Legislation/Policy Article from All-Creatures.org





Pitbulls Out of the Shadows and Into the Sun

From Nathan Winograd
June 2022

When a city has a breed-specific ban, good dogs die. It’s that simple.

smiling Pitbull

Out of the shadows and into the sun. Dogs identified as “pit bulls” are welcome again in Louisburg, KS.

Banning dogs based on how they look is immoral. It is also ineffective. That’s not just opinion; it’s science:

  • 50% of dogs labeled as pit bulls lacked DNA breed signatures of breeds commonly classified as pit bulls;
  • Dogs targeted for breed discriminatory laws are not more likely to bite, do not bite harder, and such bans do not result in fewer dog bites or bite-related hospitalization rates;
  • Enforcement is expensive with no measurable impact on public safety; and,
  • Bans also negatively impact surrounding communities and rescue groups who have to take on the burden of such regressive and selfish policies to save the lives of these dogs.

“When a city has a breed-specific ban, good dogs die. It’s that simple.”


Return to Legislation/Policy Articles
Read more at Companion Animal Care