BSL Continues To Crumble

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​Since only 2018, at least 22 cities have successfully eliminated their ineffective and obsolete bans on "pitbull-type" dogs in favor of more effective breed-neutral policies that are based on modern best-practices for preventing and reducing serious dog bite-related incidents. The bans, also known as breed-specific legislation (BSL), target dogs (and their owners) based only on a dog's appearance or breed, regardless of a dog's behavior and regardless of responsible ownership - an archaic policy that multiple peer-reviewed studies have determined to be ineffective for public safety. Almost always, ineffective appearance-based policies such as BSL are replaced with stronger and more equitable behavior-based, breed-neutral regulations which are more effective because they address all potentially dangerous dogs, all irresponsible owners, and all unsafe dog-related situations - regardless of a dog's appearance or breed. Congratulations to the cities and towns listed below for repealing BSL, improving public safety with modern best-practices, and taking a decisive stand against ineffective policies and long-debunked myths and stereotypes about pitbull-type dogs.

The following cities and towns have successfully repealed BSL since 2018:

1. ​New Albany, OH (repealed January, 2018)
2. Libby, MT (repealed January, 2018)
3. Hastings, MI (repealed February, 2018)
4. Reynoldsburg, OH (repealed February, 2018)
5. Lakewood, OH (repealed March, 2018)
6. Ironton, MO (repealed March, 2018)
7. Anamosa, IA (repealed March, 2018)
8. Marceline, MI (repealed April, 2018)
9. Beloit, KS (repealed April, 2018)
10. Castle Rock, CO (repealed May, 2018)
11. Pratt, KS (repealed May, 2018)

12. Yakima, WA (repealed August, 2018)
13. Rocky River, OH (repealed December, 2018)
14. Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH (repealed December, 2018)
15. Garfield Heights, OH (repealed January, 2019)
16. Fort Lupton, CO (repealed January, 2019)
17. Gardendale, AL (repealed March, 2019)
18. Eureka, MO (repealed March, 2019)
19. Willoughby Hills, OH (repealed April, 2019)
20. Liberty, MO (repealed April, 2019)
21. Cabot, AR (repealed April, 2019)
22. Kansas City & Wyandotte County, KS (repealed May, 2019)

The trend is clear: All around the country and across many different political spectrums, dog bans such as BSL have become exceedingly unpopular as the majority of people favor equitable and more effective breed-neutral policies over discriminatory and ineffective appearance-based policies for public safety. Furthermore, the scientific evidence is also clear as multiple peer-reviewed studies have concluded that BSL is ineffective and that any risk associated with "pitbull-type" dogs is fully in-line with other dogs of similar sizes and strengths. Not only is BSL ineffective, but it's also entirely obsolete given that at least 30 different breeds have been involved in fatal dog attacks in the U.S. since only 2016. Unsurprisingly, BSL is rightfully being challenged where it's enacted and is frequently being repealed. Congratulations to the many cities and towns that have eliminated BSL since only 2018!

Updated: June 1, 2019