Breed specific legislation: Considerations for evaluating its effectiveness and recommendations for alternatives September 2005 The Canadian veterinary journal. The article One City’s Experience outlined the process of getting a breed ban passed in the city of Denver, CO. A breed-neutral approach may include the following: 1. What happens when a dog walker’s dog doesn’t walk. Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and the alternatives associated with breed specific legislation. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) or any other unfair imposition upon the rights of voters can no longer be tolerated if quality purebred dogs are to be preserved. My city has BSL. There is no such problem, they say. Fireworks. Endangered Dog Breeds Association (EDBA) President Linda Watson told Dogs Life the legislation targeting breeds is “unfair and irrational”. Set up low cost, or free, spay and neuter programs, that encourage people to have their dog altered. For instance, the owner could not walk his dog on a well-travelled sidewalk. Published on November 01, 2000 ... 2000 issue of the JAVMA indicate that breed-specific legislation is not the solution to dog bite prevention. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) affects everyone. Guidelines. Prevent dog… In the majority of dog attacks, the breed of the animal responsible is not able to be accurately determined due to the variation in physical characteristics. breed is responsible for its behavior. Repealing breed-specific legislation. What Are the Alternatives? We don’t support breed-specific legislation — research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources…As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. In America, responsible people should be allowed to love and care for any breed of dog they choose. Thesis: Breed specific legislation is a controversial topic in which I am very interested and would like to explore both sides of the issue to perhaps learn something new. In fact, she found one of the pups she sold wandering in the streets and kept him when she could not contact the owners. To own a dog in Germany, Dettmar said one must licence the dog and pay a dog tax. Over time, some dogs go from barking, to barking more intensely, to barking in a threatening manner. She emphasised that the key to all dog issues is education. Because the root problem of this issue is actually irresponsible owners, not an inherently aggressive breed, there should be alternatives to breed-specific bans–which there are. Some city/municipal governments have enacted breed-specific laws, as has the State of Ohio. These alternatives to breed laws focus on pet owners, not the pet. Alternatives to Breed Speficic Legislation: 1) Enforcement of generic dangerous dog laws, laws that hold owners accountable for the actions of their dogs regardless of breed. The worst thing is – it usually doesn’t make any difference nor makes the community safer in any way. Any dog can bite – Any dog can be made aggressive and be trained to attack. In America, responsible people should be allowed to love and care for any breed of dog they choose. Wildlife in the garden. This map gives you a comprehensive look at breed specific legislation across the United States. -Strengthening the enforcement of existing local ordinances and state regulations. UK data on dog attacks and dog bites pre and post implementation of BSL shows no difference in the incidence of dog bites, with 73 percent of all bites requiring medical attention occurring both before and after implementation of the legislation. The UK study found dangerous breeds contributed to only a small proportion of the injuries and more than half the patients in both study groups were bitten by their own dogs or dogs that were well-known to them. We updated it every month to make sure it is as accurate as possible. Most popular alternatives to breed specific legislation in the US. What breed am I? Advocate againt BSL A "pit bull" isn't a thing. This is a broad-based effort that protects all citizens as any dog can bite and be a nuisance when owned by an irresponsible owner. Fight breed-specific legislation to protect dogs and strengthen communities. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) or any other unfair imposition upon the rights of voters can no longer be tolerated if quality purebred dogs are to be preserved. Bullenbeisser (German Bulldog) Old English Bulldog; Toy Bulldog; Gallery. These alternatives can be implemented to solve future dog bite and dog attack problems. New Zealand also bans the four breeds from importation or breeding. “However, there does seem to be some evidence that certain breeds are more likely to attack children and adult humans, and that can’t be ignored.”, Dog trainer suggests licence to own special breeds. More details . Representing a state that has the most severe laws regarding banned breeds, Queensland Senator Andrew Bartlett spoke to Dogs Life about where he stands on the BSL issue. Responsible dog ownership is the most effective way to reduce the number of dog bites and attacks. In fact, Nortons bumper sticker on her car states, “All creatures great and small, accept the American Pit Bull Terrier.”. Due Process Claims 17 2. As accurate breed identification proves difficult, she suggested assessing a dog by behaviour (temperament assessment) rather than by appearance to determine whether an individual animal be subject to restrictions. We thank Mr. Greenwood and ADBA for truly representing dog owners! These alternatives can serve as long-term solutions to dog problems, as well as create fewer problems that are commonly associated with dog breed laws. Extinct breeds. Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Kirksville, Mo. Breed Specific Legislation – The Legislative Panic Button 9 III. Breed Specific Legislation Map. Breed specific legislation first came into being in the early 1980s after several fatalities occurred following attacks committed by dogs. Stronger enforcement of existing dangerous dog laws. Corporate volunteering. Norton has received hundreds of calls from BSL victims, including people whose dogs were falsely identified as a Pit Bull and destroyed without a fair trial. B. Breed specific legislation is any law that prohibits the breed, or kind, of dog that someone is allowed by law to own. It needs owners who are disciplined and dedicated to training their dog,” she said. 1. The person would then take a knowledge test on care and handling, followed by a practical test on basic training with a canine club or training organisation. Breed specific legislation rips dogs away from responsible pet owners and drives irresponsible owners further underground. These cookies are strictly necessary for the site to function. Housing and BSL. Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. + Alternatives. Old English Bulldog in Paris, 1863 A bull and a bulldog, etching by F. Barlow, circa 17th century A.D.. Bull-baiting with dogs, 19th century Spanish Alano dogs, bull-fighting scene by Goya, circa 1815 Spanish Alano dogs, bull-fighting scene, circa 1795 References. She said none of these animals showed aggression towards humans. Up to 15,000 dogs have been killed by councils around the country because they are Pit Bulls and many of them are not even Pit Bulls, she claims. Germany has a nationwide import ban on the Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier, plus crosses of those breeds. Positive Pit Bull Alternatives to the Ypsi Twp Breed Specific Legislation. More details . And that was it,” said Helen. There is no convincing data to indicate that breed-specific legislation has succeeded anywhere to date. How Many Pounds of Pressure Does a Pit Bull Bite Have? Some say, "do nothing at all." Breed specific legislation first came into being in the early 1980s after several fatalities occurred following attacks committed by dogs. Breed specific legislation is a bad idea and we encourage people to speak out about it however they can. “When I first met Jake, he was thin and had an open wound on his head. If expressed, aggression was directed toward other dogs. “The Pit Bull is not a dog for everyone. October 11, 2010 at 8:51 AM Public. For starters, dogs with history of aggression can be microchipped to track aggressive behavior and prevent future incidents. Rather, the solution lies in educating dog owners and, more importantly, the general community, she added. He agrees that the issue of dog aggression cannot be resolved by BSL. Some city/municipal governments have enacted breed-specific laws, as has the State of Ohio. The following are examples of good alternatives to breed bans and breed-specific legislation (BSL). Prevent dog abuse and dog fighting, with severe penalties to the owner. Educating parents and children is critical for decreasing the number of dog bites. “I was frightened I would cost my dog his life,” she said. Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and the alternatives associated with breed specific legislation. In May 2005, former NSW premier Bob Carr announced in Parliament that the government would introduce legislation to ban restricted breeds. We leverage the power of social media to spread the word and educate the public about Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), its effects, and suggested alternatives. Re: Proposed Breed Specific Legislation (OPPOSE) Mayor Todd Kuhns. We thank Mr. Greenwood and ADBA for truly representing dog owners! Help! Alternatives to Breed Bans The answer to dangerous dogs can be found in generic Dangerous Dog Laws which address the underlying cause of most dog-related deaths and injuries – irresponsible dog ownership. “He said with the amount of evidence we have, there is a good probability the High Court will throw out the entire breed list. Caroline Zambrano investigates the possibility of dog licensing to replace and the alternatives to breed specific legislation. If they are not already in place, lobby for protection from untrained and unsupervised dogs of any breed or mix. He said allowing dogs to bark or vocally threaten the general public greatly increases the chances the animal will eventually bite someone. He is also former president of Animal Liberation Victoria. However, council officials believe the test encourages dog owners to be more responsible. -Statewide spay/neuter initiatives. Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and the alternatives associated with breed specific legislation. Implement strict dog ownership laws, that include ordinances for containment regulations, minimum care, noise nuisance regulations, and overall owner liability. BSL in The Courts – An Unsettled Debate 14 A. BSL vs. While some dog owners rescue restricted breeds from being euthanased, others fight for their beloved breeds in court. More importantly, a well-thought non-breed specific legislation addresses the root cause of most, if not all, dog related injures and deaths, which is the irresponsible dog owner. Autumn. The report revealed that, during the past 20 years, at least 25 breeds of dog have been involved in 238 human fatalities. These dogs have done nothing,” she said. His owner was convicted and all his other Pit Bulls were destroyed. It's a complex issue, but here are a few helpful resources: BSL in BC & North America. The only registered specialist in animal behaviour in Australia, veterinarian Dr Kersti Seksel, said the introduction of legislation restricting dogs on the basis of appearance or breed rather than behaviour will not result in any real dog attack-harm reduction. Dog lovers like Bonnie Norton of Victoria believes every dog deserves a fair chance. 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