The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) is pleased to report that private member's Bill 16, an Act that serves to revoke the breed-specific section of the Dog Owners' Liability Act (DOLA), enacted August 29, 2005, was carried at the second reading today—with a vote of 51 for, and 26 against passing the Bill. The Bill will now be sent to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills—moving toward a third reading.

Bill 16, an Act to amend the Animals for Research Act and the Dog Owners' Liability Act with respect to pit bulls, was first introduced by MPP Randy Hillier (PC), Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, on November 30, 2011 and is supported by MPP Cheri DiNovo (NDP) Parkdale-High Park and MPP Kim Craitor (LIB) Niagara Falls.

"We are extremely encouraged by the Tri-party support, the support of our CKC members and the dog-owning public—and the response from the Legislative Assembly so far," says Sonny Allinson, CKC Manager of Marketing and Communications. 

Breed Specific Legislation, formerly known as Bill 132, targets "pit bull" type breeds that the DOLA defines as "a pit bull terrier, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier, an American Pit Bull Terrier, and a dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs." As a result, the targeting of such dogs negatively impacts countless breeds and dog owners in Ontario.

The CKC opposes Breed Specific Legislation and as stated in its official BSL Legislative Policy, "supports dangerous and/or vicious dog legislation, which would serve to protect the public from dangerous dogs." CKC maintains that "a dangerous temperament is a product of many factors" and cannot be determined by breed alone.