Category Archives: Canada

Wagmatcook, NS, Canada: Pit bull ban on agenda

Posted on January 25, 2012 by | Comments Off

According to the news article, the call for a “pit bull” ban was prompted by a bite from a loose dog that had previously bitten another person.

Wagmatcook First Nation is a reserve. This is all the contact information I have.

Council of Wagmatcook Band, P.O. Box 30001, Wagmatcook, NS B0E 3N0
Chief Norman Bernard, Wagmatcook First Nation
Tribal Council: Union of Nova Scotia Indians, P.O. Box 237 Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0
Phone: (902) 295-2598
Fax: (902) 295-3398

Call for pit bull ban after Wagmatcook attack

Girl, 7, bitten by dog while playing

CBC News Posted: Jan 24, 2012 9:20 PM AT

[...] Wagmatcook has a dog bylaw and a control officer visits about three times a week.

The Wagmatcook band council said banning pit bulls is on their agenda.

Full article retrieved 1/25/12 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/01/24/ns-pitbull-attack.html

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Canada

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Trail, BC, Canada: Advocates want to repeal BSL

Posted on January 25, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Please respectfully encourage Trail city officials to repeal their long-standing BSL in favor of an effective breed-neutral ordinance.

Trail City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Trail City Hall, which is located at 1394 Pine Avenue.

Contact info for city officials:
1394 Pine Ave, Trail, BC V1R 4E6
250.364.1262
Fax: 250.364.0830
info@trail.ca
Mayor and Council E-mail
dbogs@trail.ca; rcacchioni@trail.ca; gderosa@trail.ca; egattafoni-robinson@trail.ca; rgeorgetti@trail.ca; kjolly@trail.ca; smackinlay@trail.ca

Trail dog lovers want city to review breed-specific dog bylaw

By Val Rossi – Trail Daily Times
Published: January 19, 2012 4:00 PM

[...] The city’s bylaw introduced in 1999 lumps pitbulls into its vicious dog category, regardless of the animal’s nature, which puts additional requirements on dog owners like ensuring their pet is muzzled off their property.

[...] Davis would like Trail to take a hard look at what cities like Calgary or Delta have in place, where a responsible pet ownership bylaw is taken on. [...]

Full article retrieved 1/25/12 from http://www.traildailytimes.ca/news/137684873.html

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Posted in Canada, Proposal to Repeal

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Ontario: MPP introduces bill to repeal breed ban

Posted on November 30, 2011 by | Comments Off

MPP Randy Hillier today introduced a bill that would repeal Ontario’s breed ban. The bill is co-sponsored by MPPs Cheri DiNovo and Kim Craitor.

I believe this bill is identical to last year’s “Hershey’s Bill,” which was championed by DiNovo. The new bill number is Bill 16. You may read the text here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet&BillID=2552

The newly filed bill is significant because each of its co-sponsors is from a different major Canadian political party; it demonstrates tri-partisan support for repeal of the breed ban. There is a second hearing for this bill scheduled for February 2012.

If you would like to help repeal Ontario’s ban, attend the bill hearings, or send your support to Canadian MPPs, please visit http://supporthersheysbill.com/ to get all the details.

Read more from MPP Randy Hillier, and leave a comment of support: http://www.randyhilliermpp.com/ontariocanleadagain/postings/news-releases/1118-hillier-tables-bill-to-repeal-breed-specific-legislation

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Posted in Canada, Proposal to Repeal

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Possibility of BSL repeal

Posted on November 15, 2011 by | Comments Off

The mayor of Edmonton has asked for a review of the city’s BSL because he keeps receiving emails against BSL from the public. The results of the review will be presented in January. In the meantime, we encourage the public to continue providing respectful, helpful correspondence to city officials to guide them away from ineffective, discriminatory breed-specific laws.

City of Edmonton, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 2R7
Phone: 780-442-5311
E-mail: 311@edmonton.ca
Mayor contact form: http://webproxy.edmonton.ca/forms/Contact311/default.aspx
City Councillors: Councillors@edmonton.ca

Council reopens contentious debate on breed-specific bylaw

BY ELISE STOLTE, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COM NOVEMBER 14, 2011

EDMONTON — [...] Mayor Stephen Mandel asked animal control staff to report back in January with recommendations on whether the current restrictions are warranted.

“Breed-specific legislation might not be justified,” said David Aitken, the city branch manager responsible for bylaw enforcement. “There’s a train of thought that suggests it’s not the animal, it’s the owner that has the issue. Therefore, you can’t hold specific breeds responsible for actions.”

City council last debated pit bulls in 2003, after amending a bylaw that restricted mixed-breed American Staffordshire and Staffordshire bull terriers, which are often referred to as pit bulls. Dog owners for those dogs pay higher registration fees, must carry $1 million in insurance, and must keep the dogs muzzled on public property and tethered on private property. [...]

