Breed Specific Legislation Punishes the Innocent, Not the Guilty

There are many great resources that discuss issues regarding misconceptions of certain dog breeds.  One of our favorite blogs is Four-Legged Mom (www.fourleggedmom.com), who shares great information regarding Pit-Bulls.  Another is Tails Magazine (http://www.tailsinc.com), which has an interactive website and online community committed to connecting the animal welfare community with the general pet-loving population.  The information below is an excerpt from an October, 2011 Tails Magazine article.

In the early 1980s, a number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by certain breeds, including Pit Bulls, brought to the public’s attention a perceived need for more stringent laws governing the restraint of dogs. According to lawmakers, the goal of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is to discourage, restrict, or prohibit certain breeds of dogs which are defined as “dangerous” within certain jurisdictions.

However, BSL is not an effective approach for regulating dogs’ behavior in communities. An extensive study from the Michigan State University College of Law reveals the bans carry too much potential for arbitrary or improper enforcement such as inaccurate breed identification by officials, animal control and court system overload, and the potential for not identifying a genuinely “dangerous dog” as such because he doesn’t fall into the specified breed categories.

Believe it or not, there is not a shred of proof that the American Pit Bull Terrier, one of the breeds consistently singled out, is vicious or dangerous. Police dog trainer W. Handel, in his article, The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing, defines temperament as, “the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms, and regulates behavior in the environment.” According to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), American Pit Bull Terriers have a higher pass rate on these tests than Golden Retrievers or Beagles, both breeds that are considered ideal family dogs.)

When properly trained and socialized, American Pit Bull Terriers make great companions. Rich Tamborski, owner of Canine Training Specialists, believes, “Pit Bulls are wonderful dogs. It’s the ones that end up in the hands of the wrong people that make the papers. It has nothing to do with a specific breed and more to do with poor quality breeding and negligent [guardians.]”

Well-known dog trainer, Victoria Stillwell, best known for her role as the star of Animal Planet’s hit TV series It’s Me or the Dog, is adamant that BSL does not work. “Statistics have shown that throughout the world, wherever BSL has been 
initiated, the number of dog bites has actually increased since the legislation has passed. This is the case in Scotland, England, parts of Canada, certain cities in the US, the Netherlands, and beyond,” she cites. “In every single case, dog bites have become more of a problem since governments began banning breeds.” Unfortunately, despite the fact that banning breeds has proved to be unsuccessful, there are still jurisdictions that restrict living with Pit Bulls, or Pit Bull-type dogs, such as Denver, Colorado, and Miami, Florida.

Remember that most dog behaviorists and trainers believe a dog is a product of her environment, and the love and training she receives. Rita Biddle, Akita Breeder and dog show judge, has been raising puppies for 30 years. While Akitas are often thought of as aggressive dogs, she knows she is the biggest factor in determining her dogs’ success. Biddle believes, “A dog is not a trophy or something cute to tie up in the yard. People need to take their dogs to socialization classes and teach them to be good citizens. If a person can’t devote the time and energy needed to make a dog part of their family, they shouldn’t have the dog. There are no bad dogs, just bad [guardians].”