Last week, Montreal passed a new bylaw that restricts residents from adopting or buying a pit bull. The new bylaw goes into effect October 3rd, 2016. Any dog living in a shelter that is considered to be a pit will face euthanasia the day the bylaw goes into effect, and any pit owners must meet a strict set of conditions to keep their pits alive and in their households. American pit bull terriers, bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers or any mix of those breeds are included in this law. This is unethical. All of these dogs are going to die because humans fear the breed. I need to know how this is any different than killing a person based on skin color. I do not think that it is.

The stigma against pits needs to end. Other dogs can be vicious. These dogs are like any other dog, or human at that. Their treatment and how they are raised affect their temperament. If they are loved and accepted and cared for, they will love and accept back. If they are beaten and hated, they will only know how to bite back and hate, too. This is a basic understanding, or so I thought.

Although the ban has already gone into effect, there are still ways to help. If you are able to donate towards the cause, https://www.gofundme.com/2rtzbus has a GoFundMe, and https://www.gofundme.com/2rn9hzk4 has one here. You can sign a petition protesting the ban at https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/my-montréal-includes-all-dog.html

Please contact the Montreal SPCA at tbenoit@spcamontreal.com if you think you can help home or transport any dogs. The fight is not over - it has only just begun.