Pit bull ban and dangerous dog provisions proclaimed
Effective Date Is August 29, 2005; Followed By 60-Day Transition Period
TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - Ontario's pit bull ban and other amendments to the Dog Owners Liability Act aimed at keeping communities safer from all dangerous dogs will go into effect on August 29, 2005, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.
"I'm proud of our legislation to ban pit bulls and make dog owners more responsible for the actions of their dogs," said Bryant. "At the same time, we're sympathetic to the needs of municipalities and dog owners, so we are providing a phase-in period for everyone to get ready for the new requirements."
There will be a 60-day transition period that follows the August 29, 2005 effective date. Owners of existing pit bulls will be required to have them spayed or neutered, leashed and muzzled while in public, and must comply with any additional requirements set by municipalities. The length of time to prepare for the new requirements was established in response to advice from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the City of Toronto and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA).
The new legislation contains a "grandfathering clause" which allows existing pit bulls owned in Ontario before the legislation becomes effective and pit bulls born in Ontario within 90 days of the day that the legislation becomes effective, to be considered "grandfathered" or restricted pit bulls, as long as they comply with the legislation and its regulations.
The new legislation increases fines to a maximum of $10,000 and allows for jail sentences of up to six months for individuals who own dangerous dogs that bite, attack or pose a threat. It also allows fines up to a maximum of $60,000 for corporations who own such dogs. In addition, it allows a judge to order restitution to be paid in relation to an offence. These increased fines will go to municipalities. Further information can be found at www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca.
"We are protecting Ontarians not only from these dangerous dogs, but from irresponsible owners," said Bryant. "These measures will make our communities safer for all Ontarians."
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www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca
For further information: Contacts: Greg Crone, Minister's Office, (416)
326-1785; Brendan Crawley, Communications Branch, (416) 326-2210
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Dog owner says bylaw forcing her to leave city
By Vincent Ball
Local News - Saturday, April 02, 2005 @ 01:00
A frustrated dog owner is getting ready to move out of Brantford because she can't comply with the city's bylaw banning pit bulls.
Amber Sacco said Friday that even after investing a lot of time and money, she hasn't been able to meet the requirements of the bylaw.
"I've called every insurance company in the phone book and I can't get the insurance that I need," Sacco said. "I need $1 million liability insurance and I can't get it.
"I've spayed and microchipped them and they have their muzzles and proper leashes. But I still can't get the insurance."
Sacco is angry because her only options are to get rid of her dogs - Champion, Tiny and Booja - or uproot her family and move out of the city.
"I've given my notice and moving," she said. "I'm really upset about it because I've got a good job to go back to after my maternity leave is over and my husband has a good job, too."
Under the bylaw, which came into effect Friday, pit bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, pit bulls, Stafford bull terriers and American Staffordshire or dogs that appear to have those characteristics are now prohibited species inside city limits. No one may legally breed or sell them.
Pit bulls that are already licensed, spayed or neutered and microchipped are still in the prohibited category, but owners may keep them under a grandfather clause. However, under the bylaw, owners have to demonstrate they have $1 million insurance in place.
Most insurance companies contacted by The Expositor on Friday afternoon either didn't return phone calls or declined to comment.
One company did say that said insurance companies have always been reluctant to get involved with households that have potentially aggressive dogs.
But city clerk Darryl Lee said someone who hasn't been able to meet the insurance requirement for their dog shouldn't take any drastic action just yet.
"We've received some calls from people who have been able to meet all of the requirements but are having trouble getting insurance," Lee said Friday. "I can't tell you exactly how many calls but there have been some and we're looking into it.
"We're obligated to gather information on it and report to committee and council."
In the meantime, city hall won't take any action against dog owners who have fulfilled all of the other bylaw requirements but are having trouble getting insurance, Lee said.
Sacco's dogs are an American Staffordshire bull terrier and two American Staffordshire terriers.
She says they are good dogs that have never shown any sign of aggression. She says she's not concerned about the animals being around her two-month-old child.