Quebec's 'potentially dangerous dog' law comes into effect today
Quebecers and their canine friends are now subject to a new ‘potentially dangerous dog’ bylaw, which came into effect today.
The new law, first announced in December, aims at preventing dog attacks and bites.
Municipalities across the province are now required to enforce the regulations which, in extreme cases, include ordering dangerous dogs to be put down.
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Doctors and veterinarians are now required to tell the municipality when a dog has bitten a person or another dog. A registry of potentially dangerous dogs has been posted to the Ville de Montreal website along with the dog’s name, breed, colour, and borough.
Dogs who are reported to the municipality will need to be assessed by a veterinarian to declare if it is actually dangerous or not. Dogs who are deemed potentially dangerous will be given restrictions such as being sterilized, microchipped, and will need to wear a muzzle at all times in public.
Potentially dangerous flagged dogs will also be prohibited from being alone with children under the age of 10 without adult supervision and the owners must place a sign that warns locals that a potentially dangerous dog is on the property.
In Montreal, dogs deemed dangerous will also be required to wear a tag issued by the city.
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A dog that is declared dangerous in one municipality in Quebec is therefore declared dangerous throughout the rest of the province.
Dogs could face euthanasia for ‘serious injuries’ — a physical injury that could be fatal or that pose “important physical” consequences to a person.
In Montreal, “dogs that have been declared dangerous must be euthanized within 48 hours,” states the Ville de Montreal website.
Owners who fail to comply with the new rules can have their dog seized, face fines of up to $2,500, or be banned from owning dogs for a specific amount of time.
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