Animal control: a bereaved family target the big dogs

Photo 24 hours, Laurence Houde-Roy
Marianela Valdes and his daughter Zoe have lost their dog a week ago, died after being bitten by a Bull Terrier in the park Lafontaine.

Laurence Houde-Roy

Tuesday, 5 September 2017 21:21

UPDATE
Tuesday, 5 September 2017 21:26

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A family saddened by the death of their dog under the fangs of another believes that the rules on pitbulls in Montreal should target all the big dogs.

Frédéric LaBrie walking Bequec, his yorkshire terrier, 3 pounds, at park Lafontaine on August 26, when another dog, a Bull Terrier, rushed at him and bit the back of his animal.

“All of this has happened in a few seconds. We tried to open the dog’s mouth. There was blood everywhere. The spine of my dog was cut in half. Everything that had been done to the veterinarian, it is shortening his sufferings, ” recalls Mr. LaBrie.

His family is shocked from the event. Her little 3 year old daughter, Zoe, has had difficulty sleeping since the dog is no longer with her.

“It is a family member who is away. But I’m still glad that this is not a child who has been there,” explained Marianela Valdes, the mother of the family.

Out of control

“The dog was out of control when he saw two men pass by with their dog,” says Sophie Fournier, who had the care of the Bull Terrier. He managed to remove her halti [a harness on the mouth]. I tried to give him, but he was stronger than me and I lost the leash”. Ms. Fournier, took care of the dog for a week. She takes care of animals that are abandoned before handing it in to a family home.

She has received a statement of offence for the police to be the guardian of a dog who has bitten another and has had to keep him quarantined for 10 days. The file has been transferred to the City for analysis.

“There is nothing that I could do. It took me by surprise and was stronger than me,” admits Ms. Fournier.

Muzzle review

“Large dogs in public, I believe they no longer have the choice to put a muzzle. It’s like guns, the problem is not the dog, it’s the master,” argued Frédéric Brie.

Currently, the new regulations of the City of Montreal requires only the owners of pitbulls to wear a muzzle for their pet. The other dogs must have a harness and a leash.

Sabrina Sabbah, of the Coalition for the promotion of the safety of people and dogs, abounds in this sense and explains that all dogs can have unpredictable reactions, sometimes even to protect their master.

“All dogs can be reactive, small and large. Banish some function of their physical characteristics does nothing to protect the other dogs,” she says, insisting on the need for teachers to follow courses of training canine and carry the leaves to their pet.