Breed Specific Legislation Research Paper
INTRODUCTION
Capture Attention
Last week this man attacked and wounded another man at Mt. Scott Park, here in Portland, OR. Because of his actions I need all of the students with facial hair, dark shirts, tattoos and long hair to stand up. Effective immediately, all of you will be detained by local authorities because you have been deemed a threat to the safety of our community and the citizens who reside here.
Significance/Relevance
Breed Specific Legislation is not a new way to manage aggressive dogs. These changes in laws tend to happen after a highly publicized dog attack takes place. This type of legislation punishes the breed, not the deed.
Credibility
As a dog owner who spends everyday of his life with …show more content…
What is Breed Specific Legislation? A. Breed-specific legislation is the banning or restriction of the ownership of a dog solely based on the dog's breed regardless of the dog's personal history or temperament. i. BSL has been around for years, but according to www.dogsbite.org “in the last decade over 650 U.S. cities have enacted BSL as a preventative measure to reduce dog attacks and bites to protect citizens.”
B. Breed-specific legislation is based on the premise that certain breeds are inherently dangerous and that public safety can be accomplished by banning or restricting only those dogs.
C. Currently, BSL focuses not on a specific breed, but rather a type of dog. That type, as most of you know, is referred to as the “pit-bull”. The term pit bull generally refers to a Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier, or any dog that is a cross or mix of the aforementioned breeds. A pit bull may also mean any dog that has the appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to the above listed breeds. Therefore, pit bull is a type of dog not a …show more content…
How it affects owners
A. Banning a specific breed punishes responsible dog owners who have well trained dogs of that breed, while irresponsible owners who seek a “dangerous dog” as a status symbol will simply choose a different breed. i. According to the AKC, “this often leads to increased costs to the community, as many owners abandon their household pets at local shelters because they are no longer permitted to own them, or are unable to comply with the strict regulations imposed on them.” ii. In many cases, the owner must choose between relocating to a different town or getting rid of their dog. Many of these dogs end up being housed and/or euthanized at the shelters at the taxpayer’s expense.
iii. As reported in Canada’s weekly newspaper, Macleans (2004), “Experts in canine control and behavior have all said the same thing. Breed-specific bans are reactionary and ineffectual because they don't address the root of the problem: high-risk owners.” According to Dr. Gary Landsberg, a Thornhill, Ont., veterinarian and president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, “people who want to breed and/or own vicious dogs will simply turn to other
Capture Attention
Last week this man attacked and wounded another man at Mt. Scott Park, here in Portland, OR. Because of his actions I need all of the students with facial hair, dark shirts, tattoos and long hair to stand up. Effective immediately, all of you will be detained by local authorities because you have been deemed a threat to the safety of our community and the citizens who reside here.
Significance/Relevance
Breed Specific Legislation is not a new way to manage aggressive dogs. These changes in laws tend to happen after a highly publicized dog attack takes place. This type of legislation punishes the breed, not the deed.
Credibility
As a dog owner who spends everyday of his life with …show more content…
What is Breed Specific Legislation? A. Breed-specific legislation is the banning or restriction of the ownership of a dog solely based on the dog's breed regardless of the dog's personal history or temperament. i. BSL has been around for years, but according to www.dogsbite.org “in the last decade over 650 U.S. cities have enacted BSL as a preventative measure to reduce dog attacks and bites to protect citizens.”
B. Breed-specific legislation is based on the premise that certain breeds are inherently dangerous and that public safety can be accomplished by banning or restricting only those dogs.
C. Currently, BSL focuses not on a specific breed, but rather a type of dog. That type, as most of you know, is referred to as the “pit-bull”. The term pit bull generally refers to a Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier, or any dog that is a cross or mix of the aforementioned breeds. A pit bull may also mean any dog that has the appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to the above listed breeds. Therefore, pit bull is a type of dog not a …show more content…
How it affects owners
A. Banning a specific breed punishes responsible dog owners who have well trained dogs of that breed, while irresponsible owners who seek a “dangerous dog” as a status symbol will simply choose a different breed. i. According to the AKC, “this often leads to increased costs to the community, as many owners abandon their household pets at local shelters because they are no longer permitted to own them, or are unable to comply with the strict regulations imposed on them.” ii. In many cases, the owner must choose between relocating to a different town or getting rid of their dog. Many of these dogs end up being housed and/or euthanized at the shelters at the taxpayer’s expense.
iii. As reported in Canada’s weekly newspaper, Macleans (2004), “Experts in canine control and behavior have all said the same thing. Breed-specific bans are reactionary and ineffectual because they don't address the root of the problem: high-risk owners.” According to Dr. Gary Landsberg, a Thornhill, Ont., veterinarian and president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, “people who want to breed and/or own vicious dogs will simply turn to other