This document discusses breed specific legislation (BSL) which aims to eradicate or regulate certain dog breeds based solely on their breed. It provides background on the history of BSL, including how certain breeds like pit bulls gained a reputation as dangerous in the media despite once being seen as family pets. It examines examples of BSL restrictions and debates the effectiveness of BSL, finding little evidence it reduces dog bites but that it negatively impacts responsible owners. The document advocates for alternatives to BSL like stronger owner responsibility laws and education programs instead of targeting breeds.

1. Breed Specific Legislation
1
Kim Farrow
December 1, 2011

2. How I Learned about BSL
2

3. “I hold that the more
helpless a creature, the
more entitled it is to
protection by man from
the cruelty of man”
- Mahatma Gandhi 3

4. What is Breed Specific Legislation?
“Legislation aimed at
eradicating or strictly
regulating dogs based solely
on their breed”
4

5. What is Breed Specific Legislation?
5
BSL is based upon the
premise that the “breed
or appearance
determines a dog’s
behavior.”

6. Examples of BSL Restrictions
• Registration as Dangerous Dog with Municipality
• Micro-chipping
• Sterilization
• Additional Liability Insurance (or Dropped Insurance)
• Property Confinement
• Requiring Muzzle
• Vicious Dog Label
• Removal and Euthanasia
6

7. “It’s Just Pit Bulls – Right?”
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Alaskan Malamutes
Boerboels
English Mastiffs
Bull Mastiff
Italian Mastiff

8. Including…..
8
The Queen of England’s famous corgis
Previously banned in Italy !!!!

9. What is a Pit Bull?
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American Pit Bull Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier Staffordshire Bull Terrier
“Pit Bull”

10. History of Breed Specific Legislation
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“dangerous dog laws”
“ownership of dogs
based on the animal’s
prior conduct”

11. Pre “Pit Bull Paranoia”
11
Working Dogs Like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinchers and
Rottweiler's earned reputation as being aggressive and dangerous

12. Prior Pit Bull reputation
Sergeant Stubby – WWI US Military Mascot
Buster Brown Shoe Company Mascot - Tighe
“Petey” and the Little Rascals
Devoted Family Pets
12

13. What Changed?
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Strong Jaws
Devotion

14. Dog Fighting
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15. Media Influence
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In 1987 – 4 major magazines (Time, People, Sports Illustrated and Rolling
Stone) published negative cover stories and in-depth stories about Pit Bulls

16. Media Frenzy
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A Labrador mix attacked a 70-year-old man,
sending him to the hospital in critical condition.
Police officers arrived at the scene and the dog
was shot after charging the officers.
A 16-month-old child received fatal head and
neck injuries after being attacked by a mixed
breed dog
A six-year-old boy was hospitalized after
having his ear torn off and receiving a severe
bite to the head by a mixed breed dog
A 59-year-old woman was attacked in her
home by two pit bulls and was hospitalized
with severe, but not fatal, injuries.
Reported in 1 article in the local paper
Reported in 2 articles in the local paper
Reported in 1 article in the local paper
Reported in over 230 articles in national
and international publications , as well
as major television networks including
CNN, Fox and MSNBC

17. Where is BSL?
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18. Where is BSL?
18

19. “Military Intelligence?”
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Forget the legacy of Sergeant Stubby
and other decorated Military Pit Bulls

20. Ohio
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21. Ohio
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If a dog "belongs to
a breed that is
commonly known
as a pit bull", then it
is automatically
considered vicious
and dangerous.

22. There is Still Hope
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23. The Public Debate – For BSL
Put an end to dog attacks by targeting:
• Certain breeds of dogs that are
“inherently viscous and dangerous”
• Breeds that tend to appeal to people
who are involved in criminal activity (e.g.
drug dealers, gangs and dog fighting)
23
www.DogsBite.org

24. The Public Debate – Against BSL
• Does nothing to prevent or reduce dog biting incidents as all dog breeds can bite
• Makes the breed more appealing to criminals
• Does absolutely nothing to hold irresponsible owners accountable and actually punishes
responsible owners
• Discriminates against people who choose to own a particular breed of dog and punishes
those dogs that are reliable community citizens like therapy dogs and search and rescue
dogs
• Leads to some owners placing their dogs in “hiding”
• Gives the community a false sense of security
• Problematic to enforce because it requires identification of the breed often by
inexperienced local government officials
• Website “Find the Pit Bull”
• http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v3.html
• It is also very costly to enforce
• And finally…If pit bulls were outlawed…would the dog fighters just quietly go away? 24

25. Organizations That Oppose BSL
American Dog Owners Association (ADOA)
American Humane
American Kennel Club (AKC)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
American Working Dog Federation (AWDF)
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)
Best Friends Animal Society
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
International Assocation of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
National Animal Control Association (NACA)
National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA)
National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI)
25

