BSL Continues To Crumble

​Since only 2018, at least 56 cities have successfully repealed their ineffective and obsolete bans against dogs labeled as "pitbulls" in favor of more effective breed-neutral policies that are based on modern best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 assumed breed, regardless of a dog's behavior and regardless of responsible ownership - an archaic and discriminatory policy that multiple peer-reviewed studies have determined to be entirely ineffective for public safety. Even the federal government is against breed-specific bans as the U.S. Department of Transportation recently passed a regulation that prohibits airlines from banning pitbull-type service dogs on flights. 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 U.S. cities and towns listed below for repealing their discriminatory dog bans and improving public safety with sensible and more effective breed-neutral best practices to reduce dog bite-related incidents.

Cities & towns that have repealed BSL since 2018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 ​New Albany, OH (repealed January, 2018)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 Libby, MT (repealed January, 2018)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 Hastings, MI (repealed February, 2018)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 Reynoldsburg, OH (repealed February, 2018)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 Lakewood, OH (repealed March, 2018)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 Ironton, MO (repealed March, 2018)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 Anamosa, IA (repealed March, 2018)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 Marceline, MI (repealed April, 2018)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 Beloit, KS (repealed April, 2018)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. Eudora, KS (repealed April, 2018)
11. Castle Rock, CO (repealed May, 2018)
12. Pratt, KS (repealed May, 2018)
13. Springfield, MO (repealed August, 2018 by popular vote)
14. Yakima, WA (repealed August, 2018)
15. Rocky River, OH (repealed December, 2018)
16. Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH (repealed December, 2018)
​17. Garfield Heights, OH (repealed January, 2019)
18. Fort Lupton, CO (repealed February, 2019)
19. Gardendale, AL (repealed March, 2019)
20. Eureka, MO (repealed March, 2019)
​21. Liberty, MO (repealed April, 2019 by popular vote)
​22. Cabot, AR (repealed April, 2019)
​​23. Ludlow, KY (repealed April, 2019)
24. Barry, IL (repealed April, 2019)
25. Willoughby Hills, OH (repealed April, 2019)
26. Kansas City & Wyandotte County, KS (repealed May, 2019)
​27. Enumclaw, WA (repealed July, 2019)
​28. Highland Heights, OH (repealed July, 2019)
​29. Yorkville, WI (repealed August, 2019)
30. Cudahy, WI (repealed August, 2019)
31. ​Kosciusko, MS (repealed September, 2019)
​32. South Point, OH (repealed October, 2019)
​33. University City, MO (repealed October, 2019)
​34. Fenton, LA (repealed October, 2019)
35. Sugar Creek, MO (repealed November, 2019)
36. Maquoketa, IA (repealed November, 2019)
37. Kennewick, WA (repealed November, 2019)
38. Everett, WA (repealed November, 2019)
39. Sioux City, IA (repealed November, 2019)
40. Sarcoxie, MO (repealed February, 2020)
41. Prairie Village, KS (repealed February, 2020)
42. DeWitt, AR (repealed February, 2020)
43. Junction City, KS (repealed February, 2020)
44. Chardon, OH (repealed August, 2020)
45. Cathlamet, WA (repealed September, 2020)
46. Fort Scott, KS (repealed November, 2020)
47. Denver, CO (repealed November, 2020 by popular vote)
48. Pasco, WA (repealed December, 2020)
​49. Andover, KS (repealed December, 2020)
​50. Paola, KS (repealed December, 2020)
51. Wall Lake, IA (repealed December, 2020)
52. Commerce City, CO (repealed January, 2021)
​53. Aurora, CO (repealed January, 2021)
54. Shrewsbury, MO (repealed January, 2021)
55. Liberal, KS (repealed February, 2021)
​56. Maumelle, AR (repealed April, 2021)

Dog Bans Are Exceedingly Unpopular

The trend is clear - all around the country and across many different political spectrums, dog bans and 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. In 2020, voters in Denver, CO repealed the city's 31-year-old ban against pitbull-type dogs by a landslide 66% majority and in 2018, voters in Springfield, MO rejected a proposed ban on pitbull-type dogs by an even wider 68% majority. 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 over 50 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 still enacted and is frequently being repealed. Congratulations to the many cities, towns, and their voters that have recently eliminated BSL and by doing so, have taken a decisive stand against ineffective and wasteful policies, junk science, and long-debunked myths and stereotypes about pitbull-type dogs - which is not only a win for great dogs, but also a win for responsible and rational humans.
Updated: April 16, 2021