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Breed-specific legislation is a law that bans or severly restricts certain types of dogs based on their breed or appearance because they are perceived as vicious or dangerous. A breed ban requires that all dogs that fit a certain description are removed/relocated or euthanized by animal control. Breed specific restrictions require owners of a targeted breed to:
The legislation is based strictly off the breed and/or appearance of the dog and does not take training or the behaviour into consideration.
Almost 50% of dogs in the US are mixed breeds and Animal Control Officers and Verterinarians are not trained to identify breeds. Many places with BSL use a checklist such as head is large, neck is muscular, to identify the breed and many owners have successfully challenged the breed identification of their dog. BSL does not focus on responsible dog ownership, and often results in punishing good dogs.
It does not improve public safety or prevent dog bites.
It requires every dog to be "identified" as a breed, which is subjective. And the dog most restricted is the Pit Bull - which is not even a recognized breed.
It punishes responsible dog owners and does nothing to make irresponsible dog owners accountable. Many of these BSL laws have been ruled as unconstitutional.
GET INVOLVED!!!
Go online to your local government website and see if they have any bills that are proposed regarding BSL.
Contact Lawmakers. Reach out to your elected officials to make your voice heard and let them know that BSL DOES NOT WORK.
Educate your friends, family and co-workers on the importance of responsible dog ownership.
Anti-tethering and anti-dog fighting laws are much more effective at improving public safety. The laws should focus on those that deliberately train a dog to act aggressviely towards people or other animals.
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On June 16, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that abolishes the remaining municipal and public housing breed-specific restrictions, largely impacting pit bulls.
The bill (SB 942) was almost unanimously supported in both chambers, recording only one dissenting vote.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera from Miami, commented during the House debate, "We must no longer allow unwarranted restrictions in public housing to exacerbate the problem." She pointed out that housing issues are often the reason people abandon their pets to animal shelters.
Previous legislation had already outlawed breed-specific local regulations, but those enacted before October 1, 1990, were exempt. As a result, Miami's ban on pit bulls remained, and a 1989 law in Sunrise mandated that "pit bull dogs" be securely penned or muzzled.
However, starting from October 1, 2023 any existing laws that impose breed-specific restrictions will become invalid.
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