Lawyers for the city of Montreal argued in court on Friday that the injunction against certain aspects of Montreal's animal control bylaw should be overturned.

Because of the injunction, aspects of the bylaw are currently suspended until a full hearing is held at a yet-to-be-determined date, likely in several months.

Last week Justice Louis Gouin approved the SPCA's application for an injunction against pit-bull-specific aspects of the bylaw and determined the advocacy group had demonstrated a "real and immediate urgency" that warranted the temporary measure.

In court on Friday, lawyers for Montreal lawyers appealed the injunction and argued that nothing in the law was urgent at all.

In particular, the city's lawyer said the city of Montreal was willing to guarantee that no dog would be ordered euthanized until the courts had made a final decision on the SPCA's challenge.

Under the bylaw, pit bulls already in the city of Montreal as of Oct. 3 can remain in the city as long as they are registered, muzzled and on a short leash while outside, among other provisions, with owners having until the end of the year to register their animals.

The bylaw authoritizes the euthanization of pit bulls that violate those provisions, and it is that aspect that the city is willing to delay enforcing until the end of the court challenge.

In addition, the city's lawyer argued that the injunction-granting judge was incorrect is saying that wearing a muzzle was "mistreatment."

He said having owners place a muzzle on their dogs may be "inconvenient", but it was certainly not harmful to the animals.

Lawyers for the SPCA opposed the city, and reiterated earlier arguments that the definitions of pit bull used in the bylaw (which are taken from the Canadian Kennel Club) were vague.

She also argued that muzzling dogs can create behavioural problems.

She also doubted that the city's concession in not euthanizing dogs would actually be held up in practice.

The SPCA lawyer said the agency would not be able to care for dogs in its care indefinitely and would end up having to euthanize unadoptable dogs.

That drew the ire of the city of Montreal's lawyer, who pointed out unwanted pit bulls could be adopted by people in other cities.

There are agencies in other provinces that have, in fact, been adopting pit bulls from the Montreal SPCA ever since the ban on pit bulls was first announced.

The judge said she would consider arguments before ruling on the injunction, and urged the SPCA and the city of Montreal to work out an agreement.

While the injunction is in place the pit bull specific previsions of animal handling in Montreal are not being enforced, meaning pit bulls are not required to be muzzled or on a short leash.

But all other aspects of the bylaw remain in place, including the requirements to place dogs over 20 kg in a harness.