Montreal man who allegedly ordered pit bull to attack wife freed on bail

A Montreal man accused of ordering his pit bull to attack his wife has been freed on bail.

MarkLonard, 54,wascharged Tuesdaywith assaultand assault causing bodily harmafter he allegedly ordered his pit bull to attack his 47-year-old wife last weekend.

The attack occurred two weeks afteran unrelatedfatal mauling by a pit bullinPointe-Aux-Trembles.

A Quebec judge ordered WednesdaythatLonardnot have control of animals and not have any contact with animals. He is due toreturn to court on Nov. 14.

• Read the latest on this case:Pit bull that attacked NDG woman not actually pit bull,SPCAsays

In the latest incident, the couplewerearguing Sunday around 10 p.m. ET,on Randall Avenue in the city'sNotre-Dame-de-Grceneighbourhood,when the man ordered the dog to attack, said Montreal policeConst. Jean-Pierre Brabant.

The woman was bitten on the arm and treated atthe scene by Urgences Sant.

Brabant saidshe refused to be takento hospital.

Victim refuses to turn over dog

On Tuesday evening, City of Montreal officials went to the home to seize the dog. ButBrabantsaid the womanrefused to hand the animalover to them.

Brabant said she asked that the charges be dropped, but prosecutors intend to go ahead with them, so police willhave to get a warrant to seize the dog.

• Quebec likely to follow Ontario's lead on pit bull ban, Couillard says
• Pit bulls to be banned in Montreal, mayor announces

Pit bull-type dogs are already banned or under restricted ownership rules in parts of Canada (Ontario and Winnipeg).

The City of Montreal and several other municipalities are alsotaking steps to ban pit bulls, and the Quebec government is considering a ban.

The breed is so controversial that two Quebec dog ownerssay someone recently left meat packed with glass in their yards in attempt to injure their pets.

• Is banning pit bulls moral?
• Pit bull owner and trainer says breed-specific ban not the answer