Breed Specific Legislation: Does it Work?
By Cheyenne Koontz
People will always be influenced by what they read, what they see, or what they have heard. I will say, I do agree to the fact that there have been several attacks that have been reported. This is the technology era, where everything is recorded and quickly sent to a wider audience. In my opinion, the main reason we all are convinced that certain breeds are harmful is because as humans we tend to post more negative things than positive. You should always check your information with facts from a reputable source. Just because John Smith on the internet says it is true does not mean it is.
Now a little insight…
Breed specific legislation (BSL) is where the government passes laws to regulate or entirely ban certain breed or breeds from being owned as a domestic animal. Originally, the legislation was the answer to a number of fatal and/or serious injuries caused by dogs. One of the first breeds that were addressed were listed as “pit bulls”. However, that specific term included several different breeds. “Pit bulls are a type of dog bred to fight, not a specific breed” even though the term is used often. (Breed-specific..)Other breeds (Rottweilers, German Shepards, etc..) have also been on the legislation radar. No recognized evidence has shown that breed specific laws make any difference in the realm of preventing dog bites or attacks. We must enact effective policies that will educate dog owners on how to act responsibly instead of enacting laws that are hard to enforce, discriminatory, and costly. Even with all this knowledge we have about animals, people still seem to misconstrue the evidence. ANY type of breed can be aggressive. Which can be caused by a numerous amount of things: Non socialization, pain-induced, guarding, frustration, learned, etc.. Before you purchase any dog you should research the costs, training, and size of the breed that will fit your lifestyle.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)has issued a statement that denounces breed specific laws. While they concede that there are vicious dogs that can pose a threat to the community, it is not necessarily the breed itself that is responsible for the behavior. By passing these laws, it is often overlooked that other breeds can be and are vicious. It is also unfair to responsible owners whose breed may be banned, but are social with other dogs and people and do not pose a threat. This can result in law abiding citizens breaking the law in order to keep their pet. These laws are difficult to enforce, especially with mixed breeds. Even people that work with dogs on a full time basis have a hard time specifically naming a breed without DNA testing. Since the cost of this testing is prohibitive, it is unrealistic to have every dog that is suspected to be of a banned breed tested. It has also been shown by AVMA that most dog bite statistical information is skewed. Because of factors like that not all bites are reported unless there are serious injuries, breed popularity changes with time, incorrect or biased propaganda is used to chart the bites or attacks.
Using positive solutions to keep the community safe from dangerous dogs is to promote education, incentives, and enforcement of responsible dog ownership. Education from a recognized organization is the first step to helping the community stay safe from dangerous animals. Teaching how to avoid situations that could possibly provoke an unknown dog should be taught to even the smallest of children. With knowledge comes better understanding and an ability to look at all sides of any issue. While there should be rules or laws that protect the public, they should be non-breed specific and based on behavior not breed. A major change should be to hold irresponsible owners accountable for the behavior and conduct of their pets.
One thing I feel that should be done is, before anyone is allowed to adopt or buy a dog they should take a brief class. This would include: training, how to take care of ,what to do if you are unable to properly tend to your dog and the legal side of things. As a dog owner after taking this class you will be knowledgeable on how to take care of an animal and not have to worry about your dog becoming aggressive. Another thing that should be done is once you get caught harming, neglecting, or fighting a dog you should never be allowed to have another. If you get caught you should do jail time. One should be able to love and care for there animal, without afflicting any kind of harm or pain. It is unfair to ban specific types of breed because of the way they are brought up. They depend on us to take care of them and that is what we should do.