It's a complex issue, but here are a few helpful resources: BSL in BC & North America. Germany has a nationwide import ban on the Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier, plus crosses of those breeds. In fact, Nortons bumper sticker on her car states, “All creatures great and small, accept the American Pit Bull Terrier.”. Re: Proposed Breed Specific Legislation (OPPOSE) Mayor Todd Kuhns. In May 2005, former NSW premier Bob Carr announced in Parliament that the government would introduce legislation to ban restricted breeds. “However, there does seem to be some evidence that certain breeds are more likely to attack children and adult humans, and that can’t be ignored.”, Dog trainer suggests licence to own special breeds. Caroline Zambrano investigates the possibility of dog licensing to replace and the alternatives to breed specific legislation.. The following are examples of good alternatives to breed bans and breed-specific legislation (BSL). It focuses on specific breeds, which fails to appreciate a dog is not aggressive purely on the basis of its breed. For starters, dogs with history of aggression can be microchipped to track aggressive behavior and prevent future incidents. Consider the role of proper containment in preventing dog bites. Prevent dog abuse and dog fighting, with severe penalties to the owner. Stronger enforcement of existing dangerous dog laws. These laws focus on reckless owners instead of dog breeds: Illinois: Illinois Animal Control Act The second level of licensing is a Minimal Licence, which would permit the holder to have the dog on private property and in the car, but when in public, would be permitted to walk the dog only on the lead and only in situations where there are no living creatures nearby. October 11, 2010 at 8:51 AM Public. We thank Mr. Greenwood and ADBA for truly representing dog owners! “The public needs to be better educated about approaching strange dogs,” Richardson advised. He said people expect all dogs to be “pattable” but an inappropriate approach by a stranger can trigger an aggressive reaction from some dogs that are not easy-going in character. Some city/municipal governments have enacted breed-specific laws, as has the State of Ohio. 1. The first level of licensing is the High Security Licence, which would be given to people who want to keep a dog with an established history of vicious behaviour. There are many practical alternatives to these laws that would provide adequate protection to the general My city has BSL. Up to 15,000 dogs have been killed by councils around the country because they are Pit Bulls and many of them are not even Pit Bulls, she claims. Seksel said overseas experience has shown that BSL fails to reduce the number of dog attacks and dog bites, therefore doing little to protect the public. Fight breed-specific legislation to protect dogs and strengthen communities. What Are the Alternatives? What's it like to volunteer with us? Another idea to help in the fight against dog attacks comes from an American author and educational psychologist specialising in canine behaviour. The person would then take a knowledge test on care and handling, followed by a practical test on basic training with a canine club or training organisation. “When I first met Jake, he was thin and had an open wound on his head. UK data on dog attacks and dog bites pre and post implementation of BSL shows no difference in the incidence of dog bites, with 73 percent of all bites requiring medical attention occurring both before and after implementation of the legislation. He suggests implementing a licence for people who own special breeds the powerful small dogs as well as the powerful large dogs. Municipal Letter Template. Breed Specific Legislation – The Legislative Panic Button 9 III. Due Process Claims 17 2. Housing and BSL. How Many Pounds of Pressure Does a Pit Bull Bite Have? Does BSL Work? Breed Specific Legislation was introduced 26 years ago as part of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to restrict the ownership of certain types of dogs deemed to be dangerous to people. BSL is a limited, single-factor, appearance-based approach while BNL is a comprehensive, multifactorial, behavior-based approach. If a Pit Bull Shows Aggression to Dogs, People are Next – Pit Bull Myth, Yakima City Council Votes to Revoke Pit Bull Ban. Senator Bartlett has a strong record on animal rights and introduced a Private Members Bill (National Animal Welfare Bill 2003) to establish Australias first national and enforceable animal welfare standards. See more ideas about bsl, pitbulls, pit bull love. According to Watson, “Every animal should have a fair chance. Also president of the Animal Companion Animal Council (ACAC), Seksel submitted a government commissioned report to the NSW Department of Local Government in 2002 to provide an independent review of the issues relating to the control of dangerous dogs in