Someone called me a pit bull...and sealed my fate in Ontario.

Most of us know that Ontario is home to the most restrictive Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in North America. A dog deemed to be a "pit bull type" cannot be adopted or imported into the province. It means that countless innocent dogs have been put to death and people have seen their gentle family dogs seized and subject to restrictive muzzling laws.

Despite the death, heartbreak and millions of dollars in legal fees, there has been no evidence of fewer dog bites in Ontario or increased public safety. And with each month that goes by, it becomes more clear that BSL is fundamentally flawed.

Someone posted these puppies for sale online calling them "pit bull mixes" and sealed their fate. The mother dog (a Lab/Shepherd cross) and her litter were seized by Animal Control and her puppies sit on death row.

Was the father a pit bull? We don't know for sure. He may have been a mastiff, a boxer, or another Lab. But because a backyard breeder decided to type the dreaded "P-word" these otherwise highly adoptable puppies may die.

These puppies drew the attention of MonStars Mastiff Rescue, who is desperately looking for a way to have them transported out of the province, where they can be adopted and undergo a breed identification from a professional. Ironically, an organization like HugABull would normally not accept these puppies because they appear to have minimal or no pit bull in them!

Although HugABull cannot take puppies at this time, a local all-breed rescue, The Penny Foundation, has stepped up and offered foster care to the eight little ones. Now we wait to see if the red tape can be unravelled and if these dogs can be released out of the province - and survive. As healthy, social, cute-as-a-button puppies they will have no trouble finding homes in Vancouver. But in Ontario they may die, because one person at one time uttered "pit bull."

Please send your thoughts and wishes to these little guys, and remember that these are just one litter of many slated for death row because of BSL. Share this story with your friends, and help us open eyes to why we are so passionate about ending discriminatory legislation.