B.C. must look at pit-bull ban The Province Wednesday, August 13, 2008
It's an issue that won't die. What do we do about dog owners who refuse to control their potentially vicious animals, letting them attack other dogs and even other humans? Like others, we are relieved that the police finally arrested a man wanted for a rash of pit-bull attacks in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. But we are concerned that despite the seizure of three adult pit-bull crosses and a puppy, the dog owner has been released without charges. And as Province readers have pointed out, there is an irony here.
The man, who was believed to have been living in a van with the dogs, is free to live in society. The dogs face a death sentence. Jody Tomlinson, bitten Sunday while walking his own dog in a Surrey park, said he told the owner of the pit bulls to "get control of your dogs." And that really is the point here: It's an owner issue rather than a dog-breed one. That said, certain breeds of dog, including pit bulls, have been bred for a particular behaviour -- including fighting with other dogs. Undisciplined and unleashed, they can turn onto dangerous weapons.
Clearly in B.C. it has got to the point where sterner measures are needed to those who use menacing dogs to terrorize others. A puny fine and a small reprimand from the judge is not good enough. We need to throw the book at these folks -- and jail them if need be. Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson, meanwhile, says it's time the B.C. government considered enacting provincewide legislation to ban pit-bull-type dogs, similar to that imposed three years ago in Ontario. (Owners there may keep pit bulls they already own, but must have them spayed or neutered, and leashed and muzzled at all times).
We agree with Stevenson: This is a serious enough issue that it shouldn't be left to every little B.C. municipality to come up with its own set of rules. Victoria should thoroughly examine the issue before coming up with legislation with some bite. It would be a law that might or might not include a breed-specific ban. But it definitely should call for far tougher measures against delinquent dog owners.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
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5 comments:
Stevenson and the Province need to try and get up to speed on Ontario.
'pit bull terrier' severed.
Reverse onus struck down.
Violation of Sec 7 and 11d of the Federal Charter.
2 Fatalities by Non Pits since the ban.
Breeds banned/restricted for now(Under Appeal)
1)Staffordshire Bull Terriers
2)American Staffordshire Terriers
3)APBT
4)"Substantially similar" dogs???
What the hell does that mean?
Maybe...
"..A mongrel that most resembles a field Labrador?"
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/303528
Nervous B.C. Lab Owners??
Entire Law heading to Ontario`s Superior Court in ~ 6 weeks
Oh Yeah Ontario`s Ban is most definitely working????
Definitely want to follow their Gov`ts example to improve Public Safety???
How did those Scumbag Liberals get back into power.The only real way to beat BSL and it Hitler type connotations is to get rid of bad politicos and Onscario is up there amongst the worst
Have you been reading the comments in the BC National Enquirer....I mean "The Province" Selwyn?
Many people have been submitting REAL FACTS re Ontario`s Ban.
NONE are showing up.
B.C. residents better get on top of this or B.C. will stand for...
We have a Ban like Ontario just
BeCause.
Just received an email from Tim Stevenson.
This is a portion of it.
[quote]...
No, I have not been advocating for a ban contrary to the impression that has been left by some media, but certainly not all.
I am advocating that our Provincial Government deal with the the "dangerous dog" issue rather than leaving it up to individual Municipalities such as Vancouver. ....
[/quote]
Me thinks "The Province" has been fibbing.
What? The Province lies? Say it isn't so!!
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