Breed Specific Legislation And Its Flaws
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Breed Specific Legislation And Its Flaws

Ban BSL, because it's BS.

63
Breed Specific Legislation And Its Flaws
Reddit

To the average American, our dogs are our best friends. According to the ASPCA, it's estimated that about 70 to 80 million dogs are owned as pets just in the United States alone. That's a lot of flippin' dogs!

Out of that 80 million or so dogs owned, 10 percent are pit bull breeds. This includes, but is not limited to, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Bull Terriers and American Bulldogs. Congratulations, you just learned a fact that the majority of the population does not know.

FACT: "Pitbull" is a broad category, not a specific breed, used to describe several different breeds.

We use the term "collie," or "spaniel," to categorize different breeds within these terms. This is the exact same concept as the term"pitbull."

Now that the statistics lesson is over, we can move onto the nitty gritty.

Did you know that every day, your average American is forced to follow a legislation that limits what type of dog they own?

As ridiculous as it sounds ... it's happening all over the U.S., as well as several other foreign countries. This claptrap of an idea is called BSL, more formally known as Breed Specific Legislation.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Pit bulls are dangerous!" But are they?

According to WhatAPittie.org, there is no specific breed more "aggressive" or "dangerous" than another. In fact, the American Temperament Testing Society found that these "bully breeds" pass in nearly the 90th percentile when it comes to temperament. Dog breeds that scored lower than this include beagles, dalmatians and toy poodles.

The huge problem with these "bully breeds," is that they are extremely mistreated and misused based off of their natural given abilities and character traits. And by who? None other than the people that decide to own and breed these dogs for something other than pet-hood.

Yep, you heard me, right folks, it's us humans that are making these dogs aggressive. Who would've thought?

Yes, it's true that "pit bulls" have very sharp teeth and strong jaws. They are extremely loyal, dedicated and easy to train. This is why they are a target. And despite popular opinion, pit bulls do not have locking jaws.

The flaw in these dogs isn't found in their natural instincts, rather than our way, as humans, of manipulating them to be violent and untamed. So we pass off that this dog breed, being an instinctual animal, is "vicious in nature," and "unfit to be pets," when in reality, we are the ones to blame for this behavior.

Pitbull facts aside, there is no specific evidence that breed-specific legislation prevents dog bites or attacks. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention is strongly against BSL, stating that there is an inaccuracy in dog bite data and there is no solid way of identifying dog breeds. Not only is BSL difficult to enforce, but it's extremely costly to exercise.

In 2001, a Baltimore, Maryland auditor estimated that it would cost $750,000 to enforce breed-specific laws. More or less, we are spending endless amounts of money on something in which there is no scientific evidence. There is no proof that BSL has benefitted in reducing dog bites, nor is there proof that these breeds are inherently dangerous. Not to mention, banning of a specific breed only attracts more attention and desire to use and abuse these animals.

Moral of the story? BSL doesn't work. It has no scientific backing as to why it is in place. There is no evidence of any breed of dog to be more violent or aggressive than another. It's simply about how we treat our animals.

Ban BSL. Because it's BS.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

57975
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37345
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959014
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

192402
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments