Post by RealPitBull on Jul 7, 2009 7:45:35 GMT -5
Breed specific legislation failing globally
June 30, 10:24 AM · Sara Enos - Charlotte Dog Rescue Examiner
Does appearance determine personality?After almost six years of costly enforcement of breed specific legislation, (BSL) Italy has lifted its breed ban and is replacing it with a law that will hold owners accountable for their dogs. In September of 2003, Italy placed into effect laws that banned or restricted 92 breeds including not just controversial breeds such as the Rottweiler and Pit Bull, but breeds such as the Corgi and Border Collie. Italy later dropped the deemed dangerous list to 17 breeds, and just this past April, removed the restrictions all together. In light of the new law, Health Undersecretary, Francesca Martini said “This is a historic day because we have established for the first time the responsibility of the owner or the person who is momentarily in charge of the animal.”
Dog advocates and experts globally have argued that dogs are individuals and aggression cannot be pinned on specific breeds as a whole. Many share the thought that banning an entire breed is nothing but a costly band-aid fix to quiet the hype caused by the media. Until owners are held responsible for their negligence, incidents will continue to occur even if specific species are eradicated.
Possibly following suit to Italy’s new reversal on BSL, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has ruled in favor of an appeal challenging the constitutionality of the Denver, Colorado breed ban, which currently restricts owners with American Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bulls, American Bull Dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and dogs that appear to be mixed with the listed breeds. Since the Denver ban was re-enacted in 2005, over 1,000 dogs were subsequently euthanized. In their decision, the Tenth Circuit Court is quoted to say "with its affections for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, [the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is] a foremost all-purpose dog."
In 1988, in Dade County, Florida, a breed ban was enacted. In 2002, it was estimated that over 50,000 of the banned breeds were residing there.
In 2001, Baltimore, Maryland spent an estimated $750,000 just to enforce breed specific legislation. Unbeknownst to many tax payers, BSL is very costly. Examples are given using the Economic Impact Calculator.
June 9th, 2008, Holland lifts its breed ban against Pit Bulls after discovering that fifteen years of BSL did not decrease the number of dog bite incidents. After euthanizing many puppies that had Pit Bull appearances, they concluded that physical traits did not pre-determine temperament.
Ignoring statistics and efficacy of BSL, Canada remains firm on their stance to ban specific breeds. On June 9th, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the appeal to remove their ban on Pit Bulls. In 45 years, there had only been 1 reported fatality resulting from a “Pit Bull” attack in Canada, out of 47 cases of fatalities involving at least 100 dogs, most of which were sled dogs. The one listed incident was the result of provocation by a drunken roommate.
Charlotte currently does not enforce breed specific legislation with the exception that Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes cannot be adopted from the Charlotte Mecklenberg Animal Care and Control, (CMACC) Facility. Members of the rescue community are trying to help present solutions to change the city legislation preventing their adoption, without putting the dogs in danger of being adopted by fighters.
In hopes to provide more than a band-aid fix, programs to promote responsible ownership are sprouting throughout the country in an effort to help with breed discrimination caused by negligent owners.
For more info: Visit the National Canine Research Council, and Pit Bull Rescue Central BSL, or email Sara at dogexaminer@
.com.
June 30, 10:24 AM · Sara Enos - Charlotte Dog Rescue Examiner
Does appearance determine personality?After almost six years of costly enforcement of breed specific legislation, (BSL) Italy has lifted its breed ban and is replacing it with a law that will hold owners accountable for their dogs. In September of 2003, Italy placed into effect laws that banned or restricted 92 breeds including not just controversial breeds such as the Rottweiler and Pit Bull, but breeds such as the Corgi and Border Collie. Italy later dropped the deemed dangerous list to 17 breeds, and just this past April, removed the restrictions all together. In light of the new law, Health Undersecretary, Francesca Martini said “This is a historic day because we have established for the first time the responsibility of the owner or the person who is momentarily in charge of the animal.”
Dog advocates and experts globally have argued that dogs are individuals and aggression cannot be pinned on specific breeds as a whole. Many share the thought that banning an entire breed is nothing but a costly band-aid fix to quiet the hype caused by the media. Until owners are held responsible for their negligence, incidents will continue to occur even if specific species are eradicated.
Possibly following suit to Italy’s new reversal on BSL, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has ruled in favor of an appeal challenging the constitutionality of the Denver, Colorado breed ban, which currently restricts owners with American Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bulls, American Bull Dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and dogs that appear to be mixed with the listed breeds. Since the Denver ban was re-enacted in 2005, over 1,000 dogs were subsequently euthanized. In their decision, the Tenth Circuit Court is quoted to say "with its affections for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, [the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is] a foremost all-purpose dog."
In 1988, in Dade County, Florida, a breed ban was enacted. In 2002, it was estimated that over 50,000 of the banned breeds were residing there.
In 2001, Baltimore, Maryland spent an estimated $750,000 just to enforce breed specific legislation. Unbeknownst to many tax payers, BSL is very costly. Examples are given using the Economic Impact Calculator.
June 9th, 2008, Holland lifts its breed ban against Pit Bulls after discovering that fifteen years of BSL did not decrease the number of dog bite incidents. After euthanizing many puppies that had Pit Bull appearances, they concluded that physical traits did not pre-determine temperament.
Ignoring statistics and efficacy of BSL, Canada remains firm on their stance to ban specific breeds. On June 9th, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the appeal to remove their ban on Pit Bulls. In 45 years, there had only been 1 reported fatality resulting from a “Pit Bull” attack in Canada, out of 47 cases of fatalities involving at least 100 dogs, most of which were sled dogs. The one listed incident was the result of provocation by a drunken roommate.
Charlotte currently does not enforce breed specific legislation with the exception that Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes cannot be adopted from the Charlotte Mecklenberg Animal Care and Control, (CMACC) Facility. Members of the rescue community are trying to help present solutions to change the city legislation preventing their adoption, without putting the dogs in danger of being adopted by fighters.
In hopes to provide more than a band-aid fix, programs to promote responsible ownership are sprouting throughout the country in an effort to help with breed discrimination caused by negligent owners.
For more info: Visit the National Canine Research Council, and Pit Bull Rescue Central BSL, or email Sara at dogexaminer@
.com.
I look forward to learning much here