NSW, the performance of BSL in overseas jurisdictions and any implications for the provisions of the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998. However, she stopped breeding because she said it was too hard to find responsible owners. Most popular alternatives to breed specific legislation in the US. By nixing breed labels, shelters let dogs shine on their individual merits. “The Pit Bull is not a dog for everyone. There are other alternative to breed bans and breed specific legislation. We don’t support breed-specific legislation — research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources…As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. It needs owners who are disciplined and dedicated to training their dog,” she said. Advocate againt BSL A "pit bull" isn't a thing. Some city/municipal governments have enacted breed-specific laws, as has the State of Ohio. Puppy trade. The third alternative to breed banning is to provide adult dogs with appropriate care, meaning always be in control of the dog, make sure dogs are properly trained, and react to and correct aggressive behavior should it arise. Old English Bulldog in Paris, 1863 A bull and a bulldog, etching by F. Barlow, circa 17th century A.D.. Bull-baiting with dogs, 19th century Spanish Alano dogs, bull-fighting scene by Goya, circa 1815 Spanish Alano dogs, bull-fighting scene, circa 1795 References. “Its so wrong to kill them. It allows seizure of other breeds, but the rules are not applied homogeneously by councils. Wildlife in the garden. When it comes to owning and caring for dogs, it is the person’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the pet and other people. Does BSL Work? Suggested Alternatives to Breed Bans 1. BSL is known to those who oppose it as “Bull Shit Legislation.” In practice, BSL generally refers to laws or ordinances pertaining to a specific dog breed or breeds. The only registered specialist in animal behaviour in Australia, veterinarian Dr Kersti Seksel, said the introduction of legislation restricting dogs on the basis of appearance or breed rather than behaviour will not result in any real dog attack-harm reduction. Thesis: Breed specific legislation is a controversial topic in which I am very interested and would like to explore both sides of the issue to perhaps learn something new. Pets at Christmas. Breed Specific Legislation fails to achieve what Parliament intended, to protect the public. Help! Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Kirksville, Mo. “Over 40 per cent of dogs in Australia are crossbreeds and therefore do not demonstrate consistent breed type to any particular breed,” said Seksel. The worst thing is – it usually doesn’t make any difference nor makes the community safer in any way. Breed Specific Legislation, or BSL, is a law or ordinance passed by a legislative body pertaining to a specific breed or breeds of domesticated animals. The report revealed that, during the past 20 years, at least 25 breeds of dog have been involved in 238 human fatalities. Alternatives to Breed Bans. I agree the way an owner treats a dog is far more likely to influence that dogs behaviour than the breed of the dog”, he said. Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Kirksville, Mo. Breed Specific Legislation was introduced 26 years ago as part of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to restrict the ownership of certain types of dogs deemed to be dangerous to people. Corporate volunteering. The State of BSL – By State 24 V. Why BSL is Problematic 29 A. Published on November 01, 2000 ... 2000 issue of the JAVMA indicate that breed-specific legislation is not the solution to dog bite prevention. B. + Alternatives. By Dean J. Monti. Waitakere City Council runs an education program that involves officers going into schools and the community and giving talks on responsible dog ownership. Craig Mixon spoke to Dogs Life about a four-tier system of licensing, which he addresses in detail on his website www.barkingdogs.net, created to educate the public about barking dogs and the relationship between barking and biting. She emphasised that the key to all dog issues is education. After successfully completing these stages, the person could then purchase a dog from a regulated breeder. To encourage responsible ownership, legislation should focus on . Interestingly, Dr Seksel worked as an animal behaviourist in the US and had the opportunity to examine about 20 American Pit Bull Terriers which had been bred for fighting. At the point of applying for a licence for a special breed, a potential owner would have to consider whether they have the right lifestyle and the possible consequences of owning such a dog. For canine regulation, it is important to understand the differences between the two major forms of regulation - breed-specific legislation (BSL) and breed-neutral legislation (BNL). -Creating a legislative presence. The