Dog Breed Specific Legislation: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
In response to a number of highly publicized attacks on people by "pit bull"-type dogs, several provincial and municipal legislatures have enacted Breed Specific Legislation. This legislation ranges from restrictions and conditions on the ownership of certain breeds to outright bans, and often establishes a legal presumption that certain breeds are prima facie "dangerous". Breed Specific Legislation has been the target of a number of legal challenges, both in Canada and abroad.
The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at McGill will host an interdisciplinary panel discussion on Breed Specific Legislation. Drawing on their unique expertise, panelists will critically discuss Breed Specific Legislation and the various scientific, policy and legal issues it raises.
Alanna Devine is a graduate of McGill's Faculty of Law and the founder of the McGill chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF). She is currently the Director of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and has been particularly active in the fight against Breed Specific Legislation in Quebec.
Nicholas Gilman has been working on behalf of animals for over 26 years. His work experience ranges from national disaster relief to cruelty investigation, consulting and shelter design. In 2006, Mr. Gilman founded Humane Logic, a business consulting firm focusing on the animal welfare field. He is the current Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA.
Dr. Enid Stiles obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College and a Masters in Clinical Sciences (Behaviour Medicine) from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of University of Montreal. She is a founding member of Veterinarians without Borders, Canada and the current Director of Canine/Feline Programs for this organization. Dr. Stiles is also a practicing veterinarian at Sherwood Park Animal Hospital in Beaconsfield.
For more information please visit www.saldf.ca.