Since 2018, over 100 cities have repealed ineffective
breed-specific bans or legislation (BSL) targeting 'pitbulls' with more effective, breed-neutral policies. These updated policies align with modern best practices for preventing and reducing serious dog bite-related incidents. BSL discriminates against dogs and their owners because it targets dogs based solely on the dog's appearance or assumed breed without considering the dog's behavior or responsible ownership.
Numerous studies have proven this outdated approach ineffective for enhancing public safety. Additionally, the federal government has opposed breed-specific bans, as evidenced by the U.S. Department of Transportation's recent
regulation prohibiting airlines from banning pitbull-type service dogs on flights. Almost always, BSL is replaced with regulations that focus on behavior, addressing all potentially dangerous dogs and irresponsible owners, regardless of appearance or breed. We commend the cities and towns that have moved away from discriminatory BSL in favor of more equitable and effective breed-neutral ordinances for public safety.
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is typically repealed by a majority city council vote. Occasionally, it is repealed by voters through a ballot measure.
The trend across the United States is clear: dog bans and breed-specific legislation (BSL) have become increasingly unpopular, as the majority of citizens now support equitable and more effective breed-neutral policies over discriminatory and ineffective appearance-based policies for public safety. In 2020, Denver, CO, residents overturned a 31-year-old ban on pitbull-type dogs with a decisive 66% majority vote, while in 2018, Springfield, MO, voters rejected a proposed pitbull ban with an even wider 68% majority. Additionally, the scientific consensus supports this shift, with numerous studies demonstrating the ineffectiveness of BSL. Since only 2016, at least 78 breeds have been implicated in fatal attacks in the U.S., further proving that BSL is not only ineffective but also outdated. As a result, where BSL still exists, it is increasingly being challenged and repealed. We applaud the cities, towns, and their residents who have recently rejected BSL, standing against ineffective policies, junk science, and long-debunked misconceptions and stereotypes about pitbull-type dogs. This represents not only a victory for great dogs, but also for responsible and rational humans.
PitbullHero is a nonprofit research group dedicated to promoting effective and equitable breed-neutral policies for public safety and providing dog bite-related information based on scientific studies and other reliable sources. Our mission is to end discrimination against dogs labeled as 'pitbulls' and to promote the responsible ownership of all dogs, regardless of appearance or breed, which ultimately benefits all people, all dogs, and all communities.
PitbullHero™ LLC | All Rights Reserved
Pit bull facts and information, pit bull breeds, dog bite statistics, pit bull statistics, breed specific legislation BSL
PitbullHero is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0