Cameron Miranda
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. BSL has been around in some form for over thirty years, with some cities maintaining anti-pit bull laws since 1989. In 2024, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimated that the total dog population in the United States was 89.7 million, with dogs responsible for 4.5 million bites per year. Despite this, the AVMA suggested that most of these bites were not necessarily attributable to specific breeds or types. BSL is a divisive issue, with some calling it a necessary regulation to protect against dangerous dogs, while others argue there is no correlation between dog breed and presumptive dangerousness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Appearance | Late 1980s |
| Number of U.S. Cities with BSL | 1052 |
| Number of U.S. Counties with BSL | 38 |
| Number of Military Bases with BSL | 292 |
| States with Anti-BSL Laws | 21 |
| States Prohibiting Municipalities from Passing BSL | 17 |
| States Prohibiting Local Governments from Implementing or Enforcing BSL | 9 |
| Number of Municipality BSL Repeals in the U.S. since 2018 | 60 |
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What You'll Learn
The ineffectiveness of breed-specific laws
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. BSL laws can range from outright bans on the possession of these dogs to restrictions and conditions on ownership.
BSL is ineffective and has a host of unintended negative consequences. Here are some reasons why:
Negative impact on dog welfare
BSL can have a negative impact on the mental and physical health of dogs. It can create a climate where it is nearly impossible for residents to adopt and live with certain breeds, leading to the destruction of otherwise adoptable dogs by shelters.
Responsible owners suffer
Responsible owners of friendly, properly supervised, and well-socialized dogs that happen to fall within the regulated breed are required to comply with local breed bans and regulations. This can lead to housing issues, legal fees, or even relinquishment of the animal.
Compromised public safety
Breed-specific laws have a tendency to compromise rather than enhance public safety. When animal control resources are used to regulate or ban a certain breed, the focus is shifted away from effective enforcement of laws that have the best chances of making communities safer, such as dog license laws, leash laws, anti-animal fighting laws, and anti-tethering laws.
Ineffective at reducing dog attacks
Breed-specific laws do not make communities safer for people or companion animals. Studies have shown that there is no reduction in the number of dog bites after the implementation of BSL. In fact, the breeds most responsible for bites are often those unrestricted by the law.
Costly and difficult to enforce
Breed-specific laws are costly and difficult to enforce. For example, Prince George's County, Maryland, spends more than $250,000 annually to enforce its ban on pit bulls.
Ignores individual dog behaviour and owner responsibility
BSL targets the wrong thing and ignores the real issue—the behaviour of the individual dog and owner. Studies suggest that factors like training, socialization, and owner responsibility play a more critical role in dog behaviour than breed alone.
Unreliable breed identification
Visual breed identification, even by animal welfare professionals, is highly unreliable. DNA testing is available, but this places an additional burden and cost on municipalities to prove the heritage of a mixed-breed dog if they enact breed restrictions.
Alternative approaches
Many states favour laws that identify, track, and regulate dangerous dogs individually, regardless of breed, and prohibit BSL. Animal rights advocates suggest that dog control registries, which track individual animals rather than specific breeds, have proven to be a more effective means of preventing animal attacks.
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Public safety and the impact on dog owners
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts the ownership of certain dog breeds, typically those perceived as aggressive, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans. BSL can range from outright bans on possessing these dogs to restrictions and conditions on ownership, often with the aim of preventing dog attacks. This type of legislation has been in place in some form for over thirty years, with some cities, such as Denver, enforcing BSL since 1989.
The impact of BSL on dog owners can be significant. Responsible owners of friendly and well-supervised dogs that fall within the regulated breeds are required to comply with local breed bans and regulations, which can lead to housing issues, legal fees, and even the relinquishment of their beloved pets. Owners may attempt to avoid detection by restricting their dogs' outdoor exercise and socialization, foregoing licensing, microchipping, and purchasing liability insurance. BSL can also create a climate where it is challenging for residents to adopt these breeds, leading to the destruction of otherwise adoptable dogs by shelters.
The effectiveness of BSL in enhancing public safety is debated. While BSL aims to protect communities from dangerous dogs and reduce dog attacks, there is conflicting evidence regarding its success in achieving these goals. Some argue that BSL compromises public safety by shifting the focus away from effective enforcement of laws that have a greater potential to make communities safer, such as dog license laws, leash laws, and anti-animal fighting legislation.
Studies and organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Bar Association, have concluded that breed-specific bans are ineffective at improving public safety and reducing dog bite injuries. The AVMA and CDC emphasize that factors such as a lack of neutering, poor socialization, animal neglect, human abuse, and prior mismanagement of dogs are more significant contributors to dog aggression than breed alone. The AVMA also highlights the difficulty in determining a dog's breed, especially in the case of mixed breeds, making BSL challenging to enforce.
In contrast, some consider BSL a necessary regulation to protect against dangerous dogs. BSL supporters argue that certain dog breeds pose a public safety risk and that banning or strictly regulating their ownership is warranted. They may advocate for measures such as mandatory spaying/neutering, microchip implants, liability insurance requirements, and prohibiting people with felony convictions from owning specific breeds.
To address the complexities of public safety and the impact on dog owners, several states and municipalities are moving away from breed-specific regulations. Instead, they are adopting laws focused on individual dog behavior, owner accountability, and comprehensive "dog bite" legislation. As of 2021, 17 states prohibited their municipalities from passing breed-specific laws, and 21 out of 50 state-level governments have passed anti-BSL laws, reflecting the ongoing discussions and efforts to balance public safety and the fair treatment of all dog breeds.
