15 pit bulls get 2nd chance in Saskatchewan as Montreal moves to ban the breed

A grey and white pit bull named Jack is one of several rescued dogs getting a second chance in Saskatchewan as Montreal moves to ban the breed.

Montreal city council is set to follow other cities, and the province of Ontario, by passing a bylaw to ban pit bulls and similar breeds by the end of the year. The move comes after a string of dog attacks, including one case where a 55-year-old woman was killed in her back yard.

John Claggett is fostering Jack through Regina-based Prairie Sky Dog Rescue. While the organization is primarily focused on helping stray dogs in the province, he said they answered the call for help from another group, One Last Chance, in Montreal.

“They’re working with the different shelters out there and essentially they’re getting calls when there is three days to a week left before a dog will be euthanized,” Claggett told the CJME Morning Show on Wednesday.

“They reached out to us to see if we would be able take some pit bulls in and we definitely jumped on board to help them out.”

Carolynn Williams with One Last Chance Animal Rescue said they have already sent 15 dogs to various rescue groups in Saskatchewan, including nine this week, and there could be more on the way. Prairie Sky has taken five dogs so far.

After spending 36 hours with him, Claggett describes Jack as a “loveable dork.”

“He follows you around like a little shadow and just wants pets and love,” he said.

From his perspective, Claggett doesn’t believe the breed is the issue. He said a dog’s behaviour depends on how it’s treated and trained.

“At the end of the day, a dog is an animal that just loves people for the most part, no matter what. So if you treat it right, raise it properly and give it a loving home, it should be a fine dog for you and your family,” he said.

Prairie Sky Dog Rescue does have a stringent screening process for people looking to adopt rescue dogs, including a questionnaire and a home visit. Claggett said they also recommend obedience classes and will even pay for a first class for some dogs.

—with files from The Canadian Press