Montreal SPCA threatens to end dog-control services over pit bull ban

The Montreal SPCA announced Wednesday that as of 2017, itwill no longer provide dog-control services to the 12 Montreal boroughs and other on-island municipalities it servesif a city-wide ban on pit bulls is adopted.

The decisioncomes as Montreal Mayor DenisCoderreseeks approval from city council to prohibit new pit bulls across the city's 19 boroughs as of the end of September.

"We hope that the proposed animal control bylaw will not be adopted onSept.26and that we will not have to alter the contracts we currently have with boroughs,"Alanna Devine, the director of animal advocacy, said in a statement.

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The animal protection agency said in a statement that such a bylaw would result in putting downhealthy dogs,and that is a practice it cannot support.

"We'll be forced eventually to euthanize hundreds of dogs in good health,"said Benoit Tremblay, the SPCA's executive director.

Anie Samson,the vice-chair ofthe city's executive committee, said Montreal has no plans to back down from its proposed bylaw.

"The Coderre administration is moving forward with its balanced bylaw on animal control," Samson said. "The safety of all our citizens is a priority for our administration."

'Those animals can't be adopted out'

Since the cityoutlined its proposed regulations in June following widely publicizeddog attacks, the Montreal SPCAhas repeatedly criticizedCoderre's plan,saying itconsiders breed-specific legislation a form of discrimination.

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"I'd say about a third of those dogs would probably fall under the type of animal that would be considered prohibited," Devine said.

"And those animals can't be adopted out,which means adoptable,behaviourallysound dogs and puppies would have to be put to death."

The agency hasalso hinted it may launchlegal proceedingsto challenge the proposal and it set upa website with several alternatives to a full-fledged ban.

The SPCA said it will continue tooffer the same services related to cats, wildlife and other animals.

The 12 boroughs and municipalities are the following:

• Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
• Anjou.
• Cte St-Luc.
• Hampstead.
• Lachine.
• PlateauMont-Royal.
• Montreal North.
• Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce.
• Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie.
• Southwest.
• VilleSaint-Laurent.