Last fall Chatham-Kent-Leamington Conservative MPP Rick Nicholls introduced Bill 147 which would alter the Dog Owners' Liability Act to repeal the Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) when it comes to Pit Bulls type dog breeds.
The bill has gone through two readings and it currently waiting to be called before a committee says Nicholls.
“We're hoping it will be at least called to committee before the house rises in June. And that will give us the summer to actually do some traveling and talk to people and get further input into the bill, to make it a better bill.”
Under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, if a dog is identified as a banned breed, or 'pit bull' – which includes American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terriers – the dog could be transferred out of the Province, euthanized even if the dog has no prior offences.
Nicholls says support for the repeal has been growing and says there is a strong online presence of supporters whom have created many petitions to support the repeal.
He believes the current law was put into effect from a “knee-jerk reaction” to an individual who was bit by a pit bull.
“We feel the ban itself was going at the wrong end of the leash, we want to put in place very strict rules and penalties that will in fact create a culture of safety and individual accountability.”
He believes Bill 147 will go hand in hand with the new Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act.
The PAWS Act sets the strongest penalties in Canada for anyone who violates animal welfare laws.
“The legislation is designed to make it tougher on owners legally if dogs are mistreated,” says Nicholls.
“The former legislation was going after the wrong end of the bill, they were going after the dog…we're going after the owner.”
When it came to an early vote in cacaus, Bill 147 saw 36 votes in favour and 12 votes against.
Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson was a vote against the Bill. Nicholls says he's okay with votes against Bill 147 and says Thompson gave a “very compelling” personal story on her reasoning to caucus.
“I'm actually kind of glad that some of my caucus member voted against it…we had some good debate on it and the opposition… including the Green Party supported it.”
Locally two petitions supporting the proposed Bill have been circulating in Saugeen Shores.
Saugeen Shores resident Tyler Higgins says she distributed the petitions at Pet Valu and Unleash the Pawsitive in Port Elgin and says they recieved over 200 signatures.
“They're (Pit Bulls) just about the nicest dogs there are,” says Higgins, adding “they're full of joy.”
Higgin's goes on to say that in England Pit Bull breeds are often called “Nanny Dogs” as they're great with children.
When her family moved to Canada she says they had to leave their dog in England because of the strict BSL laws in Ontario.