Breed Specific Legislation by Alex Raccio

What is Breed Specific Legislation

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 18:36:23 UTC

Breed specific legislation is a blanket term for any laws that regulate or ban certain dog breeds
The implementation of bsl is a part of an effort by governments to decrease the amount of dog attacks against humans or other animals
However these legislations are often treated as a method of ending dangerous dog encounters but they are generally discriminatory towards certain breeds

Why do people support Breed Specific Legislation

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 18:43:34 UTC

Community members believe their communities will be made safer with less “dangerous” dogs
Its considered a humane way to discourage breeding
Some dogs are thought to be "genetically dangerous"

cons of Breed Specific Legislation

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 18:43:53 UTC

There is no substantial evidence that bsl actually makes communities safer
BSL is considered ineffective because it treats the result (a dog bite) instead of the cause (bad animal owners).
Miami-Dade County, Florida, has had a pit bull ban since the 1980s, but the county still euthanizes about 800 illegally owned pit bulls per year.
Aragon, Spain, saw no changes in dog bite numbers five years before and five years after BSL was enacted. People who are breeding or training dogs for illegal fighting or to protect illegal activities will simply turn to another dog breed if pit bulls are banned.
Following a 2005 pit bull ban in Council Bluff, Iowa, Boxer and Labrador Retriever bites increased, as did overall dog bites.
In 1990 when pit bulls were banned in Winnipeg, Canada, Rottweiler bites immediately increased.

why are pitbulls illegal

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 18:45:28 UTC

Clearly we can see that pitbulls are disproportionately targeted by these legislations, but why?

where can you learn more and how can you help?

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 18:46:33 UTC

follow and support groups like End Breed Specific Legislation Manitoba on Instagram and Facebook

Bibliography

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 18:46:58 UTC

1. ASPCA. "Breed-Specific Legislation." ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/improving-laws-animals/public-policy/what-breed-specific-legislation#:~:text=Breed%2Dspecific%20legislation%20(BSL),on%20humans%20and%20other%20animals.

2. "Pro and Con: Breed-Specific Legislation." Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-breed-specific-legislation.

3. Angus Reid Institute. "Dangerous Dogs." Angus Reid Institute, https://angusreid.org/dangerous-dogs/.

4. Petraveller. "Banned Dog Breeds in Canada." Petraveller, https://petraveller.com.au/blog/banned-dog-breeds-in-canada.

5. "Restricted or Banned Dog Breeds by Country." The Pet Zealot, https://www.thepetzealot.com/2023/05/restricted-or-banned-dog-breeds-by.html?m=1.

6. "Breed-Specific Legislation Doles Out Careless, Ineffective Punishment." The Queen's Journal, https://www.queensjournal.ca/breed-specific-legislation-doles-out-careless-ineffective-punishment/#:~:text=In%20some%20countries%2C%20laws%20exist,dogfighting%20predisposes%20them%20to%20violence.

7. "Breed Discrimination: The Misunderstood Pit Bulls." IFKW Sites, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, https://sites.ifkw.lmu.de/internationals/2020/01/18/breed-discrimination-the-misunderstood-pit-bulls/#:~:text=The%20distinguishing%20characteristics%20of%20Pit,had%20a%20very%20good%20reputation.

what dogs breeds are affected the most (by province)

alexraccio — 2023-10-30 19:09:55 UTC

Currently, the province of Ontario has a Breed Specific Legislation that bans residents from owning Pit bulls, including American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and American Pit Bull Terriers.

In 2018, Quebec abandoned its ban on pit bulls and Rottweilers. However, in 2020, a new dangerous dog law, which did not target a specific breed of dog, was enacted in Quebec.

In the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and American Pit Bull Terriers are automatically considered vicious. In addition, any dog that attacks a person or animal without provocation is considered vicious or aggressive in Vancouver. As of January 1, 2023, the City of Vancouver requires that dog owners apply for and obtain an agressive dog license if their dog is deemed aggressive by the Provincial Court of BC.

The province of Alberta does not have Breed Specific Legislation. However, a dog is deemed restricted in Alberta if it attacks a person or another animal without provocation. Breeds that are more often reported to be involved in attacks on people in Alberta include Pit bulls, Mastiffs, Rottweilers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

While many municipalities in Manitoba province have Dangerous Dog bylaws, the city of Winnipeg and the Township of Macdonald ban American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and American Staffordshire Terriers.

Rottweilers, Dobermans and Pit Bulls and banned or restricted in some communities in Saskatchewan including Moosomin and the village of Clavet.

There are currently no breed-specific bans in the province of New Brunswick. However, there are some restrictions on owning pit bulls in certain municipalities.

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador does not ban any breed of dog. However, any dog that is found to be dangerous in the province may be "destroyed."