Can You Adopt a Pitbull in Ontario? Understanding the Ban and Your Options

Listen, I’ve been researching this topic for weeks because my neighbor’s cousin wants to adopt a pitbull-looking dog and I figured I’d share what I learned with all of you. The short answer? It’s complicated. Ontario has had a pitbull ban since 2005 and it’s caused a lot of confusion for dog lovers across the province.

The Reality of Ontario’s Pitbull Ban

The Ontario government banned pitbulls back in 2005 by amending the Dog Owners’ Liability Act. When they first introduced this ban, Michael Bryant, who was the attorney general at the time, called pitbulls “time-bombs” and “inherently dangerous animals.” Pretty harsh words, right?

Under this provincial law. you cannot

• Own a pitbull
• Breed a pitbull
• Transfer ownership of a pitbull
• Import a pitbull into Ontario

The ban specifically identifies these breeds as restricted:

• Pit bull terriers
• Staffordshire bull terriers
• American Staffordshire terriers
• American pit bull terriers

But here’s where it gets tricky – the law also restricts dogs that have “an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar” to these breeds. This vague wording has created a lot of problems for dog owners and shelters.

Can You Still Legally Have a Pitbull in Ontario?

When the ban took effect in 2005, existing pitbulls that were already registered in Ontario were “grandfathered” in This meant people who already had pitbulls could keep them, but they had to follow strict rules like muzzling them in public

But we’re in 2025 now, and it’s been 20 years since the ban was implemented. Considering pitbulls typically live 12-16 years, it’s unlikely that any legally grandfathered pitbulls are still alive today.

So can you adopt a pitbull in Ontario? Technically, no.

Enforcement Varies By Municipality

Here’s where things get interesting. The province doesn’t actually keep statistics on pitbull ownership or bites. They’ve left enforcement entirely up to municipalities, and they don’t even regulate how data is collected.

This has led to vastly different approaches across Ontario:

• London: Enforces the ban proactively through its own bylaw and the Dog Owners’ Liability Act. Before a dog can be licensed in London, a veterinarian must verify and sign off on its breed. If it’s a pitbull, no license will be issued.

• Ottawa: Chooses not to actively enforce the ban.

• Toronto: Operates on a complaint-driven basis.

As Kent Lattanzio, director of operations for the London Animal Care Centre, has confirmed, the number of registered pitbulls in London has decreased since the ban, as have pitbull bites.

Penalties for Having a Pitbull

If you’re caught with a pitbull in Ontario, the consequences can be serious:

• Under London’s bylaw, failure to follow a muzzle order for a pitbull results in a $500 fine.
• Repeated bites and attacks may result in the city ordering the dog to be euthanized.
• Under provincial law, anyone found guilty of violating the ban can face up to a $10,000 fine and six months in prison.

That’s pretty serious stuff, and definitely not worth the risk in my opinion.

Has There Been Any Movement to Repeal the Ban?

There have been attempts to overturn the ban. After being elected in 2018, the Progressive Conservative government showed interest in repealing it.

In 2019, Rick Nicholls, who was then the MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, introduced a private member’s bill to repeal the ban. It was referred to a standing committee, but it’s basically been sitting in limbo since then.

In 2021, there was an incident where a 13-year-old boy in Vaughan was bitten in the face by an American Bully (a separate breed that resembles a pitbull). After this happened, Premier Doug Ford said the government would not proceed with changing the law “at this point.”

Instead, they eased regulations slightly to allow seized dogs that look like pitbulls to be released while an investigation into their breed takes place. So at least that’s something.

Has the Ban Been Effective?

This is where things get real fuzzy. Since the province doesn’t keep statistics on pitbull ownership or bites, it’s almost impossible to measure the success of the law.

The London Animal Care Centre has reported that while the number of registered pitbulls and pitbull bites has decreased in the city, the overall number of dog bites hasn’t really changed.

This supports what many critics have been saying all along – that the owner is more responsible for a dog’s behavior than its breed. I mean, my uncle had the sweetest pitbull mix before the ban, and the only dangerous thing about her was her slobbery kisses!

Your Options If You Want a Pitbull-Type Dog in Ontario

So what can you do if you’ve got your heart set on a pitbull-type dog while living in Ontario? Here are a few options:

1. Consider Similar But Legal Breeds

There are several breeds that share some characteristics with pitbulls but aren’t banned:

• Boxers
• American Bulldogs
• Cane Corsos
• Bullmastiffs

Just be careful because if your dog looks too much like a pitbull, you could still face issues due to that “substantially similar” clause in the legislation.

2. Move to Another Province

No other province in Canada has a breed-specific ban like Ontario. If having a pitbull is really important to you, you might consider relocating to:

• Quebec
• Manitoba
• British Columbia
• Alberta

3. Advocate for Change

Join organizations working to repeal breed-specific legislation. Many animal welfare organizations believe these laws are ineffective and unfair.

4. Foster or Support Rescue Organizations

Some rescue organizations work to relocate pitbulls from Ontario to places where they’re legal. You could volunteer or donate to these groups.

The “Look-alike” Problem

One of the biggest issues with Ontario’s pitbull ban is the part about dogs that have “an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar” to pitbulls.

This has created situations where dogs that aren’t actually pitbulls get seized just because they look like them. DNA testing isn’t standard practice, so dogs are often judged solely on appearance.

I’ve heard stories from friends who had to fight to keep their mixed-breed dogs because someone reported them as looking like pitbulls. It’s stressful and expensive to deal with these accusations, even when your dog isn’t actually a banned breed.

What Experts Say About Breed-Specific Legislation

Most major animal organizations oppose breed-specific legislation like Ontario’s pitbull ban. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the ASPCA all oppose breed-specific bans.

These organizations argue that:

• A dog’s behavior depends on factors like training, socialization, and responsible ownership
• Breed identification based on appearance is unreliable
• Resources would be better spent on enforcement of leash laws and responsible ownership education

My Personal Take

We’ve lived in Ontario for years, and I’ve seen firsthand how this ban affects people and dogs. I volunteered at a local shelter before the pandemic, and it was heartbreaking to see dogs that had pitbull-like features struggle to find homes or face potential euthanasia just because of how they looked.

I believe in responsible dog ownership for ALL breeds. Any dog can be dangerous without proper training and care. I wish Ontario would focus more on penalizing irresponsible owners rather than banning entire breeds.

Bottom Line: Can You Adopt a Pitbull in Ontario?

To sum it all up:

• Legally, no, you cannot adopt a pitbull in Ontario due to the 2005 ban
• Enforcement varies by municipality
• Penalties can include fines up to $10,000 and six months in prison
• Dogs that merely look like pitbulls can also be seized
• There have been attempts to repeal the ban, but none have succeeded so far

If you’re set on having a pitbull-type dog, your best options are to consider similar but legal breeds, move to another province, or channel your energy into advocating for changes to the legislation.

It’s frustrating for dog lovers, but that’s the reality in Ontario right now. At the end of the day, what matters most is finding a dog that fits your lifestyle and that you can provide a loving home for – whatever breed that may be.

Have you had any experiences with the pitbull ban in Ontario? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss! And if you know someone who’s looking to adopt a dog in Ontario, please share this article with them.

Yes, the province of Ontario has had a provincial ban on pit bull-type dogs since 2005, prohibiting ownership, breeding, and importing them. The ban, enacted under the Dog Owner’s Liability Act, includes American Pit Bull Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and any dog with similar physical characteristics. The legislation covers actions like owning, breeding, or transferring these dogs, and may result in the dog being transferred out of the province or euthanized.