On the South Shore, at a time when neighbouring Chateauguay has moved away from a breed ban, residents of Kahnawake are being asked to consider a ban on pit bulls.
Chief Carl Horn kicked off the discussion after a 13-year old boy on the Mohawk territory was mauled by two dogs, one of them a pit bull. The Eastern Door reports that the teen suffered bites to his leg and arm, and required an ambulance ride to hospital.
Chief Horn is a former Peacekeeper and during his 12 years as a cop he was occasionally confronted by aggressive pit bulls. He is proposing a breed ban specifically for those dogs, calling them unpredictable.
He thinks a ban is justified in a small community where everyone from children to elders is encouraged to walk and bike.
"I just wanted to get the dialogue started and try and get people talking in a positive way to find a solution and if it leads to other breeds, then it leads to other breeds, but once again that's up to the community to make that decision," he says.
There will be a community meeting next Tuesday about the dog situation in general in Kahanwake, to be followed later by specific discussions about a possible breed ban.