Montreal, July 13 2016 – A few weeks ago, the Montreal SPCA learned, along with Montrealers, of our city’s plan to institute breed specific legislation (BSL), which would come into effect this September. The Montreal SPCA shares citizens’ concerns and recognizes the urgency to act to ensure public safety. Today, we unveil a brand new site which aims to offer real solutions to make communities safer and kinder, provides various educational tools, and suggests actions that citizens can take on this issue.
Breed specific legislation has been consistently shown to be unfair, costly, unenforceable, and, most importantly, ineffective in reducing the number and severity of dog bites, as evidenced by the experiences of Ontario, the Netherlands, and numerous American cities. “It is not a question of being for or against a certain breed of dog. It is a question of giving the citizens of Montreal the kind of policy they deserve: effective regulations that deal with the underlying causes of dog attacks”, explains Me Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA. “All veterinary orders and associations, as well as public health authorities agree: BSL does not reduce the incidence nor the severity of dog bites in the community”.
To address the problem of dangerous dogs in the most efficient manner possible, the Montreal SPCA is pleased to present www.saferkindercommunities.com, a website that offers a comprehensive and multifaceted approach that focuses on prevention and on the owner responsibility and that targets dogs based on their behavior, not their breed. .
Visit www.saferkindercommunities.com to:
- Learn the facts and precedents as well as read studies on the issue of dog bites;
- Support the regulation model proposed by the Montreal SPCA;
- Share the campaign on your social network.
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Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514 656-2760, or anitak@spca.com.
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane society in Canada and our mission is to:
- protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
- represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
- raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.
For more information about the Montreal SPCA, please visit our website at www.spca.com.
