A year after Chateauguay told lobbyists it would reconsider a ban on pit bulls, the city has yet to do so.
The impetus to change the bylaw came in 2015 when Hugh Patrick McGurnaghan was stopped by police outside a depanneur, fined $168 for having a pit bull, and told the dog would be euthanized if it was still in the city seven days later.
Susan Mackasey launched a petition which was signed by thousands of people, and presented it last year to Chateauguay city councillors.
"The intentions were good. The mayor realized you know this law's been in effect for 25 years. It's outdated, it's not protecting our society. And we need to change it," said Mackasey.
After receiving the petition last August, Mayor Nathalie Simon said Chateauguay would "refresh the bylaw."
It turned out that many of the people who signed the petition were not residents of Chateauguay, let alone Canada.
Following a much-publicized fatal dog attack last month in Montreal that triggered a wave of anti-pit bull legislation in cities and towns across the province, Chateauguay's administration reiterated that its current ban is still in effect.
"New events happened in the last months in the province and elsewhere too," said Simon.
Chateauguay has joined a province-wide committee to study the issue.
"Are we looking at one kind of dogs or every kind of aggressive dogs? That's where we're at," said Simon.
Pressure is coming from those who support and oppose a ban.
On Monday police in Laval had to intervene when a mail man was mauled by two pit bulls.
Pit bull owners argue other breeds are just as dangerous.
"No one wants to hear about the Golden [Retriever], or the German Shepherd, or the Husky," said Brenda Goyer.
Well-known Quebec lawyer and animal advocate Anne-France Goldwater was at Monday's rally at city hall, saying she believes there are legal grounds to challenge breed-specific legislation.
"[Pets] are not just movables anymore. I think I can challenge any law that would target a race of dogs and I intend to do so," said Goldwater.
Mayor Simon did tell dog owners at a rally on Monday that police have been told not to enforce the current ban while the new bylaw is drafted.
