Pit bull pup seized under breed-specific bylaw

Ted Colley

A North Delta man says the municipality's dangerous
dog bylaw is unfair because it targets pit bulls.

Pit bulls, as a breed, are considered dangerous dogs
under Delta's bylaw and must be leashed and muzzled
when outside, or kept in a roofed enclosure with a
wooden or concrete floor. Even pit bulls with no
history of viciousness fall under the bylaw.

"That's discrimination and it's not right," said Mark
Johnson. "What gives them the right to just come and
take a dog?"

The Delta SPCA seized a young female pit bull from
Johnson's unfenced front yard on Easter Sunday after
stopping by the day before to warn him the dog had to
be confined or leashed.

"It was just in the front yard, playing with the
kids," Johnson said.

Delta bylaws official Sharon Evans said if the dog
isn't leashed or enclosed, it's in violation of the
law and can be impounded.

"There's not much leeway there. If you have a pit
bull, that's what you have to do," Evans said.

Johnson said the dog belongs to the parents of his
partner, Karen Tuason. The dog had just been spayed,
Johnson said, and they were waiting for the stitches
to heal before taking it back to Tuason's parents. The
dog was also unlicensed.

Johnson said he was told he could follow the officer
to the pound, pay a $300 fine and get the dog back,
but when he arrived, he was told the animal would be
held for 21 days for an evaluation.

"If I'd known that, I wouldn't have let him take the
dog," Johnson said. "How am I supposed to know what
the law is?"

Tuason, who was away for the weekend, said the dog is
gentle and not dangerous at all. She's afraid they
won't get the dog back.

"I was told they're going to take my dog for three
weeks and we have to pay all these fines. Apparently
the SPCA said they could put my dog to sleep," Tuason
said.

Evans referred questions about the dog's future to the
Delta SPCA, but shelter manager Michelle Rogers
couldn't give an answer.

"I'd have to refer to the bylaw. I can't comment
because it's still under investigation."