But of the 450 restricted dogs currently registered with the City of Edmonton, only 34 are restricted because of a past attack. The rest are restricted because of their genetic history, Aitken said. [...]

Mandel told committee members he wanted to reopen the bylaw debate because his office continues to get emails objecting to the breed-specific ban. [...]

The committee is scheduled to hear back Jan. 23 on what changes could be made to the bylaw and on what restrictions other municipalities have in place.

Full article retrieved 11/15/11 from http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Council+reopens+contentious+debate+breed+specific+bylaw/5708453/story.html

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Posted in Canada, Proposal to Repeal, Results of BSL

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Wetaskiwin, AB, Canada: Resident requests breed ban

Posted on October 5, 2011 by | Comments Off

The Wetaskiwin Times today published an article titled “Pit bull ban would target breed: city bylaw official.” Such a title suggests that a pit bull ban is under consideration in Wetaskiwin, but the article itself really doesn’t say anything more.

After some searching, I found a letter to the editor, also published today, in which a resident of Wetaskiwin claims to have made numerous public requests to the city council to pass a “pit bull” ban similar to the one in Ontario. Evidently, at least one city alderman has agreed that the council should consider such a ban.

At this time, nothing official has been proposed. Residents and locals, please advise Wetaskiwin city officials about the expensive public safety failure that is Ontario’s breed ban, and encourage them to adopt breed-neutral measures, if any.

News article can be read here for background and context: http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=3323447

Mayor Bill Elliot, belliot@wetaskiwin.ca
Joe Branco, jbranco@wetaskiwin.ca
Dale Crabtree, dcrabtree@wetaskiwin.ca
Glenn Ruecker, teleconn@incentre.net
Patricia MacQuarrie, pmacquarrie@wetaskiwin.ca
Barry Hawkes, hawbar@telus.net
Mark McFaul, mwmcfaul@wetaskiwin.ca

Email block for cut and paste:
belliot@wetaskiwin.ca; jbranco@wetaskiwin.ca; dcrabtree@wetaskiwin.ca; teleconn@incentre.net; pmacquarrie@wetaskiwin.ca; hawbar@telus.net; mwmcfaul@wetaskiwin.ca

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Posted in Canada, Whispers of BSL

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Mount Currie, B.C., Canada: Pit bull ban suggested

Posted on September 8, 2011 by | Comments Off

Thanks to Jodi for this alert!

Mount Currie Chief Lucinda Phillips has called for a ban on pit bulls on the Reserve in the wake of a recent dog attack and because dog owners are not taking proper care of their dogs.

Mount Currie is a small community in British Columbia with a population of about 1,400. It is the center of the Mount Currie Indian Reserve. The Mount Currie Reserve is among the most populous, and poorest, of all Indian Reserves in Canada. Their government is the Mount Currie Indian Band of the Lillooet Tribal Council.

Because this is a small, tight-knit community with little funding for animal control, this is an excellent opportunity to encourage public education with respect to responsible dog ownership practices. Fortunately, Chief Phillips recognizes that problem dogs are the result of problem dog owners. Please encourage the officials to address the problems associated with irresponsible dog owners, and politely remind them that simply removing dogs based on appearance does not address the root cause of the problems in the Mount Currie community.

Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters in opposition to breed specific legislation to the tribal council, and encourage them to seek a breed-neutral solution that highlights public education and responsible dog ownership.

Lil´wat Nation, P.O. Box 602, Mount Currie, British Columbia V0N 2K0
Email: info@lilwat.ca
Phone: 604.894.6115
Fax: 604.894.6841

Chief Lucinda Phillips, lucinda.phillips@lilwat.ca
Senior Administrator Sheldon Tetreault, SheldonTetreault@lilwat.ca
The entire council can be contacted at: council@lilwat.ca
or you may address the leadership individually by accessing their e-mail info here: http://www.lilwat.ca/leadership/chief-council.cfm

Chief and Council meet every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Ullus Community Complex. Council meetings are open to Lil’wat Nation members and the minutes of all meetings are available to Lil’wat Nation members from the Council Executive Secretary.

Chief seeking Mount Currie pit bull ban

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
ERIC MACKENZIE, ERIC@WHISTLERQUESTION.COM

Mount Currie Chief Lucinda Phillips is calling for amendments to the band’s animal bylaw that would see pit bulls banned from the reserve, while the Lil’wat leader has also said she believes dogs should no longer be permitted in band-owned rental housing. [...]

Phillips told The Question that she is a believer in the ‘blame the owner, not the breed’ mantra that is touted by pit-bull advocates. However, she also said the attack earlier this summer was an example of how some Mount Currie residents are failing to raise the dogs properly.