26. P.E.T.A
“Breed specific legislation (with a grandfather clause for those dogs already in
existence) can be an important tool in ending the tragic exploitation of these
breeds.”
26

27. A Word about Statistics
Both supporters and those that oppose BSL cite statistics to defend
their argument
• www.DogsBite.org use statistics throughout their site, for example:
• “From 2005 to 2010, pit bulls killed 104 Americans, about one citizen every
21 days”
• “Of these attacks, 50% involved a family member and a household pit bull”
• “In the first 8 months of 2011, nearly half of those killed by a pit bull was the
owner”
• Contrary to this, in a video examining BSL on current TV’s website:
• “20 people were killed by dogs in 2009”
• but then drew a comparison to another statistic reporting that
approximately 2,000 children are killed each year by their parents
• It also stated that “individuals have a one in 25 million chance of being bitten
by a dog and a far greater chance of being struck by lightning”
27

28. A Word about Statistics
CDC Study:
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“Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human
attacks in the United States between 1979
and 1998”
CDC Statement after the study’s mis-use:
“…does not identify specific breeds that are
most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not
appropriate for policy-making decisions
related to the topic.”

29. More About Statistics
• Only account for reported bites – not in perspective with bites
that do not occur
• Do not identify bites that were “caused” at a groomers or vets
• Do not identify whether the bites were provoked by aggressive
or irresponsible human behavior
• No national registry of bite stats
• Statistics are only as good as their interpretation…who funded
the study?
29

30. Constitutional Challenges
Challenges fall under the 14th amendment with concerns relating to:
• Equal Protection - State of Florida v. Peters (1988) and Vanater v.
Village of South Point (1989)
• Substantive Due Process - Sentell v. New Orleans & Carrollton R.R.
(1897) and Nicchia v. New York (1920)
• Procedural Due Process/Vagueness - American Dog Owners
Association v. City of Des Moines (1991)
30

31. Denver Law and Current Status
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32. Denver Law and Current Status
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The Denver law defines a pit bull:
“Any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American
Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog
displaying the majority of physical traits of any one (1) or more of
the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing
characteristics which substantially conform to the standards
established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club
for any of the above breeds."

33. Denver Law – Law Suits
33
• Dias v. The City and County of Colorado –
Substantive Due Process Claim
• Grider et al v. City and County of Denver et al
- Pit Boss one of the plaintiffs

34. 13 States actually Prohibit BSL
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35. New York State and BSL
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36. New York State and BSL
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Article 7, Section 107, Paragraph 5 of Agriculture
and Markets Law
“Nothing contained in this article shall prevent a
municipality from adopting its own program for the
control of dangerous dogs; provided, however, that
no such program shall be less stringent than this
article, and no such program shall regulate such
dogs in a manner that is specific as to breed.”

37. New York State and BSL
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Three New York Communities still have BSL
• Village of Larchmont, Westchester County - Pit bull
ban effective 1998. Any previously owned pit bulls
were allowed to remain but the owner was required
to carry insurance of $500,000
• Village of Sands Point, Nassau County, LI –
Restriction requires that pit bull owners carry
$300,000 insurance
• Village of Hempstead, Nassau County, LI –
Restriction requires that pit bull owners carry
$100,000 insurance

38. Has BSL Been Successful?
• Council Bluffs, IA – BSL imposed 2005
• Lowest Dog Bites before ban, Highest after
• San Francisco, CA – BSL imposed 2006
• In the 18 months after BSL, Dog Bites up by 14%
• Omaha, NE – BSL imposed 2008
• Prior to BSL, Dog Bites declined 10% and 14% in the two years prior
• Post BSL, Bites increased 9% (at a cost of $75,000 a year)
• Toronto / Ontario Canada
• No statistical change in the number of Dog Bites
• 1,000+ “Pit Bull” type dogs killed and thousands of owners of similar dogs harassed
• London / England
• Dog Bites increase in London 79% in last 5 years, Increase 43% nationally
• $14 Million in enforcement costs
• 2011 – Dog Control Bill working through legislation to replace BSL. Puts emphasis on
owners not breed
• In a 2010 study by the National Canine Research Council the authors calculate
that in order to prevent a single hospitalization resulting from a dog bite, a city or
town would have to ban more than 100,000 dogs of a targeted breed
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39. A Warning – Canine Research Study
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40. Alternatives to BSL
Enact and Enforce a good non-breed specific dog law
Enforce leash laws
Employ significant penalties for those involved
in any inhumane or irresponsible
activity with animals
Educate the public about responsible dog
ownership and dog behavior
Increase funding for animal control agencies
Prevent criminals from owning dogs
Regulate breeders
Fund spay and neuter programs
Provide low cost obedience training classes and
behavioral assistance
Use an economic analysis tool to determine
the cost of a proposed BSL
– Best Friends 40

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43. 43
“Hi, my name is Gypsy and I am just a dog”

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