Voters Reject "PitBull" Bans by a Landslide

In 2020, voters in Denver, CO repealed the city's 31-year-old ban against dogs labeled as "pitbulls" by a landslide 66% majority and in 2018, voters in Springfield, MO rejected a proposed ban on "pitbulls" by an even wider 68% majority. While the results of these votes are a strong win against breed discrimination, ineffective policies, and junk science - they also validate a growing national trend against all forms of breed-specific legislation (BSL) that arbitrarily targets great dogs and responsible owners because of the appearance of their dog such as inhumane and obsolete bans against dogs based only on their appearance or assumed breed (regardless of responsible ownership and regardless of a dog's behavior). Furthermore, the results of these votes align with a national survey where 84% of the Americans polled did not support breed-specific bans of any kind. Below, we summarize the decaying state of BSL in the U.S. and Canada.

The Decaying State Of BSL

  • Less than 4% (~700÷19,500) of cities and towns in the U.S. have any form of BSL still enacted.
  • A national survey revealed that 84% of Americans do not support breed-specific bans of any kind.
  • Since only 2018, at least 71 cities and towns in the U.S. have repealed BSL in favor of stronger and more effective breed-neutral regulations while no cities or towns have enacted new bans in the same time period.
  • In Canada, Quebec recently rejected a proposed province-wide ban against pitbull-type dogs and Rottweilers.
  • Well-informed citizens are challenging BSL in cities and towns across the U.S. and Canada where these archaic and obsolete breed-specific policies still unfortunately exist.
  • ​Multiple peer-reviewed studies have concluded that BSL is ineffective.

BSL Is Not Supported By Science Or The Majority

The trend is clear - BSL and dog bans have become exceedingly unpopular as the majority of voters favor equitable and more effective breed-neutral policies over discriminatory and ineffective appearance-based policies for public safety. While there is a fringe but vocal minority that supports BSL and appearance-based dog bans, it's becoming evident that the majority of citizens are against invasive, ineffective, and discriminatory breed-specific policies. 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. 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. Although there is still a lot of advocacy, education, and work to be done to combat breed discrimination and to eradicate BSL, the tide (and the majority) is clearly and steadily turning against BSL and appearance-based dog bans.​
Updated: August 26, 2022