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Pit-bull ban not feasible
VANCOUVER: City officials say province has to step up

John Bermingham
The Province

Sunday, February 13, 2005

CREDIT: The Associated Press
Vancouver city officials have decided a citywide ban on pit bulls would be too difficult to enforce.

Vancouver has backed off a citywide ban on pit bulls.

Instead, it wants to tighten the leash on owners of dangerous dogs, making them more responsible for their problem pooches.

In a report Thursday, staff members will tell city councillors the city doesn't have the legal clout to enforce a ban.

But it wants the B.C. government to enact dangerous dog laws.

New measures could include:

- Higher licence fees.

- Requiring owners of vicious dogs to carry $1 million in liability insurance.

- Requiring them to display a "vicious dog" warning sign.

- Requiring owners to notify the city within 24 hours if the dog has got loose or attacked another dog or a person.

The clampdown on pit bulls comes after a series of recent dog attacks in the Lower Mainland, including the death of a Maple Ridge boy.

In Vancouver, a female jogger was bitten by a pit bull on the False Creek seawall in September.

Coun. Tim Stevenson, who asked staff members to see if it was feasible to ban the breed, says it appears that the province has to legislate a ban.

"I think this is a provincial issue. It's almost impossible for a city to do it," says Stevenson.

"It could some time down the road include a ban, but for Vancouver to do it alone would be pretty difficult.

"Together, we've got to solve this problem. We can't have any more of these vicious attacks. And it's up to politicians to make sure that happens."

Anthony Maekawa, spokesman for the Vancouver Dog Owners Association, says it's unfair to ban pit bulls in general.

"We don't support the ban of any breed, but what we do support is the ban of particular dogs that are deemed too vicious," Maekawa says.

"What you're doing is categorically saying that every dog of that breed is no good, and that's just not the case."

Maekwawa says the city should educate dog owners, and make them more accountable for the actions of their pets.

"It puts the onus back on the owners to make sure that their dogs are well behaved," he says.

Under existing city bylaws, pit bulls are already "vicious dogs." They must be muzzled in public and housed indoors or in enclosed pens.

Any breach of those bylaws currently carries a $200 fine.

jbermingham@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2005