Tommy Chang and his household are thrilled to be reunited with their beloved canine after accumulating him Monday from Vaughan Animal Providers the place he’s been held since Thanksgiving on suspicions he was a banned pit bull.
“He’s right here with us, he’s simply operating round, he’s so pleased,” the stuntman and martial artist stated Monday hours after selecting up Dwaeji.
Final month, the canine slipped out of the household’s Woodbridge residence and was turned over to VAS. A Vaughan animal management officer advised Chang that Dwaeji wouldn’t be launched as a result of he has the traits of canine banned in Ontario, and {that a} DNA take a look at can be carried out to find out its pedigree. A petition urging Dwaeji’s launch gathered 80,000 signatures.
Relying on the DNA outcomes, Chang was advised the canine might be relocated to a foster residence in one other province, seemingly Quebec.
Chang offered documentation that Dwaeji is an American Bully, which isn’t prohibited within the province. He additionally mounted a social-media marketing campaign, and staged a rally this previous weekend at Yonge and Dundas Sq. that drew a number of hundred folks.
He additionally retained defence lawyer Leo Kinahan, who put Vaughan officers on discover that “all avenues will likely be pursued” and the dispute might be headed for the courts.
On Monday, the VAS issued a press release that stated it had adopted the provincial pointers below the Canine House owners’ Legal responsibility Act, which was amended in 2005 to incorporate new banned breeds of canine, comparable to pit bulls.
“Based mostly on the work of this investigation, it has been decided that King-Kong Blu (also referred to as Dwaeji) will be lawfully launched,” the Metropolis of Vaughan stated in a information launch. “This can be a very pleased ending. VAS took the suitable steps below this provincial laws, and we’re happy with the end result.”
The discharge made no point out of the DNA take a look at, and Chang says he heard nothing additional about it.
He credit public strain — in addition to Premier Doug Ford — for Dwaeji’s return. He stated Ford referred to as him twice to precise assist and he’s satisfied he was “serving to behind the scenes. I believe it’s essential he be acknowledged.”
Whereas the Changs are thrilled Dwaeji is residence, they’re vowing to proceed to push the provincial authorities to alter the laws, which critics say is ineffective at defending the general public.
Kinahan stated Monday he’s gratified that Vaughan “has lastly seen the error of their methods. It took a little bit longer than we hoped for but it surely’s proper end result and we’re grateful for that.”
The present law states that no proprietor ought to “possess or harbour” a pit bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, or “a canine that has an look and bodily traits which are considerably comparable” to these banned animals.
Ontario’s pit bull ban was controversially launched by the then-Liberal authorities in 2005 following a collection of high-profile assaults.
The provincial Tories stated they had been considering repealing the ban as not too long ago as 2019.
