BSL Continues To Crumble

Since 2018, over 100 cities have repealed ineffective breed-specific legislation (BSL) or bans targeting 'pitbulls' with more effective breed-neutral policies based on modern best practices for preventing and reducing serious dog bite-related incidents. BSL targets dogs and their owners based solely on the dog's appearance or assumed breed, without considering the dog's behavior or responsible ownership — an archaic and outdated approach that numerous studies have determined to be ineffective for enhancing public safety. Additionally, the federal government has opposed breed-specific bans, as evidenced by the U.S. Department of Transportation's recent regulation prohibiting airlines from banning pitbull-type service dogs on flights. Almost always, BSL is replaced with behavior-based, breed-neutral regulations that 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 Congratulations to the cities and towns below that have repealed BSL in favor of more equitable and effective breed-neutral policies for public safety.

BSL Repeals 2022-Current 📑

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is typically repealed by a majority city council vote. Occasionally, it is repealed by voters through a ballot measure.

  • 2021

    1. Maumelle, AR
    2. Prescott, AR
    3. Commerce City, CO
    4. Lone Tree, CO
    5. Abilene, KS
    6. Greensburg, KS
    7. Liberal, KS
    8. Overland Park, KS
    9. Dayton, KY
    10. Shrewsbury, MO
    11. Oconomowoc, WI

  • 2020

    1. DeWitt, AR
    2. Denver, CO (repealed by popular vote)
    3. Wall Lake, IA
    4. Andover, KS
    5. Fort Scott, KS
    6. Junction City, KS
    7. Paola, KS
    8. Prairie Village, KS
    9. Sarcoxie, MO
    10. Chardon, OH
    11. Cathlamet, WA
    12. Pasco, WA

  • 2019

    1. Gardendale, AL
    2. Cabot, AR
    3. Fort Lupton, CO
    4. Barry, IL
    5. Maquoketa, IA
    6. Sioux City, IA
    7. Kansas City & Wyandotte County, KS
    8. Ludlow, KY
    9. Fenton, LA
    10. Eureka, MO
    11. Liberty, MO (repealed by popular vote)
    12. Sugar Creek, MO
    13. University City, MO
    14. Garfield Heights, OH
    15. Highland Heights, OH
    16. South Point, OH
    17. Willoughby Hills, OH
    18. Enumclaw, WA
    19. Everett, WA
    20. Kennewick, WA
    21. Royal City, WA
    22. Cudahy, WI
    23. Yorkville, WI

  • 2018

    1. Castle Rock, CO
    2. Anamosa, IA
    3. Beloit, KS
    4. Eudora, KS
    5. Pratt, KS
    6. Hastings, MI
    7. Marceline, MI
    8. Ironton, MO
    9. Springfield, MO (repealed by popular vote)
    10. Libby, MT
    11. Lakewood, OH
    12. Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH
    13. New Albany, OH
    14. Reynoldsburg, OH
    15. Rocky River, OH
    16. Yakima, WA

BSL Repeals Archive 2018-2021 🗄

BSL IS Exceedingly Unpopular 🐶

The trend across the U.S. is clear: Breed-specific legislation (BSL) and dog bans have become increasingly unpopular, as the majority of citizens support equitable and more effective breed-neutral policies over discriminatory and ineffective appearance-based policies for public safety. In 2020, Denver, CO, residents overturned a 31-year-old ban on pitbull-type dogs with a decisive 66% majority vote, and in 2018, Springfield, MO, residents repealed the city's ban against pitbulls with an even wider 68% majority after the City Council narrowly voted to enact the misconceived ban less than a year earlier. Furthermore, the scientific consensus supports the trend of repealing breed-specific policies, with numerous studies concluding that BSL is ineffective and that a dog's breed does not determine aggression, bite strength, or its propensity to bite. Not only is BSL ineffective, but it's also obsolete, given that at least 78 breeds have been implicated in fatal attacks in the U.S. since 2016. Unsurprisingly, BSL is often challenged where it's still enacted and frequently being repealed. Congratulations to the many cities, towns, and their voters that have recently repealed BSL and, by doing so, have taken a decisive stand against ineffective and wasteful policies, junk science, and long-debunked misconceptions and stereotypes about pitbull-type dogs — which is not only a win for great dogs, but also a win for responsible and rational humans.

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