Which Quebec cities, towns have pit bull laws?

The death of 55-year-old Christiane Vadnais, fatally attacked in her Montreal backyard by a pit bull last month, touched off a province-wide debate about the breed some believe is inherently dangerous, while others say is harmless if owned by the right person.

Following Vadnais's death, the Quebec government convened a working group that is supposed to have legislation ready by the end of August.

But some municipalities decided they weren't going to wait for the province to act. Others already have laws in place regulating pit bulls.

Municipalities generally opt for legislation that targets either certain breeds of dogs, or consists of more general rules aimed at dogs deemed dangerous or have a mix of the two approaches. 

Here is a partial list of the pit bull-related legislation in cities, towns and boroughs across the province.

Places with breed-specific legislation

Longueuil

• Ban to come into effect July 15.
• Residents who already own a pit bull will be allowed to keep their dogs, but must have their dog licensed by Oct. 1, 2016, sterilized, microchipped and it must wear a muzzle in public.

Outremont​

• ​Doesn't issue permits to dogs of the pit bull-terrier breed.

Anjou

• Bans bull terrier breeds and Rottweilers as well.

Candiac

• Originally had dangerous dog law, not breed-specific legislation, but caved to public pressure and implemented a pit bull ban weeks later.

Brossard

• Announced in response to the mauling last year of an 8-year-old girl.
• Owners of banned breeds must have $250,000 in liability insurance, prove that their dog has passed an obedience course and have their dog fitted with a microchip.

La Prairie

• Bans various breeds of bull terriers.
• Kept ban in place when neighbouring towns, including Candiac, decided to go with a dangerous dog law.

Drummondville

• Was originally passed in 1993.
• Amended in 2014 to include dangerous dogs, not just pit bulls.

Saguenay

• Since 2007, bull terrier breeds are not allowed.

Rimouski

• Bans bull terriers but also dangerous dogs, dogs suspected of having rabies, dogs that chase or attack bystanders, cyclists or motorcyclists or dogs that have already bitten or injured someone within the city.

Places with dangerous-dog laws

Laval 

• Passed a resolution asking bureaucrats to draw up new bylaws that target owners of dangerous dogs.
• Wants Ottawa to change the Criminal Code of Canada to create uniform rules across the country to deal with dangerous dogs.

Bromont

• Initially implemented a pit bull ban but replaced it in April with a dangerous dog law.

Places with legislation in the works

Montreal

• New bylaw expected to be in place by September.
• Will ban pit bulls across all 19 boroughs but be broad enough to also target dangerous dogs.

Quebec City

• Mayor Régis Labeaume announced he would ban pit bulls by 2017 but then backtracked, saying he only wanted to start a debate on the issue.

Sherbrooke

• Waiting for the province to come up with its legislation.
• Announced plans to force dogs over 20 kilograms to wear halters, but scrapped the idea July 4.

Châteauguay

• Had a ban but citizens rallied to have it overturned. Town is still in the revision process.