(Jessica Lewis's daughter with their blue nose pit bull 'Bronx'.-photo courtesy Jessica Lewis)
A Shelburne County woman says a local council needs to repeal its ban on certain breeds of dogs.
The Clark’s Harbour bylaw bans all breeds of pit bulls, American Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers and any mixed breed of those dogs.
Jessica Lewis, who owns a 9-week-old blue nose pit bull, was not aware of the bylaw until she got a notice in the mail telling her she’d have to give up the dog named ‘Bronx’.
She is one of at least two residents to get such a notice.
“They would then take the dog for 72-hours then sell it to the highest bidder and if the dog wasn’t sold, it would be put down in a humane manner.”
She says Bronx is a loving, friendly dog and very good with children.
Lewis says she spoke with the mayor, pleading with him to have council repeal the bylaw.
“I said we’d muzzle the dog when walking through town, not let it run free range and have it on a leash and register it with the town and as an emotional support dog . He would not budge.”
She says she’s has a lot of support.
Lewis says she’s not giving up her dog and she and her two young daughters are moving out of town.
Mayor Leigh Stoddart says the town took action following a complaint.
He says Lewis must have known about the bylaw because there was a lot of public debate at the time.
“Back in 2010-2011 we developed this bylaw, we felt for safety purposes for our town, we adopted it and it’s been law ever since.
Stoddart says he has also had much support for the town’s bylaw and council likely will not revisit it.
You can listen to the full interviews with Lewis and Stoddart on the Y95 Weekender this Sunday morning (July 28) right after the 9 a.m. news.
