Breed Specific Legislation

 Winner, Life as a Vet Student Category
Julia Drury, Cornell University

With the arrival of October, a month in which many celebrate Pit bull awareness, it is fitting to discuss Breed Specific Legislation and its affect on the veterinary profession. On March 22, 2012 Massachusetts passed the Bill S.2192 outlining that “no dog shall be deemed dangerous: . . . based solely upon the breed of such dog”. Massachusetts is one of a hand-full of states that has banned breed specific legislation (BSL). The drive behind BSL is that by banning or regulating ownership of certain “dangerous” breeds the number of dog bites and fatalities will decrease. Breeds that are frequently targeted with BSL are Pit Bulls, Rottweiler’s, Chow Chows, and Presa Canarios. The extremes of BSL legislation can be seen in Bermuda and Australia which include banning breeds, force muzzling in public, posting “beware dangerous dog” signs on the property, and banning importation of specified restricted breeds.

There is no scientific evidence that breed specific legislation is effective in reducing the number of dog bites or fatalities in communities. Rather, it places the blame of aggressive behavior on the dog breed instead of on the owner and does not address the fact that a dog of any breed can become dangerous when improperly trained or trained to be aggressive. We have all met, owned, or treated wonderful canine citizens that are pit bulls, chows, and Rottweiler’s. 

So how do we as veterinary professionals promote safety in our communities and decrease dog bites without demonizing certain breeds? First, it is important for us to educate ourselves regarding local legislation and current research as we are often looked to for our advice and opinions by the pet owning community. Instead of supporting BSL, a more effective legislative tool would be to encourage dangerous dog laws that place the primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on the owner, regardless of the dog’s breed. Another important responsibility of the veterinary community is to prevent dog attacks via educating owners on how to appropriately train, socialize, and teach their children about dog safety. Additionally, yearly vet examinations enable us to help identify possible problem animals and to give owners the necessary resources to work with their dogs and to enforce changes to ensure the safety of their family, neighbors, and those that enter their homes. In honor of pit bull awareness month, let’s educate our community, our clients, and our friends about the truth regarding dog bites and the most effective methods of prevention and effective legislation.

With the arrival of October, a month in which many celebrate Pit bull awareness, it is fitting to discuss Breed Specific Legislation and its affect on the veterinary profession. On March 22, 2012 Massachusetts passed the Bill S.2192 outlining that “no dog shall be deemed dangerous: . . . based solely upon the breed of such dog”. Massachusetts is one of a hand-full of states that has banned breed specific legislation (BSL). The drive behind BSL is that by banning or regulating ownership of certain “dangerous” breeds the number of dog bites and fatalities will decrease. Breeds that are frequently targeted with BSL are Pit Bulls, Rottweiler’s, Chow Chows, and Presa Canarios. The extremes of BSL legislation can be seen in Bermuda and Australia which include banning breeds, force muzzling in public, posting “beware dangerous dog” signs on the property, and banning importation of specified restricted breeds.There is no scientific evidence that breed specific legislation is effective in reducing the number of dog bites or fatalities in communities. Rather, it places the blame of aggressive behavior on the dog breed instead of on the owner and does not address the fact that a dog of any breed can become dangerous when improperly trained or trained to be aggressive. We have all met, owned, or treated wonderful canine citizens that are pit bulls, chows, and Rottweiler’s. So how do we as veterinary professionals promote safety in our communities and decrease dog bites without demonizing certain breeds? First, it is important for us to educate ourselves regarding local legislation and current research as we are often looked to for our advice and opinions by the pet owning community. Instead of supporting BSL, a more effective legislative tool would be to encourage dangerous dog laws that place the primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on the owner, regardless of the dog’s breed. Another important responsibility of the veterinary community is to prevent dog attacks via educating owners on how to appropriately train, socialize, and teach their children about dog safety. Additionally, yearly vet examinations enable us to help identify possible problem animals and to give owners the necessary resources to work with their dogs and to enforce changes to ensure the safety of their family, neighbors, and those that enter their homes. In honor of pit bull awareness month, let’s educate our community, our clients, and our friends about the truth regarding dog bites and the most effective methods of prevention and effective legislation.