The Million Mutt March, Will you be there?

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is, essentially, an effort used to restrict, ban and/or eliminate certain breeds of dogs, purebred or mixed. It can include anything from requiring special licensing of a breed (breed restriction) to the total ban of certain breeds.

Many jurisdictions in Canada have either enacted Breed Specific Legislation or are proposing enacting legislation that specifically names certain breeds as restricted or prohibited.

To learn more about the specific breeds generally known as “Pit Bull types” see:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier

American Pit Bull Terrier

The Pit Bull Educational Packet (PDF format) from www.understand-a-bull.com.

Everything You Wanted To Know About ‘Pit Bulls’ — From GoodPooch.com (Link added 25 Jan 2005)

Unwrapping Pit Bulls from Karen Peak of West Wind Dog Training (Article added 26 Jan 2005)

Banning specific breeds is not the solution to preventing dog bites incidents. Education of the general public, dog owners and in particular parents and children, is the key to reducing the number of dog bite incidents.

Breed specific legislation (“BSL”) historically bans one breed at a time, then another, then another. BSL slowly erodes dog owners’ rights. Once one breed has been banned, the precedent is set and all breeds are at risk; indeed, all dogs are at risk. Under BSL, the list of banned breeds usually gets longer over time. Italy is a prime example with its BSL targeting over 90 breeds, including breeds usually considered benign such as the Bearded Collie.

BSL enforcement relies on the arbitrary judgement of police and animal control officers who may not have the training, expertise or even the legal right (depending on legal interpretation of the Canada Animal Pedigree Act) to identify a dog’s breed. Seizure of what the officer thinks is a banned-breed dog may result in the dog being euthanized or sold to a research laboratory.

Ontario’s Bill 132 permits an officer to enter your home without a warrant and seize or destroy your dog, regardless of breed.

Destroy your dog in your home. It has happened before, it can happen again.

Are you now looking at your dog and starting to feel very uneasy, even a bit afraid?

You should. Your dog’s breed may be next.

For more information on standing up and having BSL repealed in Ontario visit with our friends at Stop K9 Profiling

On Saturday, March 26th, 2011 in Cambridge, Ontario and Sunday, March 27th, 2011 in Toronto pit bull lovers and their supporters will join forces and together with their dogs will March in protest of BSL in Ontario. Join us either in Cambridge or in Toronto on the following day, March 27th, 2011. Here is the info on both marches:

Million Mutt March Cambridge  .

Saturday, March 26 · 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Cambridge Center Parking Lot, Cambridge Ontario

Here’s a link to a map.

Support pit bulls and their owners. Come out and march with us. Let the government of Ontario know we will not stand for the legalized persecution and slaughter of good dogs based on their breed! Hope to see you there!

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette