The Town of Mount Royal is proposing new restrictions on pit bulls and related breeds within town limits.
Town officials said the bylaw legislation is still being drafted but said its goal is to prevent new pit bulls from living in TMR.
The bylaw will also restrict the movement of existing pit bulls by requiring the dogs to wear a muzzle at all times when outside their owner's home.
Pit bulls will also be banned from using the off-leash dog run near the Curling Club.
The bylaw amendment is expected to affect American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and similar breeds.
An official notice of the alteration to the town's animal control bylaw is on the agenda for Monday's council meeting, and the plan is to have the bylaw be voted on during the July 18, 2016 meeting.
If approved, the bylaw would be in effect as of July 20, 2016.
TMR Mayor Philippe Roy said so far, residents have responded positively.
“No, I've heard that there's a petition right now in favour of the banning,” he said. “I only heard people for the ban. I didn't hear anyone so far against the ban in TMR.”
The existing bylaw allows the animal control officer to humanely put down any dog that is deemed to be dangerous, which can include behaviour such as chasing people, biting people, or any dog that has been trained to attack.
The move comes as the provincial government ponders new legislation regarding pit bull terriers and related breeds in the wake of a deadly attack by a pit bull in Montreal.
Several cities across Quebec, including Montreal, Brossard, and Quebec City, have announced they will introduce strict new rules regulating or banning pit bulls this summer.
After receiving negative and even aggressive comments from pit bull owners, however, Quebec City Mayor Regis Lebaume Monday backed off a bit, and raised the possibility of a period of transitional measures.
