What is Breed-Specific Legislation?
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) has been implemented in many cities and towns in a misguided attempt to reduce dog bites. Instead of targeting the real problem – irresponsible dog owners – BSL targets innocent dogs and the families who love them. Under BSL, dogs of certain breeds, as well as their mixes, can be seized and impounded by police on sight. Pit bulls, along with other breeds including Rottweilers and German Shepherds, are often the target of such legislation. Luckily for Philadelphia’s pit bulls, Pennsylvania state law prohibits individual municipalities from enacting BSL. Dogs in cities like Denver, Miami, and Ontario are not so lucky - under some cities’ laws, any dog that even looks like a pit bull can be confiscated and euthanized.
The ASPCA provides a good summary of BSL’s harmful impact here: http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/dog-fighting/breed-specific-legislation.html
Studies from around the world have proven that BSL is ineffective: in countries and cities where BSL has been enacted, dog bites never decreased. Click here for a summary from Defending Dog of BSL studies and their results.