dog would be temperament tested for the first three years of its life and be awarded a coloured tag depending on its aggression level. It was the aim of these early laws to identify certain breeds as “inherently dangerous to society.” It should be noted that dogs are not the only animals to have faced breed-specific legislation. Non-breed specific legislation is cost effective in comparison to outright breed ban and is more readily accepted for the most part. Extinct breeds. Floods. Breed specific legislation is a bad idea and we encourage people to speak out about it however they can. What happens when a dog walker’s dog doesn’t walk. An alternative to breed-specific legislation is to regulate individual dogs and owners on the basis of their behavior.” The National Canine Research Council claims, “There is no scientific evidence that one kind of dog is more likely than any other to injure a human being. Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and the alternatives associated with breed specific legislation. Laws For starters, dogs with history of aggression can be microchipped to track aggressive behavior and prevent future incidents. Waitakere City Council in New Zealand offers a Dog Owners Licence test to dog owners but as an incentive to reduce the dog registration fees, not dog attacks. The pet owner should be the own to take the fall for dog bite incidents, not the entire breed of the dog that bites the neighbor. Create regulations and fees associated with becoming a dog breeder. Breed specific legislation is a bad idea and we encourage people to speak out about it however they can. In fact, she found one of the pups she sold wandering in the streets and kept him when she could not contact the owners. He is also former president of Animal Liberation Victoria. -BSL/Pit Bull Initiatives - creating training opportunities, identifying effective alternatives to breed specific legislation. Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and the alternatives associated with breed specific legislation. More details . “I was frightened I would cost my dog his life,” she said. Regulate dog breeders in order to ensure that puppies start off on the right foot with proper care, socialization, and health. Set up low cost, or free, spay and neuter programs, that encourage people to have their dog altered. Report concerns. Use the search function to find details about a specific location. Most popular alternatives to breed specific legislation in the US. "Breed-specific" legislation (BSL) is the blanket term for laws that either regulate or ban certain breeds completely in the hopes of reducing dog attacks. She said none of these animals showed aggression towards humans. He chose to stay an ordinary dog.”. Norton has received hundreds of calls from BSL victims, including people whose dogs were falsely identified as a Pit Bull and destroyed without a fair trial. To encourage responsible ownership, legislation should focus on . Equal Protection Claims 19 3. “Jake was an extraordinary dog,” said Helen. If a dog bites or attacks someone, the owner is legally responsible, and restrictions are placed on the "guilty" dog. In America, responsible people should be allowed to love and care for any breed of dog they choose. There is no such problem, they say. People who breed without a permit, would suffer penalization for improper containment or care concerns. -Strengthening the enforcement of existing local ordinances and state regulations. Conversely, studies can be referenced that point to clear, positive effects of carefully crafted breed-neutral laws. These alternatives to breed laws focus on pet owners, not the pet. Effective alternatives to BSL. Effective alternatives to BSL. As accurate breed identification proves difficult, she suggested assessing a dog by behaviour (temperament assessment) rather than by appearance to determine whether an individual animal be subject to restrictions. If they are not already in place, lobby for protection from untrained and unsupervised dogs of any breed or mix. However, council officials believe the test encourages dog owners to be more responsible. What can I do? Implement strict dog ownership laws, that include ordinances for containment regulations, minimum care, noise nuisance regulations, and overall owner liability. FAQs . These laws focus on reckless owners instead of dog breeds: Illinois: Illinois Animal Control Act Because the root problem of this issue is actually irresponsible owners, not an inherently aggressive breed, there should be alternatives to breed-specific bans–which there are. They feel that dogs attack people who deserve it for one reason or another. BSL can range from something as mild as a higher licence fee for specific breeds to an all-out ban, including mandatory destruction of any prohibited dog found within the boundaries of the legislating jurisdiction. Alabama rot. John Richardson began DogTech