Montreal unleashes additional animal inspectors
Owners could face fines of $100 for dogs caught off-leash, $250 for unregistered pets
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced that more animal control inspectors will be hitting the streets today, less than two months before the city considers a ban on pit bulls.
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In collaboration with police, the inspectors will be responsible for enforcing the city's animal control by-law and will particularly be on the lookout for dogs without leashes or permits.
Owners face a minimum fine of $100 for dogs caught off-leash.
If an inspector catches a dog without a tag, it could cost owners $250. And if an unregistered dog is a breed considered dangerous by the city, the inspector can confiscate the animal.
"The message is clear: In Montreal, you are required to register your dog. At present, only 14 per cent of the 150,000 dogs in Montreal's city limits are registered," said Councillor Anie Samson, vice-chair of the city's executive committee and the person responsible for the animal control file.
Though the city's announcement mostly made mention of dogs, many boroughs require that cats have a yearly permit as well, including indoor-only cats.
The city is encouraging owners to call 311 or visit an Accès Montréal office to obtain a permit and tag for their pets and to get familiar with their borough's regulations.
Amendments to Montreal's animal control by-law will be tabled at city council in September that would ban anyone from owning new pit bulls or other dangerous breeds. The list of dangerous breeds will be announced next month, Samson said.
The proposed rules would allow existing owners of these breeds to keep their dogs, but they will have to be registered, spayed or neutered and wear a muzzle in public.
The recent move towards stricter animal control laws comes after a string of serious dog attacks in Montreal and surrounding regions.
In June, 55-year-old Christiane Vadnais was found dead in her backyard after being mauled by a pit bull.