---
title: "Lovebulls: Rebranding Pitbulls and Fighting BSL in Quebec ✦ Goldwater Droit"
meta:
  "og:description": "Anne-France Goldwater challenges breed-specific legislation in Quebec and proposes a simple rebrand: call them Lovebulls. Here's why it matters."
  "og:title": "Lovebulls: Rebranding Pitbulls and Fighting BSL in Quebec"
  description: "Anne-France Goldwater challenges breed-specific legislation in Quebec and proposes a simple rebrand: call them Lovebulls. Here's why it matters."
---

![Spot1](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_vercel/image?url=%2F_content-assets%2Fblog%2F2017%2F05%2Flovebulls%2Fimages%2Fspot1.jpg&w=1536&q=80)

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# Lovebulls

11 May 2017

3 min read

[Animal & Pet Defence](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/news-insights?topic=animal-pet-defence) [Firm & People](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/news-insights?topic=firm-people) [Articles & Analysis](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/news-insights?category=articles-analysis)

It's no secret that pitbull-type dogs have a bad reputation. Unfairly labelled as dangerous in certain parts of Canada, they suffer from an image problem.

However, a wind of change is blowing in cities like Vancouver and Edmonton, which are repealing their "anti-pitbull" laws.

Anne-France Goldwater recently became the owner of a pitbull. She adopted Mr. Spot, a dog [with spinal cord injuries](https://www.facebook.com/AFGoldwater/photos/a.661632643868887.1073741828.621244004574418/1273770569321755/?type=3&theater=1), in part to see whether these dogs were more aggressive than others. She has observed no malice in Mr. Spot and continues to fight the legal battle challenging breed-specific legislation in Quebec.

But perhaps there is a way to change things. During her live session on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheGoldwaters/posts/294168457688602), a member shared an idea: "Everyone should start calling them LoveBulls to change people's opinions forever," wrote Maxime Da Sylva.

It was an idea that immediately appealed to Me Goldwater: "When a dog is called a 'pitbull,' it carries a pejorative connotation." She added: "In the same way as in the Éric and Lola case, where the woman was denigrated because of the image associated with the pseudonym."

Me Goldwater stated that the pseudonym had spread a negative image of the woman and had generally denigrated the image of common-law spouses in the eyes of the public.

In the Éric and Lola case, Me Goldwater represented a mother of three children, who was given the pseudonym Lola, who was seeking spousal support and access to the financial assets of her former common-law partner. Me Goldwater had attempted to invalidate the legal distinction between common-law and married couples. By a slim majority, the Supreme Court ruled that the rights granted to married couples were distinct from those granted to common-law spouses.

Anne-France Goldwater also declared: "It's the same thing with the word 'pitbull.' It makes us think of the fighting pit where dogs fight, even though the vast majority of these dogs were not raised to fight."

So here is a way to change the perception of pitbulls: "Let's call them Lovebulls," she said.

The Montreal SPCA, which also works to promote best practices in animal control in Quebec, has a [clear position](http://www.spca.com/?p=12955&lang=en) on breed-specific legislation: "Studies show and experts agree that banning dogs of a certain breed — or dogs with certain physical characteristics — does not reduce the risk or severity of dog bites, and therefore does not contribute to improving public safety."

[Listen to the first episode of _The Goldwaters_ podcast on animal rights and breed-specific legislation.](http://www.thegoldwaters.ca/podcast/the-goldwaters-1-animal-rights/)

[Watch Anne-France's video on pitbulls from her first live session on Facebook.](https://www.facebook.com/TheGoldwaters/posts/294168457688602)

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