Canada: Dog that attacked 7-year-old boy in Verdun was a pit bull

CANADA -- Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has confirmed that the dog who attacked a boy in Verdun on Sunday was, in fact, a pit bull and that it will be euthanized at the owner’s request.

Coderre added that the attack shows that the city was right to adopt a bylaw on dangerous dogs.

“It proves that there is a behaviour problem with these dogs,” Coderre said. “That’s exactly the reason we put this rule in front.”

The boy was attacked by the dog of his mother’s partner inside a home, according to a borough spokesperson. He suffered injuries to his face and required stitches on the inside and outside of his cheek.

“You know what I’m thinking about? The little seven-year-old kid who was bitten in the mouth and will be marked for life,” Coderre said, when asked to confirm that the dog will be put down.

The mayor insists the city’s controversial pit bill bylaw will reduce attacks and chided those who oppose it.

“It would be very interesting, now, to see what will be the excuse (from pit bull advocates)?” he said. “We believe in putting humans before dogs, it’s a pretty basic rule.”

Verdun’s mayor, Jean-François Parenteau, a member of Coderre’s party, agreed with the law, calling it “essential” in an interview with Radio-Canada. “It’s not about not liking animals,” he said. “It’s about prioritizing the human.”

Critics of the pit bull ban have said it unfairly punishes an entire breed of dogs for their owners’ behaviour. Pit bull advocates claim there’s no evidence linking breed-specific bylaws with a reduction in dog bites.

Parenteau said the SPCA is currently following protocol by holding the animal for 10 days to test for rabies and other diseases.

The dog will then be euthanized.

(Montreal Gazette - January 23, 2017)