“I have absolutely nothing against pit bulls at all,” she said. “Banning them from my community is a decision I’m basing because my community members are not taking care of their dogs. It’s definitely the owners’ fault, not the dogs’.” [...]

Full article retrieved 9/8/11 from http://www.whistlerquestion.com/article/20110908/WHISTLER12/309089971/-1/WHISTLER/chief-seeking-mount-currie-pit-bull-ban

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Posted in BSL Proposed, Canada

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: Councillor suggests possible BSL or ban

Posted on August 31, 2011 by | 5 Comments

Update 9/14/11: McCluskey appears to be pushing for increased fines rather than BSL at this time. See recent news article: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/local/article/968601–dog-attack-fine-to-be-reviewed

Gloria McCluskey, one of the councillors for Dartmouth (which is part of the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia), intends to ask for tougher dog bylaws, and has suggested that the municipality look into a possible ban on “aggressive breeds” (specific breeds not mentioned). Oddly, McCluskey also stated that the owners are responsible for attacks, not the dogs—how she gets from that very correct statement, to a request for a breed ban (which blames the dogs instead of the owners), is unclear. Some gentle education might be all that is needed here.

Please send polite, educational correspondence to the regional council to explain why breed-specific laws are unethical, ineffective, and unsafe—and to encourage breed-neutral solutions instead.

Dog attacks lead to call for tougher animal bylaws

Dartmouth councillor says careless owners to blame, stiffer penalties needed

By BILL POWER Staff Reporter
Tue, Aug 30 – 4:38 PM

A string of dog attacks this summer had Dartmouth councillor Gloria McCluskey calling Tuesday for heftier fines for owners. [...]

“It’s the owners who are responsible for these incidents and not the dogs,” she said after a woman was attacked by a dog Monday at Martinique Beach. [...]

She also wants steeper fines for repeat violators of muzzle orders for aggressive dogs, and wants a review of a possible ban of aggressive breeds.

“There have been bans in other jurisdictions of breeds known to be aggressive. People who train their dogs to attack or who have experienced aggressive behaviour from the dog should not be out walking that dog in public without proper controls,” said McCluskey. [...]

Full article retrieved 8/31/11 from http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9021862.html

Next regional council meeting: Sept 13. Halifax Regional Council meets at Halifax City Hall, Council Chambers – 3rd Floor, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Mayor and Council contact info:
Mayor Peter Kelly,  kellyp@halifax.ca
Councillors’ Support Office, P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, N.S. B3J 3A5
Phone: (902) 490-4050
Fax: 490-4122
Steve Streatch, streats@halifax.ca
Barry Dalrymple, barry.dalrymple@halifax.ca
David Hendsbee, david.hendsbee@halifax.ca
Lorelei Nicoll, lorelei.nicoll@halifax.ca
Gloria McCluskey, mcclusg@halifax.ca (suggesting BSL)
Darren Fisher, darren.fisher@halifax.ca
Bill Karsten, karsteb@halifax.ca
Jackie Barkhouse, barkhoj@halifax.ca
Jim Smith, smithj@halifax.ca
Mary Wile, wilema@halifax.ca
Jerry Blumenthal, blumenj@halifax.ca
Dawn Marie Sloane, sloaned@halifax.ca
Sue Uteck, utecks@halifax.ca
Jennifer Watts, jennifer.watts@halifax.ca
Russell Walker, walkerr@halifax.ca
Debbie Hum, humd@halifax.ca
Linda Mosher, linda.mosher@halifax.ca
Stephen Adams, adamss@halifax.ca
Brad Johns, brad.johns@halifax.ca
Bob Harvey, harveyb@halifax.ca
Tim Outhit, outhitt@halifax.ca
Reg Rankin, rankinr@halifax.ca
Peter Lund, peter.lund@halifax.ca

Email block for cut and paste
kellyp@halifax.ca; streats@halifax.ca; barry.dalrymple@halifax.ca; david.hendsbee@halifax.ca ; lorelei.nicoll@halifax.ca; mcclusg@halifax.ca; darren.fisher@halifax.ca; karsteb@halifax.ca; barkhoj@halifax.ca; smithj@halifax.ca; wilema@halifax.ca; blumenj@halifax.ca; sloaned@halifax.ca; utecks@halifax.ca; jennifer.watts@halifax.ca; walkerr@halifax.ca; humd@halifax.ca; linda.mosher@halifax.ca; adamss@halifax.ca; brad.johns@halifax.ca; harveyb@halifax.ca; outhitt@halifax.ca; rankinr@halifax.ca; peter.lund@halifax.ca

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Posted in Canada, Whispers of BSL

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