By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Prairie Pitbull Rescue Stands With Montreal Dog Owners

Oct 1, 2016 | 6:21 AM

LETHBRIDGE – One local group is doing what it can to fight back against a legislation that has banned pitbull breeds in Montreal.
 
The Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) passed on Tuesday, September 27, after a number of recent attacks across the city. The bylaw goes into effect Monday, October 3 for pitbulls and “pitbull-type” dogs with similar physical characteristics.
 
It states that they must be muzzled in public, walked on a leash no longer than four-feet, be spayed or neutered and can only be un-leashed when surrounded by a fence higher than two-metres. Dogs who have been with their families prior to October 3 will be allowed, but are required to be registered by January 1, 2017, for a $150 fee. It will be illegal to purchase or adopt pitbull or “pitbull-type” dogs.
 
Upon hearing the news, the Southern Alberta-operated Prairie Pitbull Rescue started accepting donations for owners that wouldn’t be able to afford the change.
 
“Our funding will be going to the renters that are able to stay, and their pets aren’t spayed or neutered, and [help] with the financial burden that this kind of thing brings upon people who aren’t ready for it,” explained Natalie Kent, a representative for the rescue’s Lethbridge branch.
 
“Lower income families, low-income renting situations, those are the ones that will be getting the funding from us.”

Kent added that some rental tenants may be faced with eviction, even if they follow all the new rules, since there is no landlord-tenant agreement in place to protect them.
 
Kent says the organization has now opened a separate bank account for those donations, and will be setting aside $20,000 raised from it’s annual Pit Ball fundraiser gala, set for October 15 at Calgary’s Township Bar and Grill.
 
Prairie Pitbull Rescue will use the funds to purchase muzzles, leashes and assist with other fees, as Montreal residents have only days to comply. Those found not in compliance may face hundreds of dollars in fines, or can even have their dog taken away.
 
The Montreal SPCA has since filed a law suit to reverse the decision that should go before a court right away.
 
Kent added that everyone has a hand in stopping situations like this from spreading to other cities.
 
“Love your dog, stand behind your dog, train your dog. No matter what breed of dog yours is, make it an advocate for that breed. Everybody has that opportunity.”