Breed specific legislation otherwise known as "BSL" has started to sweep the world. Germany, Canada, The United States, France, and England are among the major countries that have enacted some form of breed specific law that restricts or calls for a complete ban on several breeds from existing peacefully within their borders.
American Pit Bull Terriers or anything that remotely resembles a "Pit Bull" are among the most commonly listed breeds in BSL proposals.
Even more horrible is the fact these laws do not even take into consideration the individual dog's history but instead lumps them all together under one classification.
In most cases this means they are labeled as dangerous. Ultimately forcing the well behaved dogs to be seen and classified along with the dogs that have in fact bitten or attacked someone.
In short, if you have a highly decorated Search and Rescue Pit Bull your dog is seen as deadly as the dog that has been drugged up, abused, and forced to attack.
Breed specific legislation is nothing more then a band-aid law makers have placed over a massive head wound. What I find ironic is they truly feel these laws are going to help the public deal with the Pit Bull dilemma.
In fact nothing could be further from the truth and the public is mislead by thinking that if Pit Bulls are banned or restricted, this is going to somehow stop irresponsible owners from allowing their dogs to continue to create havoc in the streets.
What will it take before people realize these laws are completely useless and enacting them only serves to tie the responsible owner's hands behind their backs? Not to mention it creates the public image their dogs are dangerous and potentially vicious. This creates further problems for the owners because their neighbors become afraid and call for their removal from the neighborhood.
Some might think this is a paranoid outlook on the situation. Tell that to the woman whose Bull Terrier was set on fire in Germany soon after the country enacted its breed specific legislation.
Will you sit back and let this happen?
Even if you do not share your life with the American Pit Bull Terrier or a dog on these breed specific lists, it is your duty as a dog owner to do something about it.
If you would like more information you can download a killer Breed Specific Legislation package at www.understand-a-bull.com
What are you waiting for?
Breed Specific Legislation - Is your dog next?
by Jason Mann
Jason Mann operates www.PitBullLovers.com a positive American Pit Bull Terrier website devoted to educating the public about the true nature of the worlds most versatile breed of canine. |
