Pit bull bylaw is smart: PETA

Re: “SPCA sues city over bylaw” (Montreal Gazette, Sept. 29)

Montreal city council should be applauded for passing legislation that requires all pit bulls (and, eventually, all dogs) to be licensed, vaccinated, sterilized, and microchipped — all of which responsible dog guardians do anyway. This law will help ensure that pit bulls are well cared for and will prevent more dogs from worsening the dog homelessness crisis.

Montreal has imposed conditions on ownership. If anyone thinks people who can’t afford a dog should have one, take a minute and think it through. What happens when that dog breaks a leg, gets parvovirus, needs shots and so on?

We know what happens: They get turned in to a shelter, usually by that time too old, sick, injured, or undesirable for anyone to want to take.

Pit bulls are the most abused dogs on the planet. They are the breed most often found stuck on a filthy patch of dirt on a heavy chain 24/7, often with only a leaky plastic barrel (or nothing at all) for shelter. They are beaten and starved to make them “mean,” and thrown into dogfighting rings to fight for their lives.

Preventing more pit bulls from ending up this way isn’t breed-specific discrimination — it’s breed-specific protection. Any ban on breeding is a fabulous thing. It will help pit bulls and homeless animals. Ingrid E. Newkirk, president, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Washington, D.C.