{"id":15899,"date":"2016-06-18T15:12:55","date_gmt":"2016-06-18T19:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kb.webitgarage.ca\/the-montreal-spca-vows-to-challenge-mayor-coderres-proposal-to-implement-city-wide-breed-ban\/"},"modified":"2018-06-11T20:27:07","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T00:27:07","slug":"the-montreal-spca-vows-to-challenge-mayor-coderres-proposal-to-implement-city-wide-breed-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/the-montreal-spca-vows-to-challenge-mayor-coderres-proposal-to-implement-city-wide-breed-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"The Montreal SPCA vows to challenge Mayor Coderre\u2019s proposal to implement City-Wide breed ban"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"pitbullMN\"<\/a>Montreal,\u00a0June 18 2016 \u2013<\/strong> Following Mayor Denis Coderre\u2019s announcement this morning that the city plans to include breed specific legislation (BSL) as part of its solution to address the issue of dangerous dogs, the Montreal SPCA vows to dispute any form of legislation that targets specific dogs due to their physical characteristics and is exploring all options in order to respond to the proposed legislation.<\/p>\n

The Montreal SPCA opposes BSL because it is ineffective in making communities safer, because it removes responsibility for dog biting incidents from dog owners, and because it supports the false premise that dogs that happen to look a certain way are inherently \u201cdangerous\u201d. \u201cThe consequences for our community if the proposed BSL goes forward would be enormous.\u00a0 \u00a0It would mean the death of thousands of adoptable and well-behaved dogs simply because of the way that they look\u201d said Nicholas Gilman, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. \u201cWe are not going to let that happen here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breed specific legislation is discriminatory, vague and nearly impossible to enforce.\u00a0 BSL has been so ineffective and damaging in cities throughout the United States that 20 states have adopted state legislation prohibiting municipalities from adopting any form of breed ban. \u201cWhile we are utterly shocked and disappointed by the announcement this morning made by Mayor Coderre, we will be exploring all options to reverse the decision to move forward with BSL, including legal challenges\u201d said Me Alanna Devine, Director of Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA. \u201cWe know that the Montreal community understands that using hysteria, fear and prejudice as a means to push legislation forward is wholly unacceptable. In the coming days we will be working with experts and other community organisations and will certainly be guiding the public on how to assist us in convincing the city that BSL is not an acceptable solution to address the issue of aggressive dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Montreal SPCA recognizes that inappropriate canine aggression is a serious threat to public safety and must be addressed in order to ensure for safe communities in which humans and dogs co-exist and enrich each other’s lives.\u00a0 The Montreal SPCA believes that the most effective way to tackle this issue is for humane societies, municipalities and experts in canine behavior and health to work together on multi-faceted strategies that target dangerous dogs of all breeds, with a strong emphasis on prevention.<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n

Media contact:<\/b>\u00a0Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514 656-2760, or\u00a0anitak@spca.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About the Montreal SPCA<\/i><\/p>\n

Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane society in Canada and our mission is to:<\/p>\n