Montreal wants citizens to weigh in on animal control

The City of Montreal will be holding public consultations into its animal control bylaw, following its repeal of the previous administration's pit bull ban.

ProjetMontral made animal control a big part of its municipal campaign, promising to lift the ban put in place under former mayor Denis Coderre.

In December, the current administration did just that.

• Montreal to lift controversial pit bull ban

The plan is to hold eight public consultations on Saturday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, March 3 in four different boroughs.

"Our goal is to listen to citizens and experts to develop a regulation that will ensure the safety of citizens while encouraging animal welfare," said Craig Sauv, the city councillor charged with managing Montreal's animal services file.

The city has also launched a website where citizens can fill out an online survey and get all the information needed about the consultations.

The consultations will be followed by the presentation of a draft bylaw to be approved by city council.

Sauv said he wants the animal control bylaw to be in effect by June.

SPCAhappy with news

The Montreal SPCAsays consultations are the right step.

"We are very happy to see that the city,Projet Montral, is moving forward with the revision of animal regulations and that they are not only seeking the opinions of experts but of citizens as well," saidSPCAadvocacy director AlannaDevine.

The planned consultations

• Two sessions each on Saturday, Feb. 24 atEspace La Fontainein thePlateau-Mont-Royal borough and at the Maison de la culture Mercier in MercierHochelaga-Maisonneuve.
• Two sessions each on Saturday, March 3 atCentre Georges-Vanierin the Southwest borough and at the Centre des loisirs de Saint-Laurent in the Saint-Laurent borough.