BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) failing globally. This is the situation 2009-07-18.
Examiner.com - USA -- 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 estimated the cost just to enforce breed
specific legislation, (had it passed), would total more than $750,000.
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.
http://www.examiner.com/x-7742-Charl...iling-globally
http://www.examiner.com/x-7742-Charl...iling-globally 