Download this article in PDF here: Man Bites Dog: Breed Specific Legislation
"An age is called Dark, not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it" - James Michener
Breed Specific Legislation- a law, policy or ordinance that applies to a specific dog breed or breeds, but does not affect any others.The main goal of BSL is to completely eliminate the breed which is restricted by various means.
Genocide- the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. – dictionary.com
Holocaust- any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life. – dictionary.com
Since mass communication and the media commenced, a number of dog breeds have suffered great popularity.An influential occurrence causes the masses to seek a specific breed of dog.This can range from a motion picture (101 Dalmatians), a commercial (Bud Light's Bull Terrier, Spuds McKenzie and the Taco Bell Chihuahua), a television show ("Eddie" Moose, the Jack Russell from 'Frasier'), a celebrity (Paris Hilton's "teacup" dogs) or even an unfortunate event (Diane Whipple being killed by two dogs of the Perro de Presa Canario breed).Suddenly, the demand overpowers the supply causing commercial breeders (puppy mills) and backyard breeders to hastily and irresponsibly mass produce puppies for profit.It's "breeding for the worse of the breed" which always results in a decrease of breed quality with regard to both the health and the temperament.
Unfortunately due to irresponsible owners coupled with media hype, specific dog breeds have become victim to stereotyping.For example: certain breeds of dog are perceived as inherently dangerous.For decades, various dogs have acquired reputations based on media coverage and irresponsible owners.Various breeds have been labeled as "dangerous" during their rise to popularity as a "fad breed" including Great Danes, Pit Bulls, German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers and many others.
Below is an excerpt taken from the book "Cesar's Way" written by Cesar Milan, renowned canine behaviorist regarding interaction with dogs.
[Dogs must be viewed]:

"First, as

1.Animal
2.Species: dog (Canis familiaris)

Then, as
3. Breed (Chihuahua, Great Dane, collie, etc.)

And last and least important
4. Name (personality)"

Therefore, a dog, regardless of breed, is first an animal, second a dog and then a breed.If we apply this "chart" to humans, we would first be animals, then species (human), and finally, race.Would it be fair to stereotype an entire race based on good or bad experiences with only a few?
"It is true that Pit Bulls grab and hold on. But what they most often grab and refuse to let go of is your heart, not your arm."- Vicki Hearne
"The picture I was offered, of the man jogging innocently by and the two dogs attacking and killing "out of nowhere" and "for no reason" simply did not make sense.I also found myself worried silly, because I have always suspected that it is expensive getting a Dog Bites Man item on the desk of a major newscaster, and I wondered who had paid for the crisis… I also assumed that in Ohio someone was mounting a statewide pit bull ban… And so I heard Dan Rather reporting on what sounded like something out of a horror flick, and assumed that some senator in Ohio was using pit bulls as a campaign issue, and this proved to be the case.A few months after that broadcast, Ohio passed what must be a singularly unconstitutional law, declaring that any animal of the breed commonly known as pit bulldog was prima facie vicious for purposes of that law…"
– Vicki Hearne pg. 12 "Bandit: Dossier of a Dangerous Dog"
Addressing Common Pit Bull myths:
Pit Bulls attack more people than any other breed:
Accurate bite statistics are extremely difficult to obtain. Dogs that are referred to as "Pit Bulls" in statistical reports are actually a broad variety of breeds and mixed breeds, all misidentified together under the term "Pit Bull". Additionally, many people have significant trouble properly identifying a true Pit Bull from the countless other breeds and mixed breeds.Consequently, within the bite statistics, a very high number of dogs have been misidentified.
Taking these matters into account, the true number of attacks attributable to actual American Pit Bull Terriers are considerably lower than is represented statistically.
It is also vital to understand the role that the extreme popularity of the Pit Bull and pit bull-type breeds plays. By many estimates, Pit Bull breeds and mixes are the most popular of all dog breeds in the United States. It is only logical to understand that the breed with a highest population would represent with a higher number of bite incidents.
According to older statistical reports for the Center of Disease Control, the trends in breed popularity correlate to the number of bites attributed to a specific breed during a specific period of time.
Therefore, while there is no adequate statistical proof that bites by Pit Bull breeds or mixes occur disproportionately to the population of Pit Bull breeds, there is obvious evidence that the negative coverage of Pit Bull related incidents by the media is disproportionate to the negative press associated of incidents relating to other breeds.
Pit Bulls brains swell/never stop growing:

"This rumor started with the Doberman, and has since been said about game-bred dogs in general. The concept of an animal's brain swelling or growing too large and somehow causing the animal to "go crazy" is not based in truth in any way.

Their brains grow at the same rate as any other dog, and the only time that a Pit Bull's brain is going to swell is if it receives a serious injury. If an animal's brain were to grow too big for its head, the animal would die." –PitBullLovers.com
Dogs react in the moment by triggering previous training and experiences.There are always reasons for a dog's behavior, and when aggression arises the reasons for that behavior can be attributed to improper handling by an unknowledgeable/irresponsible dog owner, lack of socialization or training, a misreading of dog behavior by the owner and rarely, a physical or mental ailment. Consequently, dogs don't "snap" out of nowhere without warning, and the dogs that will develop behavioral issues cannot be determined by their breed rather by the factors that influence their development and behavior.
Pit Bulls have "lock jaw":
If Pit Bull breeds, like any other breed, were bred through the crossing of several other breeds of dog, how is it possible that they alone suddenly developed such a major evolutionary change?There is no scientific proof that there has ever been any sort of "locking mechanism" in the jaw of any Pit Bull breed, or any dog for that matter.This is purely another scare tactic used to wrongfully instill fear into the public regarding Pit Bull breeds.
Pit Bulls are the guardian's of drug dens:
What has become particularly disturbing is that Pit Bull breeds have somehow acquired a reputation as being the "guardians of drug dens". First, a true Pit Bull will never excel at being a guard dog.Pit Bull breeds are known for their welcoming personality towards all humans, even strangers, which makes them terribly suited for guarding.Generally, a Pit Bull will not only have to be poorly bred but also intensely conditioned in order for it to show the aggression conveyed through this stereotype.
Pit Bulls are bulletproof:
Pit Bulls, being living creatures of flesh and blood, will are just as bulletproof as pigs are able to fly.The only way a bullet will "bounce" off of any dog would be if they somehow are wearing bulletproof attire. In short, Pit Bulls are NOT bulletproof. In fact, a Pit Bulls skin is no tougher or less prone to injury than any other breed of dog.An American Pit Bull Terrier is a dog: they do not possess any sort of super power.
Pit Bulls are inherently vicious:
At the risk of being condescending, this view is ignortant. Anyone who states that "Pit Bull breeds are vicious" is purely uninformed about the matter at hand.First, a breed of dog cannot be deemed vicious.This is what is called "breedism" and is comparable to racism against humans.Only specific dogs can be vicious, not entire breeds.Usually, dogs that become vicious are taught this behavior. It is generally not innate.

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