UPDATE: My Quest for a Presa

[RHINO]

Hopefully I'm posting this in the right forum.... Some fo you may remember my post about info regarding Presa Canario's and how the guy at the local shelter told me "anything that remotely resembles a Pitbull is included in the Pitbull ban and that includes about 50 breeds"..I knew that didn't sound right, so I continued to gather bits of information in hopes I can get my Presa sometime next year.

I was out with a good friend of mine who is trying to make it as a photographer and we were taking some really good pics of my motorcycle. Alot of people walk their dogs in this area and an older man walked by with what I thought was a Pitbull,but I knew it looked too small. As he was walking by, he noticed my bike and started to compliment me on how nice it is. I complimented him on his beautiful dog and asked if it was a Pitbull as I reached out to pet her. He told me it was an Amstaf(?), a cousin to the Pitbull. I took this opportunity to ask him how he felt about the ban and people's ignorance towards these well mannered beauty's. He was basically irritated and angered over it the same way I was. I told him what the guy at the shelter told me and this man filled me in. It turns out there is only 3 breeds included in this ban and those are the only 3 you can not acquire after a certain date. They are the Amstaf Terrier,American Pitbull Terrier,and another one but I forget the name..Looks like I might be able to get my Presa pup afterall.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Good news then! Still not happy there even is a ban but I'm glad you didn't give up looking for info!

[SiberianFreeSpirit]

Why is there a ban on Pit Bulls? It's not the dogs' fault if they are aggressive, it's the way they're trained. When trained well, they can be as good a pet as any other breed!

[Sayuri]

Congrats, Rhino! I'm glad to hear Presas aren't included in the ban (though, like Crossfire, I remain dismayed that a ban exists at all).

[RHINO]

Thankyou! I am discusted by our Government. They are too quick to blame something as helpless as a dog, to keep their eyes on people who mistreat them and make them the way they are. There's much worse things going on here than dogs biting people that the Government of Ontario should be looking into.. The ban does not mean people have to get rid of their Pitbulls,however, no one is allowed to acquire one after a certain date set forth by our crappy Lawmakers. I feel terrible about the whole situation, but there's really nothing we can do except try to get an animal lover that carries some intellegence into power in Parliament.

Anyone know what is involved in bringing a dog accross the border and into Canada if I had to go South to pick a Presa? Any help is greatly appreciated. This is by no means an easy task.lol

[#1GSDFan]

They do the breed ban as a quick fix. Unfortunately, many owners of pit type dogs are not good owners. They use them for fighting, mistreat them so they are fear biters of people, and generally use them for thug appeal. Since they can't ban that type of owner, they ban the breeds. Not the right solution, I know.

[elegy]

just be careful and make sure you check the wording on the ontario bill to make sure that they cannot label your dog as a pit bull despite its real breed based on physical characteristics.

a guy in toldedo ohio just got nailed for having a "pit bull" despite his dog being a purebred papered american bulldog (the law there absolutely does not mention american bulldogs). apparently, there, it's a pit bull if the dog warden says it's a pit bull. i'm not sure what the exact wording on the ontario bill is but i vaguely remember something of that nature being in it so that they can include mixes.

i think the only thing you need to cross the border into canada with a dog is a valid rabies certificate but don't hold me to that. with the pit bull ban in effect, though, you'd better have certification saying your dog is not a pit bull.

(it's all so freaking stupid it makes my head hurt)

[Tiffany0204]

Yes, I'm dissapointed in our government as well with the Pitbull ban. Its' only going to be a matter of time before they start banning other breeds as well. It's the paper's fault, IMO.. they senastionalize the stories of the pittbulls that attack for "no reason" whatsoever. It's mainly children that the dogs have attacked.

I've seen children around dogs, and I'd be hard pressed to believe that they were compleatly innocent when reacting with the dog. They can be hurtful (without meaning to be) to animals. Argh.

Anyways, I hope you have luck with finding your presa, I did a search as well but I couldn't find much either. I agree with Elegy's idea that you re-read the ban to make sure they're not a part of the ban.

***Although***

I think you're not allowed to have un-altered pitbulls. I think if they're spayed/neutured then it's okay to have them. What's the term they used? "Grandfathered"? Anyways, knowledge is power, imo.

[Sayuri]

As far as the "grandfathered" pit bulls - my understanding is that these are the dogs that already had homes prior to the ban. So they get to stay, but no one is allowed to bring home/breed new pit bulls. I'm not familiar with the specifics of the Ontario law, but at a guess, I'd say that the pit bulls that are grandfathered in are required to be speutered - can anyone confirm?

[elegy]

Originally Posted by Sayuri

As far as the "grandfathered" pit bulls - my understanding is that these are the dogs that already had homes prior to the ban. So they get to stay, but no one is allowed to bring home/breed new pit bulls. I'm not familiar with the specifics of the Ontario law, but at a guess, I'd say that the pit bulls that are grandfathered in are required to be speutered - can anyone confirm?

correct. already owned pit bulls are required to be speutered. no more pit bulls can be brought into the province and any pups that are the result of breeding pit bulls in the province are considered banned dogs.

[Bullylover]

You are correct Elegy. I was going to say that before I read your post. I live in Toledo and the man has 2 American Bulldogs that look sweet as can be. Here, if the warden says it's a pit bull, you are only allowed one. Alot of people are very upset by this, as am I, even though I dont own what they consider a pit. It's the owners that train the dogs to be mean, not the dogs fault. I still dont understand how they have the say if it's a pit bull or not. It seems like they are finding more breeds they consider a pit, when its convenient for them. It's almost seeming like they have a quota of seized dogs to reach. It happened a few months ago to another man here who had a litter of pups. They took all the pups away and let him keep the mother. The dogs wouldnt have hurt a fly. Fortunately, after awhile, they gave him back his dogs over the state line, but he had to keep them out of Toledo.

[RHINO]

Thanks for your replies,everyone. I'm going to have to do alot of homework on this. My Aunt actually works at the Border and I suppose I should talk to her about this. She should know the details.. Thanks again,and I'll keep you posted.

[Sayuri]

Thanks Elegy.