» What is Breed Specific Legislation? |
What is Breed Specific Legislation?
Breed specific legislation (BSL), in simplified terms, is laws designed to affect one or more specifically named breeds. Usually pit bulls are the target. Other breeds include rottweilers, dobermans, german shepherds, labs, boxers and more. Mixes as well as those that look like any of the targeted breeds are often included as well.
Breed specific legislation puts restrictions on the owning of the targeted breeds. These include being required to muzzle the dog when in public, keeping the dog on the owner's property at all times, installing enclosures set to specified design. Most often these laws completely forbid the owning of certain breeds.
The Animal Rights Myth
We've all seen the headlines, the late night news reports, yet another story about a dog bite. A pit bull mauls a child or a rottweiler attacks his owner. The victim with scars and stitches, the dog a large stocky dog. This is followed by a public outcry. We need to do something! We must prevent this from happening again.
In come the animal rights followers. They have an idea, a plan. They can prevent all future pit bull attacks. All you have to do is pass a law banning pit bulls. If there are no more pit bulls, there will be no more pit bull attacks.
The Government Beliefs
Government officials don't want another person injured in a dog bite incident any more than you or I do. The legislators are happy when someone walks into their office and presents a solution to the problem. The animal rights activists have everything outlined, all their statistical data, suggestions for how to draft the bill. All that's left is for your elected officials to enact it.
Why is Breed Specific Legislation Wrong?
Statistics presented by those who propose BSL are skewed. Consider that not all bites are reported. Many of those that are reported often misidentify the breed. Scientific studies have proven that no single breed is more likely to bite than any other breed.
Nearly all the dogs that have been surrendered to animal control agencies under BSL regulations have been well cared for, loved pets. They have been friendly, healthy, happy dogs that must be euthanized simply because of a law.
The Reality of Enforcing BSL
In order to enforce BSL, dogs must be identified by breed. All too often this is impossible. Pit bulls are generally described as having a Òwide head and broad chest.Ó That's like telling the police that you were attacked by a man with brown hair, and then expecting them to go make an arrest!
Most of the time the animal control officers will simply decide that if they think a dog is a certain breed or mix of that breed, then it is. It is then up to the owner to prove otherwise. This is a case of Òguilty until proven innocentÓ
Valuable resources are used up in the process of enforcing BSL. Animal control officers will spend more time in court defending their belief that said dog is a pit bull. Animals surrendered or seized occupy space in the shelter, requiring time and money spent providing for their care. Ultimately these animals end up being euthanized.
The alternative is for owners of banned breeds to move. They take with them the money that would have been spent in that locality at businesses they would have frequented, paying property taxes, donating to organizations.
What Really Causes Dog Bites
There are a number of factors that contribute to dog bites. The breed of the dog is not one of them. Neither is the size of the dog. Small dogs are just as capable of inflicting serious bites as big dogs.
Some of the things that facilitate dog bites are:
- Insufficient supervision and control of the dog.
- Lack of training.
- Inappropriate behavior when near or with dogs.
- Unstable temperament.
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