Fighting for Zeus
Pit Bull pet may get kicked out of county
COUNTRY HARBOUR - Friends and neighbors have rallied around a Country Harbour family who are at risk of losing their long-time pet, Zeus, a full-bred Pit Bull.
Councillor Bradley MacLeod presented Guysborough municipal council last week with photos of Zeus and 10 letters of support for the Cameron family in their fight with the county to keep their dog. The letters were referred to public services committee and will be reviewed at a meeting this week.
A dog control by-law, passed in 2004 bans any dog deemed "fierce or dangerous," including Pit Bulls. Although a grandfather clause was written into the by-law to protect existing Rottwielers who were registered with the municipality, no request was made to include such a clause for Pit Bulls, therefore none was included - meaning Pit Bulls were banned out right.
Glen Avery, director of public works says the family had been notified of the by-law.
"We made them aware that the dog is considered 'fierce and dangerous' under our by-law." Avery says the council would like to give the family a chance to re-locate the dog.
The Cameron family have owned Zeus for 13 years. Marilyn Cameron insists her dog is gentle, has never been any trouble and she should be allowed to keep him.
"I could understand if he was dangerous or attacking people," says Cameron. "But he's never hurt anyone. He never leaves the yard."
A neighbor of the Cameron family who wrote a letter to council in support of the family, says Zeus never leaves the yard and has never been a problem.
"People have a fear of the unknown," says the neighbor. "(Pit Bulls) get a bad rap."
Councillor MacLeod says he supports the Camerons.
"I'm backing these folks," he explained. "My dog is 13 and if I had to get rid of him, I'd be fighting too." MacLeod says he is seeking an amendment to the existing dog control by-law to include a grandfather clause for Pit Bulls.
The Cameron's consider Zeus a part of the family. Marilyn insisted she will not give up her pet.
"They're going to have to take me to jail first," says Cameron. Both her and her husband agree that certain "dangerous" breeds of dogs are not the problem, it's the owners.
"They're not taking (Zeus)," says Willard Cameron. "I don't believe in this 'genocide' against a breed of dog."
Halifax, Cape Breton, Digby, Annapolis County and King's County all have "fierce or dangerous" dog by-laws, but have not banned specific breeds. Clark's Harbour banned Pit Bulls in 1998. In March 2005, Ontario passed a bill that proposed banning Pit Bulls, making it the first province to ban the breed.
