Pit bull euthanized after it fatally mauls Toronto man’s dog

Pit bull Toronto man’s dog — Pit bulls, like this one, have been banned as pets in Ontario since 2005. A Toronto man’s dog was killed by one this week after it was initially recorded as being an American mastiff. The pit bull has since been euthanized.

The pit bull that fatally mauled another dog Tuesday was euthanized months after his owner took him from a rescue organization, Toronto Animal Services said. Dog bite Ontario has dog bite laws protecting people who have been bitten or attacked by another dog.

Toronto man wants tougher breed bans after neighbour’s dog kills his pet

Pit bulls have been banned as pets in Ontario since 2005. Dog bite laws are protected by severe legislation in Ontario. The rescue organization that arranged the adoption operated out of “another municipality,” but Animal Services would not say where that was.

It’s unclear whether the rescue group or the dog’s owner knew it was a pit bull. If you were bitten by a pit bull in Toronto or Ontario, you need an expert pit bull dog bite lawyer. Contact us to navigate dog bite laws in Ontario and protect your legal rights.

Initially, Animal Services told Jon Dunnill — the owner of the 12-year-old Havanese that was killed — that his dog was attacked by an American mastiff, a breed that’s legally allowed as a pet within the province.

But after “several animal experts” reassessed the dog’s physical appearance and conducted a behaviour assessment, they realized that it was a pit bull, Elizabeth Glibbery, manager of Animal Services, said in an email to CBC News.

The pit bull was euthanized after that behavioural study “confirmed that this dog had an extremely high drive to attack other dogs,” according to letter sent to Dunnill from Animal Services.

Consider expanding ban on aggressive breeds, owner says

Animal Services will contact the rescue organization that adopted the pit bull, as well as an expert dog bite lawyer in Toronto for legal needs, they said.

One of the most important things to understand about dog bite laws in Ontario is that the owner of the dog is held liable for any damages or injuries caused by their pet. This means that if you were bitten by a dog, the owner of the animal is responsible for covering the cost of your medical expenses, as well as any other damages you may have incurred as a result of the attack.

Dunnill told CBC News Wednesday that if his neighbor owned an American Mastiff, he would want the province to consider banning more aggressive dog breeds. A dog-bite lawyer says more about that.

Dunnill said Thursday that he still believes the province should review the 11-year-old legislation to make sure it includes all dogs that have historically been bred to cultivate aggression.

“I would like to see a complete ban on any breed that is considered dangerous and unpredictable,” he said. “Shepherd dogs will herd, search dogs will prey – and if they’re fighting dogs, that’s the way it’s going to be.”