The London Humane Society only euthanizes unhealthy or badly tempered animals and the rest are put up for adoption. But people who want to and are suitable to adopt a pit bull "are few and far between," she said.

Chamberlain said she doesn't know what the future holds for pit bulls the society can't find homes for.

"That's something that the board of directors has to address," she said. "This is not something we've had to address before."

 

Lol I dont read them that much, I just post them

 

Aarrggghhh

Can someone please post this across the hall?

 

Thanks babe

 

This is killing me.... What a waste,how can so many seemingly intelligent people make such uninformed decisions? I'm glad I don't work at the SPCA anymore,I'd go crazy having to put all these fine animals down.I've lost all respect for this government.They can stick this ban where the sun don't shine....I refuse to comply and they need to get through me before they get to my dogs.Realism people,not emotionalism.The government doesn't represent the people....its all about money and power.

I have a hard time dealing with irrational decisions and authority.....Not only do they take all your money with taxes,they tell you what kind of animals you can own.F*** them,come near my dogs and I'll go postal.

 

More:

The phones are ringing off the hook at the London Humane Society -- but its cages are already full.

With Ontario's tough new ban on pit bull dogs taking effect Monday, many of the powerful animals -- now unwanted -- are showing up at shelters across the province.

And with London poised to follow the ban with a restrictive bylaw of its own to control remaining pit bulls, many fear the problem will grow.

Facing hefty added licensing fees and insurance costs, pit bull owners are trying to find places to unload their dogs.

Yesterday, there were 14 pit bulls in the humane society's care, including seven puppies, said Lorna Chamberlain, the agency's executive director.

It's unlikely any of the dogs will be adopted before the ban takes effect, she said.

A wave of highly-publicized pit bull attacks on adults, children and other dogs prompted Ontario to pass its ban, becoming the first major jurisdiction in North America to do so.

But Chamberlain said she doesn't believe the ban is the way to go.

Chamberlain is predicting "a period of chaos" will follow.

"It has caused a climate of fear and it's irrational fear," she said.

As of Monday, Ontario's move will require all pit bulls to be leashed and muzzled in public, and be sterilized. That includes any pit bulls born before a Nov. 27 cutoff date.

After Nov. 27, any new pit bull puppies must be be shipped out of Ontario, donated to research facilities, or destroyed.

Lois Jackson, the director responsible for dog rescue and adoptions at Animal Aide in St. Thomas, is concerned with how the dogs will be identified after the Nov. 27 deadline.

She said "in our experience," pit bull-terrier mixes make "very reliable" pets, but it's going to be tough to figure out exactly which dogs are covered by the new ban.

"It is going to make our lives miserable trying to identify mixes," she said.

The Ontario law covers all pit bull-type dogs, including Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and American pit bull terriers, and any dog that resembles any of those breeds.

Jackson said animal pounds will have to identify the age and breed of suspect dogs.

Any pup with even a small amount of pit bull in it will need to be reported, she said.

"That is at least 80 per cent of the dogs we pull out of the pound," said Jackson. "I don't know if I can walk into that pound and face those dogs."

Chamberlain said she's unsure what she's required to do with any dogs already in her agency's care that can't find homes by Nov. 27.

"Humane societies really do not have a lot of information," she said. "There is a lot of confusion."

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/08/26/1188430-sun.html

 

Is there anyway to get them out of Canada? I would love to save some of those puppies.

 

I do feel for those folks up there but we better be ready to battle down here! There is just as big of chance that it will come our way sooner than any of us like. I now have seen first hand how the judicial branch of the US government can just ignore fact and constitutional law and a judge can allow his court room to turn into a political platform for his own or the beliefs of their friends. This was a circuit court in AL. Trying these cases against BSL on a local level is probably a waste of time and should be done on a Federal level which is where I hope the AL case is going.
Again sorry for the Canadians but if you are looking for pups their are plenty here in the US for the same reasons.

 

They Don't Give A Ish If They Did They Would Find Alternate Methods

 

"So it's basically going to be a slaughter."

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How Can These Murders Sleep At Night They Need To Realize Its The Owners Fault The Dog Is The Way It Is Not All Pits Are Mean I Have And She Acts Like A Damn Baby Loves To Play Loves Kids Absolutely Loves My Newborn Son Gets Along Great With Other Dogs You Just Have To To Treat Them Right They Need Alot Of Love And Affection