On April 2, an 11 year old boy was fatally bitten by two large dogs at his father’s house.  The dogs has bitten people and killed a cat before, and the dogs were euthanized by the shelter four days after the incident.  These four tragic deaths could have been prevented by educating the public on how to care for dogs.  We would love humane education in schools, and Canine Good Citizen education for all dogs and guardians.  

Please do NOT ban any breed of dogs.  While these dogs happened to be Cane Corso mastiffs, they could just as easily could have been other pure breeds, mixed breeds, or really any dog. Breed Specific Legislation bans whichever breed has been most profiled recently in the media.  https://justice-for-bullies.myshopify.com/pages/the-history-of-bsl 

Breed Specific Legislation never works.  BSL causes many adoptable dogs who have never bitten to be euthanized, pushes vulnerable breeds underground, and/or allows irresponsible or abusive people to obtain other types of dogs. https://justice-for-bullies.myshopify.com/pages/does-bsl-work​

https://spca.bc.ca/programs-services/leaders-in-our-field/position-statements/position-statement-dangerous-dogs-public-safety/

We would love to see a very strong no kill Breed Neutral Dog protection bylaw, one that focuses on preventing bites, educating people, and rehabilitation of dogs and their gaurdians after an incident.  

https://justice-for-bullies.myshopify.com/pages/bsl-alternatives

The current bylaw is good, but mandatory training the dog is only one option.  We would like mandatory training of all dogs, and spay/neuter be mandatory unless the dog is registered as a breeding dog.  Every dog who bites should have mandatory spay or neuter.  https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/C13145.pdf?cb=1713164654

We applaud the City of Edmonton for having a special police unit dedicated to ending animal cruelty.  Animal cruelty often leads to human harm too. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/CrimePrevention/PersonalFamilySafety/AnimalCrueltyInvestigationUnit

We would like Edmonton to mandate that all dogs of any breed receive training.  We would like Edmonton Animal Care and Control to provide free training and spay/neuter services for dogs of all breeds.  We would like mandatory good behaviour therapy for any dog who bites a human or anymal.  Currently, although restricted dogs (those who have bitten) must wear a muzzle outside, proof of training is only one of the possible dog bite penalties.  The fatal incident took place indoors, with no muzzle. (Muzzles can be humane.  https://muzzleupproject.com/muzzle-training/​ https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/pets_wildlife/restricted-dogs

We agree with the City not mandating euthanasia as a response to bites.  It is not the fault of the dog that the guardian is not properly caring for the dogs.  After the fatal bite incident, the two dogs were surrendered to the shelter and euthanized.  They were not likely treated as family members before the incident, because a person who cared would have rehabilitated the dogs and would never have waited until a crisis.  Failure to provide mental health care for a dog with behavioural problems is one type of neglect that leads to tragedy.  https://justice-for-bullies.myshopify.com/pages/co-occurring-factors-in-dog-bite-related-fatalities

Here is a list of decent bylaws in British Columbia.  https://spca.bc.ca/programs-services/working-for-better-laws/model-municipal-bylaws/

Pitt Meadows, BC, has a good bylaw on dog aggression.  https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2022-07/2735__2016_Dog_Control_Bylaw_-_CONSOLIDATED_VERSION.pdf

It is very sad that a boy was killed and two dogs were euthanized.  The dogs had bitten before. Why didn’t the dog’s guardian train them?  No children or animals should die because of irresponsible animal guardians.  

Please amend the bylaws to mandate all dogs must be spayed or neutered, and trained.  Please provide free training for all dogs and guardians, and mandate that training.  Please mandate all guardians of dogs who bite must provide special training for their dog.  

In some cases though, a dog should be removed from their guardian and brought to a sanctuary for retraining and rehabilitation.  And in some extreme cases, a dog could be mandated to live out their life at a sanctuary with people who truly care for them.