Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is a Cop-Out for Politicians

BSL, breed specific legislation, targets a group of dogs based on what they look like. These dogs are considered dangerous. Breed specific laws ban or restrict these dogs in public buildings and cities throughout this country and around the world. The owners of the dogs are required to carry a certain amount of liability insurance, keep the dog muzzled and on a short leash when in public, provide a fortified kennel that's escape proof, put signs around their property announcing they have a "dangerous dog", tag the dog as a "dangerous dog" by making the dog wear a tag on his collar and the dog must be spayed or neutered. It doesn't matter if the dog is dangerous or not - just that he looks like one of the dangerous breeds. It's called guilt by association and it's unfairly profiling.

First of all, unless a dog is a purebred and is used in a responsible breeding program, every dog, regardless of whether he's one of the bully breeds or not, should be spayed or neutered. Altering a dog is one of the first steps a responsible pet owner can take to help prevent health problems and some types of cancer that could develop later on in the dog's life and deal with aggressive tendencies. Although, altering alone will not solve or control an aggressive dog's outbursts. Positive training techniques and a responsible owner will.

BSL is a cop out for politicians and those who favor legislation to deal with what they perceive as dangerous dogs. Instead of taking the time to learn what a dog is trying to communicate to us through his body language and growls, breed specific legislation places all the blame on the dog and the owner. The dog is tried and convicted without having ever committed a crime just because of his breed. Instead of banning dog breeds, we should be going after the real source of the problem - bad owners. It's not the dog who is at fault, it's the irresponsible owner who needs to be dealt with by legislating more severe animal abuse laws that actually have teeth (no pun intended).

Any dog, regardless of his breed, is capable of attacking and injuring a human and the majority of dog bites happen because the person who was bit wasn't paying attention to what the dog was trying to say. Even the most docile and people friendly dog can and will bite under the right circumstances. BSL does nothing to stop dog bites and ends up punishing the responsible dog owner and the dog.

Michael Vick is the perfect poster boy for the irresponsible dog owner who gives Pit Bulls, Bull Terriers, Bull Dogs or any other breed they mistreat a bad name. A dog is the product of his upbringing and environment. They learn what we teach them and no dog is born bad or aggressive. Michael Vick taught his dogs to fight and used his Pit Bulls for his entertainment and profit. He was the one who taught the dogs to be mean. He was the one who helped to brutally kill the under performing dogs and he was the one who tried to downplay his role in his dog fighting ring and blame his upbringing as an excuse for his cruel behavior. His excuse is as much of a cop out as politicians passing BSL to make the public think they've addressed the issue.

The top ten most dangerous dogs are, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, Great Dane, St. Bernard, and Akita. Although, this list depends on which list you're looking at. American Staffordshire Terrier and any dog from the Terrier breed are included in dangerous dog lists along with, Poodle, Dalmatian, Boxer and Presa Canario. Most of the breeds listed are the same dog breeds used in search and rescue, as police dogs, military dogs, therapy dogs and dogs who work with the Border Guard to sniff out illegal drugs and other contraband. The difference between how they are trained is not that great, but when their training is done by responsible owners or handlers, their performance is. Dogs who were bred to be aggressive have the power and stamina to do harm. They are like a loaded gun and can be dangerous in the wrong hands and with the wrong kind of training. But they are also just as gentle and loving as any dog if they are in the hands of a responsible owner and received proper training.

BSL also includes any dog that looks like one of the above dog breeds. If a mixed breed dog resembles one of the dogs on the list, they are considered dangerous as well. Politicians address an issue when they feel it's in their best interest to do so. It's meant to give the public peace of mind and gets politicians a pat on the back without having to make the tough decisions that might actually solve a problem in a fair way.

Dog bites and dog attacks will not be stopped by BSL which doesn't address the real problem of bad owners. These laws don't deal with the irresponsibility of owners who don't give their pets proper care or training. A better way of dealing with powerful dog breeds who were bred to fight bear, cougar, bulls or other large and dangerous animals and guard property and families, is to pass legislation that requires all dogs to pass a training program, like the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program. It doesn't matter what a dog's breed is, every dog owner needs to be able to handle and control their dog in public and at home that is respectful and loving.

Every dog should know basic commands and a 2009 study has shown teaching dogs using positive reinforcement produces quicker results and is less likely to create an aggressive dog. If dog owners would learn to pick a dog according to their lifestyle and their ability to train and control their dog, fewer dogs would be in shelters. It's bad dog owners we need to pass legislation for that gives protection to dogs.

Animal abuse laws aren't written to protect animal rights and BSL doesn't protect the public from the real problem of bad owners with powerful dogs they can't or won't control. Michal Vick taught his dogs to be dangerous. A Pit Bull, with the right owner, is just as lovable and trustworthy as any dog breed.

Sophia Yin, DVM, New Study Finds Popular "Alpha Dog" Training Techniques Can Cause More Harm Than Good, Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

What is BSL?, stopbsl.com

Top 10 Most Dangerous Dogs, Top10List