Dog Owners Unite for March Against BSL (Breed Specific Legislation)

I apologize to our cat loving members for the absence of our Kitty Korner blog this weekend. I was busy lending support to our friends at Stop K9 Profiling by attending the Million Mutt March in Toronto. Our goal? To end BSL in Ontario. (Breed Specific Legislation) Almost two hundred people and their dogs turned out to march through the city to Nathan Philips Square.

There was a noticeable difference at yesterdays walk, back in August of 2010 when I attended the rally against BSL at Coronation Park in Toronto, the only dogs in evidence were pit bulls. Yesterday things were very different. Yesterday the pit bulls were joined by many other breeds of dog. Chihuahuas, poodles, mastiff’s, german shepherds, many breeds and breed mixes brought their owners out to fight BSL.

Now you may wonder why it is significant that owners of non pit bull breeds attended yesterday’s march. I’ll tell you. We have been fighting BSL in Ontario since about five minutes after it was passed. In that time we have only seen the support of pit bull owners. Every rally every gathering, has been populated by pit bull lovers and their dogs, and only pit bull lovers and their dogs. Yesterday the same did not hold true, yesterday we were joined by dog owners of all kinds of breeds, and a few people who don’t even own dogs.

It is obvious from yesterday’s turn out that Ontarians are beginning to understand that BSL affects ALL dogs not just pit bulls. No medium sized short haired dog is ever truly safe in Ontario. Many non-pits have been labeled as pit bulls and forced to follow BSL restrictions. Owners are starting to realize this, they are also starting to realize that ANY dog is capable of aggression.

The general public is beginning to realize it too. Many times yesterday as people on the street watched us pass with our procession of dogs and owners I clearly heard bystanders comment on how “it’s not the dog, it’s the owner.” They’re right of course, it is the owner! That is what we have been trying to make politicians understand since we started this fight!

C’mon now, we all know that in the wrong hands ANY dog can be a potential lethal weapon, so why is it that politicians still don’t get it? We are expected to take responsiblity for the actions of our children, philosophy being that children learn what they live, and so parents are responsible for their actions. How is it then that we do not look at the relationship between dog and owner in the same manner? Should owners not be held responsible for the actions of their dogs?

Let's Adopt Canada member Colleen McKoy walks our rescue Chester at yesterday's Million Mutt March in Toronto. Chester was delivered to his forever home right after the march.

Almost two hundred dog owners came out and braved the cold yesterday. But what struck me more than that, was the number of people who attended that did not own a dog. One Let’s Adopt Canada member made a six hour trek from Ottawa to attend yesterday’s march because nothing had been planned for our nations capital. She does not own a dog, but feels that BSL is cruel and unusual punishment for animals that have committed no crime.

This is not the last time you will see us protesting BSL, we will continue until BSL is no more. Why? Because we will not allow our dogs to be slaughtered because they LOOK like pit bulls, and because we will not rest until our dogs are safe.

One of Toronto’s well known sidewalk chalk artists came out yesterday. He is a pit bull owner and speaks out against BSL whenever the mood strikes him. He showed up yesterday with a protest sign that got a lot of attention. His dog Lady, a fourteen year old pit bull was by his side. It was the first protest he has ever attended, but it won’t be his last. You may not find him at any other protest rally for any other cause, but when it comes to his dog, he’ll move heaven and earth to protect her.

Toronto's "Chalkmaster" stands in Dundas Square with his pit bull mix "Lady" a fourteen year old dog he adopted when no one else wanted her because of her age and breed mix.

After yesterday’s march, one thing is abundantly clear, Ontario residents are finally starting to understand that BSL affects all dogs and their owners. They are finally beginning to see that BSL is NOT the answer.

Until Tomorrow Remember

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK!

Janette