Breed-specific language targeting pit bulls has been removed from a proposed Maple Ridge animal control bylaw.

The proposed bylaw, which is on Monday’s workshop’s agenda and will possibly be passed on to Tuesday’s council meeting, defines aggressive and dangerous dogs, but does not include any reference to specific breeds as being aggressive or dangerous.

The original proposed bylaw would have classified pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, and American pit bull terriers as “aggressive” dogs.

An aggressive dog in the reworked bylaw would be one that bites or harasses other pets or people, but “typically the bite is minor and the aggressive behaviour is not so distressing as to be considered traumatizing.”

A dog would be classified as dangerous if it attacks multiple times or its attack is of a serious nature and the animal control officer believes that there might be a “serious threat to public safety.”

Reaction to the original classification of pit bulls and related dogs as dangerous was met with a public outcry and a dog walk in support of the breeds in late September.

- Stay tuned to The TIMES print and online editions for more information.