Muncie shelter hopes to save Montreal pit bulls
MUNCIE, Ind. — The city's animal shelter is critical of breed-specific legislation targeting pit bulls in Montreal, Canada, and hopes to rescue some dogs from there that might otherwise be killed.
Pit bulls are probably Muncie's most common dog breed, shelter director Phil Peckinpaugh told The Star Press on Thursday. While any animal can bite or show behavior problems, Peckinpaugh said, pit bulls have unfairly been given a reputation as a vicious animal.
It's that reputation and a fatal mauling that's led to legislation in Montreal, where city council voted Tuesday to outlaw pit bulls and variations on the breed unless owners undergo a criminal background check and pay $150 for a permit. The dogs must be sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped and must wear a muzzle when on a leash in public.
News accounts have reported that pit bulls in shelters when the legislation becomes law will be euthanized. One report noted that pit bulls make up as many as 700 of the 2,000 dogs taken in by the shelter there each year.
The Muncie shelter has put out an appeal on social media for volunteers and donations to help go to Montreal to rescue pit bulls from shelters there.
"If they need help, we've offered to help," Peckinpaugh said. "We might end up with some Montreal pit bulls. At no expense to taxpayers, though. It's all through donations.
"We are against any breed-specific legislation," he added. "Accidents happen and they're horrible, but I don't think it's a pit bull problem or a dog problem. It's an ownership problem."
Peckinpaugh said he's unaware of any breed-specific legislation being introduced in Indiana, but said he would oppose it if that happens.
"To punish an entire breed makes no sense," he added. "This is why people don't like government. It's overreach."
He acknowledged that many pit bull owners have brought on problems by making the dogs "a status symbol" and by over-breeding pit bulls.
"They are incredibly over-populated," he said. "There are far too many in the hands of irresponsible owners. However, that's no excuse to ban them. That's where education comes into play."
Under Indiana law, dogs that have bitten someone are supposed to be held 10 days in case they show signs of rabies or another illness. In Muncie, the shelter keeps dogs on such "bite holds."
On Thursday, two dogs were under bite holds at the shelter, Peckinpaugh said: a dachshund and a cocker spaniel.
Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
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