On September 27, legislators in Montreal voted in favor of dog breed-specific legislation. This new law effectively bans any dog that resembles a pit bull. This ban includes a large number of dog breeds- pretty much any breed which looks like a pit bull. There are a large number of rules for owners of these dog breeds, but there is nothing for dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted.

This ban makes it illegal to adopt any dog in a shelter that is on the ban list. No dog that is considered to be a pit bull can be adopted from Montreal shelters. What this means is that all of these unclaimed dogs, of which about 700 are considered to be pit bulls, must now be euthanized. Many groups and organizations have been working to get pit bulls adopted outside of Montreal, but they were only able to save a very small number of the dogs.

How did this even get passed? I do not see any way how killing hundreds of dogs and banning breeds is going to solve any problems. Immediately after the decision was announced, people around the world have been speaking out against the decision, questioning the morality and ethics of the law. Even the Quebec Order of Veterinarians has started a formal complaint against the pit bull ban.

I completely understand that pit bulls have a bad reputation, and that it comes from the fact that the breed is one that is commonly involved in the kinds of incidents that provoked the ban.

I think that it is so important that we all show the Montreal legislators that the pit bull ban isn't okay. No matter where you are from, you can share your opinions and make them known! Take to social media, sign petitions, let everyone know that killing entire dog breeds isn't okay.