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The history of breed-specific legislation
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. BSL is a blanket term for laws that either regulate or ban certain dog breeds in an effort to decrease dog attacks on humans and other animals. BSL laws range from outright bans on the possession of these dogs to restrictions and conditions on ownership, and often establish a legal presumption that such dogs are dangerous or vicious to prevent dog attacks.
BSL made its appearance in the late 1980s, following increased media attention surrounding dog attacks on community members. The media sensationalized these attacks, spreading fear and leading to the eruption in popularity of BSL. In 1989, the city of Denver, Colorado, enacted BSL, and despite the Colorado Legislature amending the law in 2004 to disapprove of BSL, Denver's BSL was allowed to stand under a "home rule" exemption.
Since the introduction of BSL, many state legislatures have responded by choosing to preempt breed bans by passing anti-BSL ordinances and outlawing regulation based on breed. As of 2021, 17 states prohibited their municipalities from passing breed-specific laws, and 21 out of 50 state-level governments have passed anti-BSL laws, prohibiting or restricting the ability of jurisdictions within those states to enact or enforce BSL.
Despite the enactment of BSL in many places, it is a divisive and controversial issue. Many analyses of BSL have shown that such laws have not actually led to reduced incidences of dog attacks. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has suggested that most dog-related deaths are not necessarily attributable to specific breeds or breed types, but rather to factors such as a lack of neutering, poor socialization of the animal, animal neglect, human abuse, and prior mismanagement of dogs. The AVMA is opposed to BSL, as is the ASPCA, which states that BSL is ineffective and carries a host of negative and unintended consequences. A 2014 literature review by the AVMA also stated that "controlled studies have not identified this breed group as disproportionately dangerous", and that "it has not been demonstrated that introducing a breed-specific ban will reduce the rate or severity of bite injuries occurring in the community".
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Opposition to breed-specific laws
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. BSL laws can range from outright bans on the possession of these dogs, to restrictions and conditions on ownership, and often establish a legal presumption that such dogs are dangerous or vicious to prevent dog attacks.
There is a lot of opposition to breed-specific laws. Firstly, they are considered ineffective and costly to enforce. The ASPCA, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all oppose BSL. The AVMA and CDC found that breed-specific laws do not make communities safer for people or animals. The AVMA also found that breed-specific laws do not address the social issue of irresponsible pet ownership. Instead, the AVMA recommends enforcing generic, non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws, with an emphasis on chronically irresponsible owners.
Secondly, breed-specific laws can negatively impact the mental and physical health of dogs. Owners of highly regulated or banned breeds may attempt to avoid detection by restricting their dogs' outdoor exercise and socialization, forgoing licensing, microchipping, and proper veterinary care, and avoiding spay/neuter surgery and essential vaccinations.
Thirdly, breed-specific laws can make it very difficult for residents to adopt certain breeds, leading to the destruction of otherwise adoptable dogs by shelters. Responsible owners of friendly, well-supervised, and well-socialized dogs who happen to fall within the regulated breed are required to comply with local breed bans and regulations, which can lead to housing issues, legal fees, or even relinquishment of the animal.
Lastly, breed-specific laws are discriminatory against responsible owners and their dogs. By generalizing the behaviors of dogs that look a certain way, innocent dogs and owners suffer. Dogs that are considered to be of a "dangerous breed" may be serving the community as police dogs, in military operations, rescue purposes, or as service animals.
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The impact on dogs and shelters
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is the term for laws that regulate or ban certain dog breeds. BSL carries a host of unintended negative consequences for dogs and shelters.
BSL can have a negative impact on the mental and physical health of dogs. Owners of highly regulated or banned breeds may restrict their dogs' outdoor exercise and socialization, forgoing licensing, microchipping, and proper veterinary care, and avoiding spay/neuter surgery and essential vaccinations.
BSL can also make it difficult for residents to adopt banned breeds, leading to the destruction of otherwise healthy dogs by shelters. For example, in Ohio, a state law classifies all pit bulls as "vicious" and imposes various requirements on their guardians, making it difficult for them to find housing or insurance. As a result, most Ohio shelters have a pit bull non-adoption policy, and in 2004, 84% of pit bulls handled by animal control agencies were killed.
BSL may also increase pressure on shelters, leading to the euthanization of otherwise healthy dogs. For instance, the Prince George's County pit bull ban has resulted in hundreds of dogs of various breeds being euthanized due to limited shelter space.
Additionally, BSL may compromise public safety by shifting the focus away from effective enforcement of laws that enhance community safety, such as dog license laws, leash laws, and anti-animal fighting laws. BSL may also encourage irresponsible dog ownership, as individuals who exploit aggression in dogs may turn to unregulated breeds.
In conclusion, BSL has been shown to have negative consequences for dogs, shelters, and public safety. It is important to consider alternative approaches, such as comprehensive "dog bite" legislation and consumer education, to effectively address the issue of dangerous dogs.
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Frequently asked questions
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog.
BSL was introduced in the late 1980s following media attention surrounding dog attacks on community members.
BSL can range from outright bans on the possession of certain dog breeds to restrictions and conditions on ownership. For example, some BSL regulations may require that targeted breeds be muzzled in public or that owners buy liability insurance.
BSL is enforced across many US cities, counties, and military bases. For example, Denver has had widely enforced BSL since 1989. As of 2016, 36 states had adopted BSL, including 1052 cities, 38 counties, and 292 military bases.
The effectiveness of BSL is disputed. Some claim it is necessary to protect against dangerous dogs, while others argue that there is no correlation between dog breed and presumptive danger. Studies have shown that BSL has not led to reduced incidences of dog attacks.
