Marty
10-27-2004, 11:13 AM
TORONTO -- Breeders of purebred dogs like the Staffordshire bull terrier will not be exempted from Ontario's provincewide ban on pit bulls.
Breeders say they were surprised to see the government include Staffordshire bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers among the dogs being banned in Ontario.
Attorney General Michael Bryant says he rejected the breeders' appeals for an exemption because there have been attacks on people by the registered pure breds listed in the province's ban.
He says the government checked and discovered the pure breds can be just as dangerous as other mixed breed pit bulls.
However, Bryant says he may be willing to make some kind of accommodation for the handful of purebred pit bulls in Ontario that participate in international dog shows.
But he says breeders will have to find other breeds of dogs or get out of the business in Ontario.
Breeders say they were surprised to see the government include Staffordshire bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers among the dogs being banned in Ontario.
Attorney General Michael Bryant says he rejected the breeders' appeals for an exemption because there have been attacks on people by the registered pure breds listed in the province's ban.
He says the government checked and discovered the pure breds can be just as dangerous as other mixed breed pit bulls.
However, Bryant says he may be willing to make some kind of accommodation for the handful of purebred pit bulls in Ontario that participate in international dog shows.
But he says breeders will have to find other breeds of dogs or get out of the business in Ontario.