International Pty Ltd and has been training dogs for more than 30 years. The report revealed that, during the past 20 years, at least 25 breeds of dog have been involved in 238 human fatalities. A breed-neutral approach may include the following: 1. He said allowing dogs to bark or vocally threaten the general public greatly increases the chances the animal will eventually bite someone. Thesis: Breed specific legislation is a controversial topic in which I am very interested and would like to explore both sides of the issue to perhaps learn something new. What breed am I? What are the big issues in the local Melbourne dog parks? The test has been running for about 15 years and involves answering 20 multiple choice questions all based on the New Zealand Dog Owner Manual written by Tom Didovich. In the majority of dog attacks, the breed of the animal responsible is not able to be accurately determined due to the variation in physical characteristics. Such laws range from outright bans on the possession of these dogs, to restrictions and conditions on ownership, and often establishes a legal presumption that such dogs are dangerous or vicious. It is the owner who needs to be controlled. If they are not already in place, lobby for protection from untrained and unsupervised dogs of any breed or mix. “He came to a place with no violence. Thesis: Breed specific legislation is a controversial topic in which I am very interested and would like to explore both sides of the issue to perhaps learn something new. BSL in The Courts – An Unsettled Debate 14 A. BSL vs. alternatives to breed-specific legislation and the implications of these alternate measures. Posted on March 6, 2012 by Good Pit Bulls Admin | There are other alternative to breed bans and breed specific legislation. October 8, 2010 . It's a complex issue, but here are a few helpful resources: BSL in BC & North America. These alternatives can serve as long-term solutions to dog problems, as well as create fewer problems that are commonly associated with dog breed laws. This map gives you a comprehensive look at breed specific legislation across the United States. These alternatives can be implemented to solve future dog bite and dog attack problems. He agrees the Pit Bull breed has a strong bite to hold, but other dogs, like the Cattle Dog, can do equal damage, so he wonders where the government will stop with BSL. Some city/municipal governments have enacted breed-specific laws, as has the State of Ohio. Set up low cost, or free, dog training and dog behavior help that will encourage people to train their dogs and to better understand the importance of basic obedience and dog behaviors. this was the final opening video for my power point presentation on an argumentative essay about pitbulls and BSL. Suggest that adopters choose a dog based on personality, not just by breed. “Our lawyer is one of the top in Germany for fighting federal laws and has never lost a case,” said Dettmar. My city has BSL. Breed Specific Legislation fails to achieve what Parliament intended, to protect the public. Alternatives to balloons and sky lanterns. For instance, the owner could not walk his dog on a well-travelled sidewalk. Dog treats: Why bother with meat or different meat than beef or chicken? Many cities have the Fighting Dog Tax for people who own a breed on that citys restricted breed list and this tax can be as high as 800 to 1200 Euros for the first dog and higher for additional ones. In the past decade, many states in Australia have passed Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) with varied restrictions relating to the breeds nationally banned from importation: the American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. Breed specific legislation: Considerations for evaluating its effectiveness and recommendations for alternatives September 2005 The Canadian veterinary journal. She was attracted to the breed because of “their love of humans”. The holder of this licence would be forbidden from taking his dog out in public and be required to pass a city inspection of his property to ensure his dog is properly confined in a humane and escape-proof enclosure and that warning signs are prominently posted. These alternatives to breed laws focus on pet owners, not the pet. The laws, which were passed to reduce the number of dog attacks, may help victims of such attacks feel more secure when stepping out into the street. In Queensland, Helen* rescued a Pit Bull from a lifetime of fighting. Alternatives to Breed Specific Legislation There are numerous individuals and organizations in disagreement with BSL, who consider it to be inappropriate and ineffective. Over time, some dogs go from barking, to barking more intensely, to barking in a threatening manner. Breed Specific Legislation. More details . We thank Mr. Greenwood and ADBA for truly representing dog owners! 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