Quebec government working group recommends most pit bull owners keep dogs

QUEBEC — The vast majority of pit bull owners across Quebec will get to keep their animal if the provincial government takes up the recommendations published Wednesday by a working group tasked with studying the breed.

The report recommends those who will have to give up their pit bulls are anyone with criminal records tied to violence or with past convictions of animal cruelty.

It also says all other pit bull owners should be able to keep and walk their animals as long as they follow strict rules.

Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux created the working group last June, shortly after a Montreal woman was attacked and killed by a pit bull.

In response to the attack and several others around the province, Montreal announced legislation banning all pit bulls in the city purchased after September 2016.

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Montreal’s goal is to phase out the animal from city limits.

Coiteux will now make a recommendation to Quebec’s legislature based on the working group’s findings.

The Canadian Press