Hamilton pit bull gets second chance in Alberta

When Athena first arrived in Alberta, she was described as quite a character."

And that's certainly in a good way - likes to play, likes to run," said Calum Burnett, animal services supervisor for the City of Hamilton. It's easy to recognize a really good, balanced animal."

Athena, a female pit bull approximately one year of age, was surrendered to animal services at the end of May. Since pit bulls are illegal in Ontario, animal services was unable to rehome her locally. Instead, they helped her find a new, out-of-province home.

We are thrilled to be able to help Athena," Animal Services posted on Facebook on July 6.

Athena was transferred to Toronto and flown to Edmonton mid-June - a flight that would have cost between $300 and $400. There, she was taken in by Pit Bulls for Life Foundation of Alberta, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned pit bulls in Canada, and immediately placed in foster care.

She is currently in her foster home with two dogs where she plays and runs daily on the farm," the Facebook post reads. They love her."

Burnett said they were confident Athena would make a good pet - but not for someone in Ontario.

We're obligated to adhere to the rules and regulations because we're a municipal pound," Burnett said.

Pit bulls - defined as a Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, and American pit bull terrier and dogs substantially" similar to any of those breeds - have been banned in Ontario since 2005. Since then, advocates like the group End the Ban have been attempting to repeal the controversial breed-specific legislation.

Over the last 15 years, the number of dogs identified as pit bull" have dwindled, Burnett said. This year, animal services will transfer just two or three dogs out of province. In previous years, that number has been as high as 10.

The numbers in general have gone down," he said, explaining that fewer dogs with strong pit bull" characteristics are coming through the door. They're becoming watered down, in a way."

Pit bulls deemed unsafe can't be transferred out of province and must be put down, though euthanization rates in Hamilton have decreased significantly over the last decade.

Athena was surrendered with another similar dog, which didn't qualify as a pit bull and was able to stay in the province.

That dog also made it to adoption," Burnett said. Both of them have really good stories."

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com