Mark Buehrle’s Pit Bull Keeps His Family Apart This Season

Mark Buehrle’s pit bull mix will keep his family from living with him in Toronto — at least this season.

Buehrle’s dog is a mix of bulldog and American Staffordshire Terrier, meaning he is of pit bull lineage. But the breed is banned in Ontario, where Buehrle was traded to last year.

Because of this the family has made the tough decision to stay behind with their pit bull, Slater, while Mark joins the Blue Jays for the season, reports Yahoo! News.

Buehrle stated of Slater:

“He’s an awesome dog. That’s what’s a shame; just the way he looks is why we have to get separated.”

When Buehrle was given the news of his trade to the Jays, he was left with few options. The family could either leave Slater with friends, put him in a kennel, or move somewhere close to Ontario that allows pit bulls. But the closest place to Toronto would be Buffalo, forcing the pitcher to commute 90 minutes to work.

ESPN notes that Mark Buehrle refused to place his pit bull in a kennel and called leaving him with friends for the season much like it would be to leave his daughter with them. Slater, as part of the family, should stay bonded to them, according to the MLB player.

His wife, Jamie, explained that several friends have offered to keep the fun-loving pit bull with them for the season. But Jamie said:

“To me, that would be like if we moved somewhere that only allowed boys. I wouldn’t leave my daughter behind … I don’t want him to bond with someone else. He’s our dog. That wasn’t really an option.”

So, Jamie and the couple’s children will stay in Florida with their four dogs, including Slater, while Buehrle lives in Toronto for the season. In the meantime, it is possible they will start a petition in Ontario to remove the ban on pit bulls, much like the petition they started in Miami.

Do you think that Mark Buehrle’s pit bull should be allowed to go where he does, or is Ontario right to ban the breed?