My husband and I rescued 6 month old Peanut in October 2012 and we didn’t know it at the time, but she was born with Progressive Retinal Atrophy.  This is an inherited disease, in which the rod cells in the retina are programmed to die and by age 1½ or so, Peanut was functionally blind.

Peanut has become well known in our neighbourhood in Steveston and we can barely walk down the street without people, children and other dogs stopping to say “hi”.  We have been told by many people that the ability she shows through her adversities is inspiring, and we certainly feel the same way.

Peanut is a very gentle mixed-breed showing characteristics of a Staffordshire Bull-Terrier and due to the City of Richmond’s current Breed Specific Legislation (“BSL”) we registered her as a “dangerous dog”. 

One of the City’s BSL requirements is that all “dangerous dogs” must wear a muzzle outside of their home. Peanut relies heavily on her whiskers in order to navigate in the outside world and all muzzles of all types/materials interfere significantly with her whiskers, which she uses to feel a wall before she hits it, or feel the edge of stairs or our car before falling.

We asked the City to review and amend their Animal Control Regulation Bylaws to allow for exemptions and they refused, noting that they must make difficult decisions for the overall wellbeing of the Community and in doing so can not necessarily align themselves with the wishes of all their residents.

This petition has been created for those Richmond residents who would like to see the above noted Bylaw revised in a way that is similar to the following (which is an excerpt from the City of Nanaimo’s current Bylaws):

To revise their definitions to describe two different categories of “dangerous” dogs:

“VICIOUS DOG” - means a dog which (a) has bitten a human without provocation; (b) has bitten an animal without provocation; or (c) has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack or aggressively pursue without provocation a human, or an animal.

“RESTRICTED DOG” - means (a) a Pit Bull Terrier, an American Pit Bull Terrier, a Pit Bull, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or an American Staffordshire Terrier; or (b) a dog of mixed breeding which breeding includes the blood line of the breeds referred to in (a).

NOTE: A dog is not a “Restricted Dog” if the dog is registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, the burden of proof of which registration is on the dog owner or the dog/dog owner has successfully completed the tests required to qualify for the Canine Good Neighbour(CGN) Certification.

Check out this link for more information on CGN Certification: http://www.ckc.ca/en/Raising-My-Dog/Responsible-Ownership/Canine-Good-Neighbour-Program

Not only would this change allow Peanut, and other special needs dogs like her, the opportunity to prove that a muzzle is not necessary, it will keep Richmond safer by encouraging owners to train and prove their pitbulls to be valued members of our community. 
 
I am a lifelong Richmond resident who is being forced to move out of the city I work in, have grown up in and love in order to keep my dog (who just happens to show the “characteristics” of a pit-bull) happy and healthy. 
 
Thanks for the support!