2Cats
November 9th, 2004, 10:16 PM
As a Canadian, I do not support the Ontario Pit Bull ban. I do however support increased criminal liability, higher fines etc. for those whose animals (of any breed) pose a nuisance and/or threat to the general public and to the reasonable peace of neighbourhoods with excessive barking/howling etc.
The new guidelines could read something like this:
a) Any animal running at large can be problematic even if it isn't vicious. dogs at large can frighten people, open garbage, dig holes, destroy planting beds etc. I support full restitution for damages caused by loose dogs.
Ex) Your dog escapes from your yard and digs up my vegetable garden. You are wholly responsible for the entire replacement cost of said garden.
b) Any dog who attacks, threatens to attack, chases or otherwise intimidates or disturbs anyone is declared a 'nuisance' (for minor violations), or a 'dangerous' (for major ones) animal and is subject to licensing increases, muzzling and leashing in public, banning from off leash dog parks and subject to housing either indoors or in a secure enclosure on the owner's property. Someone's right to own dog does not trump someone else's right not to be threatened or attacked in a public area.
I also support severe fines and even imprisonment for those who fail to protect the public from their animals. This should make any questionable animal's owner sit up and take notice while exempting dogs who are responsibly handled, whatever the breed.
The new guidelines could read something like this:
a) Any animal running at large can be problematic even if it isn't vicious. dogs at large can frighten people, open garbage, dig holes, destroy planting beds etc. I support full restitution for damages caused by loose dogs.
Ex) Your dog escapes from your yard and digs up my vegetable garden. You are wholly responsible for the entire replacement cost of said garden.
b) Any dog who attacks, threatens to attack, chases or otherwise intimidates or disturbs anyone is declared a 'nuisance' (for minor violations), or a 'dangerous' (for major ones) animal and is subject to licensing increases, muzzling and leashing in public, banning from off leash dog parks and subject to housing either indoors or in a secure enclosure on the owner's property. Someone's right to own dog does not trump someone else's right not to be threatened or attacked in a public area.
I also support severe fines and even imprisonment for those who fail to protect the public from their animals. This should make any questionable animal's owner sit up and take notice while exempting dogs who are responsibly handled, whatever the breed.