Mayor Denis Coderre is expected to make an announcement Saturday morning regarding the future of pit bulls, and whether breed-specific legislation is foreseeable on Montreal’s horizon.
The mayor’s impending announcement follows a statement made by Premier Philippe Couillard on Thursday. Couillard confirmed that Quebec “probably” would follow Ontario’s lead in banning the animals throughout the province, saying “public safety” is the primary concern. However, he acknowledged that banning a specific breed is a complex issue, indicating that he will take the summer to “reflect.”
The prospective ban comes after Christiane Vadnais, a 55-year-old woman from Pointe-aux-Trembles, was pronounced dead June 8 after a vicious attack by her neighbour’s dog. The pit bull is believed to have crawled into the backyard through a hole in the fence. Media reports said autopsy results released to Vadnais’s family Friday confirm that Vadnais died as a direct result of the mauling. However, Jean-Pierre Brabant, a spokesperson for Montreal police, was unable to confirm the results of the autopsy, which have not been made public.
The tragedy stirred controversy throughout the province, with Quebec City proposing to ban pit bulls as of Jan. 1, 2017 — leaving owners no choice but to respect the regulations and get rid of their dogs. The city of Brossard announced it will also ban the breed, although dogs already living there would be grandfathered. Candiac has also proposed a ban, following the examples of Outremont and La Prairie, where bans are already in effect.
