BSL is an ethical failure. BSL is a public safety failure.
Description
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) bans or restricts certain types of dogs based on their appearance because they are perceived as “dangerous” breeds or types of dogs.
A breed ban usually requires that all dogs of a certain appearance (“targeted breed”) be removed from the area wherein the BSL has been implemented.
Breed-specific restrictions may require an owner of a targeted breed do any of the following or more, depending on how the law is written:
- Muzzle the dog in public
- Spay or neuter the dog
- Contain the dog in a kennel with specific requirements (6′ chain link walls, lid, concrete floors, etc.)
- Keep the dog on a leash of specific length or material
- Purchase liability insurance of a certain amount
- Place “vicious dog” signs on the outside of the residence where the dog lives
- Make the dog wear a “vicious dog” tag or other identifying marker
Breed-specific legislation applies only to dogs of a certain appearance, not to any and all dogs. It does not take into account how the owner has raised, trained, or managed the dog. It does not take into account the dog’s actual behavior.
Why Is BSL Wrong?
- BSL does not improve public safety or prevent dog bites.
- BSL ignores the plight of victims and potential victims of non-targeted breeds.
- BSL is costly.
- BSL requires each and every dog to be identified as a breed—something that has proven impossible to do accurately and objectively.
- BSL makes targeted breeds more desirable to irresponsible and criminal owners.
- BSL does nothing to make irresponsible dog owners accountable.
- BSL punishes responsible dog owners.
- Not a single canine welfare organization supports BSL.
How You Can Help
Please contact legislators and educate them on the breed and how BSL helps no one and only hurts responsible owners. This can be done by sending letters by regular mail or email. Please be respectfull and polite. Here is an example letter. Please feel free to copy and paste and use.
Dear Mayor Doe:
I am writing to you about the recently proposed ordinance that would ban pit bulls from (town of possible BSL). Passage of this ordinance will not address the root cause of the problem, and it will have a negative impact on responsible, law abiding dog owners, while those who do not abide by the law will simply continue to do so. I am strongly opposed to this ordinance, and I ask that you vote against it for the following reasons:
[INSERT TALKING POINTS HERE]
A much better alternative to breed-specific legislation is to support reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs and to hold irresponsible dog owners to a higher accountability.
I ask that you oppose this proposal because any such law that is specific to breed does not address the real problem, which is that of irresponsible dog owners.
Respectfully,
