Montreal

Beaconsfield passes resolution against breed-specific legislation

While Montreal's pit bull bylaw has been suspended until Wednesday, another municipality on the island says breed-specific legislation isn't the way to go.

West Island suburb comes out against full ban as protesters prepare rally against Montreal bylaw

Beaconsfield is pushing back against breed-specific legislation, with Kirland set to discuss the topic in an upcoming caucus meeting. (Vancouver Animal Control)

While Montreal's pit bull bylaw has been suspended until Wednesday, another municipality on the island is pushing back against breed-specific legislation.

Beaconsfield passed a resolution last week stating all their animals are "sentient beings and deserve protection."

Mayor Georges Bourelle said there should be strict rules around dangerous dogs, but that targeting breeds is not the right approach.

"We have a bylaw on dangerous dogs and if a dog is deemed to be dangerous, yes, it needs to be muzzled," he told CBC Montreal's Homerun.

"If the dog's behaviour continues to be dangerous it could eventually be euthanized. But again, it is for any dog, not breed-specific."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the City of Kirkland confirmed that breed-specific legislation will be discussed in an upcoming caucus meeting.

Protesters to wait for Coderre tonight

On Tuesday evening, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre will speak at the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) to present his vision for the city's 375th anniversary.

A protest has been planned ahead of the event in nearby Place Émilie-Gamelin, the public square near the BAnQ.

Protesters opposed to the pit bull bylaw created this image, likening Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre to a cartoon villain. (Facebook/Manifestation «Le maire et Montréal» Protest)
The Facebook event page makes reference to Coderre being cruel to dogs with pictures of him as the 101 Dalmatians character Cruella de Vil. 

More than 1,300 people are listed as interested in attending the event.

Protesters are being asked to bring signs, but no dogs in order to portray themselves as regular citizens against the ban as opposed to dog owners against it.

The protest is taking place in the same place as the annual memorial march for missing and murdered Indigenous women which begins at 6 p.m. More than 2,000 people are expected at that event.

with files from CBC Montreal's Homerun