If BSL — breed specific legislation — won’t reduce dog bites and dog attacks, what can your community do? Here are some alternatives to breed bans and other breed restrictions that can help keep everyone safe. Leash laws. Does your community have them? Animal control officers can’t catch loose dogs if your area doesn’t have leash laws. Many attacks in the news are committed by a loose dog running off his property. It isn’t usually the dog’s fault that he is loose — an owner is responsible for containing the dog. Higher penalties for owners who violate leash laws may … Continue reading →

Have you heard of BSL – breed specific legislation? Any law designed to place restrictions on the ownership of certain breeds of dogs can be considered BSL. What dogs are affected? Commonly restricted breeds include: Pit bulls Rottweilers German shepherds Chow chows Dobermans Huskies Boxers The most common kind of BSL bans dogs of a certain breed from an area — most of this type of breed specific legislation is on a city basis, not a county-wide or state-wide basis. All dogs of the banned breed must be removed from the area or euthanized. Sometimes, dogs of the banned breed … Continue reading →