Fight Breed Specific Legislation (BSL)
Breed Specific Legislation or “BSL” is exactly what it sounds like…regulation of your right to own or, in many cases, not own, a dog based solely on the breed or “type” of dog – not your responsibility as an owner*.
*BSL can also refer to regulations and/or requirements placed only on a specific breed of dog and their owners.
No matter how you define it, BSL targets all dogs of a breed — the innocent as well as the guilty, and it removes the responsibility from the dog’s owner and towards the dog itself. Simple common sense tells you that laws are created to punish or deter the actions of humans – not those of animals.
Laws are being proposed every day that are intended to take away our rights to own particular dogs for no reason other than their breed – the way they look, the hype that surrounds them. BSL is the politician’s inadequate and uneducated band-aid solution to address the gushing “wound” of irresponsible ownership and lack of personal accountability.
Are you the owner of one of these breeds?
If so, your dog could be the target of breed specific legislation!
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Akita
- Doberman Pinscher
- Scottish Deerhound
- Belgian Malanois
- Cane Corso
- Fila Brasileiro
- Great Dane
- Bull Mastiff
- St. Bernard
- Dogo Argentino
- Boxer
- Shar Pai
- Alaskan Malamutes
- American Bulldog
- Presa Canario
- German Shephard
- Rottweiler
- Chow Chow
- Siberian Husky
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Tosa Inu
- Irish Wolf Hound
- English Mastiff
– OR –
Are you the owner of a dog that:
- “Closely resembles”
- “Has the appearance and characteristics”
- “Exhibits the distinguishing characteristics”
- “Contains as an element of”
- or
- “Displays the majority of physical traits”
of a “pit bull”?
If so, YOUR DOG could be affected by a “pit bull ban.”
The above language is taken from ordinances in effect in Boston, Massachusetts; Houghton, Kansas; Springfield, Missouri; Greenhills, Ohio and Garfield Heights, Ohio, but are not limited to these cities only.
Resources to Fight BSL
We’ve compiled extensive resources to help you understand and fight breed-specific legislation in your community. Click on the links below to access these valuable tools:
Writing Effective Letters
Learn how to craft persuasive letters to officials that make a real impact.
The Calgary Model
Discover how Calgary reduced dog bites by 70% without breed-specific legislation.
BSL Studies
Review scientific studies showing that BSL fails to reduce dog bites or improve public safety.
Debunking Pit Bull Myths
Get the facts to counter common myths and misconceptions about pit bulls.
Presenting to Officials
Tips from experts on how to effectively present your case against BSL to city officials.
Current BSL Updates
Stay informed about the latest BSL proposals and legislation across the country.
Partner Spotlight: Friends For Pets Foundation
If you’ve never heard of the Friends For Pets Foundation, we highly recommend you consider them if you’re looking for a Weimaraner Rescue. They specialize in weimaraners and do an incredibly good job of ensuring all the dogs in their care are expertly taken care off. They’re a non-profit organization that has been around since 1985 and have been finding homes for abused and abandoned sporting breed dogs since then.
The organization is run by Diane Monahan who takes no salary and simply started and runs the foundation out of her love of Weimaraners and wanting them all to have a good home. If you’re looking for a rescue organization that specializes in Weimaraners, please give the Friends For Pets Foundation a call.
If you’d like to learn more about the Friends For Pets Foundation, you can do so on NACA and by viewing the media coverage they’ve received in the San Diego Union Tribune. You can also learn more about this charity at benevity.org, which is a non-profit portal for finding organizations to support and donate to. Whether you wish to make a donation or simply adopt a Weimaraner, the Friends For Pets Foundation is not only here to help, but also to make a difference in as many dogs lives as possible.
Learn more at https://www.friendsforpets.org/