The town of Chateauguay is moving to reverse its long-standing pit bull ban — and dog lovers are hoping it's the beginning of a trend.
Chateauguay mayor Nathalie Simon says she thinks it's important to focus on how dangerous individual animals are, rather than banning a breed entirely.
Among other things, the new law would compel animals that have been reported as dangerous to be evaluated by a vet.
Dogs will not be required to wear muzzles while they are in public, but will need to be on a leash and will have to be registered with the city.
The original by-law gave police the right to shoot pit bulls on sight — which has never actually happened.
Hugh-Patrick McGurnaghan with the Pit Bull Association of Chateauguay is calling this a big win for pit bull owners — and the beginning of the end, he hopes, for the recent wave of anti-pit bull hysteria in the province.
"We are ecstatic," he says. "We really hope this message that we're sending to the province...we hope that it has real ripples that change the trajectory that some animal control bylaws are headed down."
Several cities and towns in the province, including Montreal, have recently passed legislation aimed at pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs. The province is readying a law of its own, Bill 128 which, if passed, would nullify the proposed Chateauguay legislation.
Chateauguay's next council meeting will be held on Aug. 21, at which point the decision concerning the new bylaw will be made.
The mayor says she's confident that it will be passed.
-Katelyn Thomas contributed to this report.