Dog lovers took to downtown streets Saturday as part of Global Anti-Breed Specific Legislation Day.
The demonstration comes as breed-specific laws continue to be a hot button issue in Montreal. Quebec Public Safety Minister Martin Coiteux tabled legislation this past spring that could force municipalities to ban any breed of dog considered dangerous by the government.
Scarlett Mackenzie with Projet Pit Bull tells CTV she agrees that laws are needed, but should include all dogs and not just specific breeds. She also says dog owners need to be responsible for their pets.
Steven Galli echoed Mackenzie's sentiment. He was bitten in the face by a pit bull as a child, but never blamed the dog. Galli believes the dog's demeanour was a result of a bad owner. He maintains that the dog that bit him could have been any breed.
Projet Montreal councillor Sterling Downey also took part in the protest, and hopes the provincial government will follow the South Shore municipality of Chateauguay, which recently repealed its 30 year old anti-pit bull law.
Hearings on the provincial bill are expected to begin this fall.