Breed Specific LegislationBreed Specific Legislation

Why it Affects YOUWhy it Affects YOU

Breed-Specific RestrictionsBreed-Specific Restrictionsusually require usually require

Muzzling and short leash when off Muzzling and short leash when off owner’s propertyowner’s property

Secure enclosure Secure enclosure

(6 sided run with concrete floor)(6 sided run with concrete floor) Liability insurance, up to $1 millionLiability insurance, up to $1 million Dangerous dog signs on propertyDangerous dog signs on property Dog cannot be in a room that has Dog cannot be in a room that has

access to an exit via open windows or access to an exit via open windows or doorsdoors

Breed Specific BansBreed Specific Bans

May or may not have a “grandfather” May or may not have a “grandfather” clauseclause

If grandfather clause IS included, it If grandfather clause IS included, it requires spay/neuter & severe requires spay/neuter & severe restrictionsrestrictions

Bans will usually take effect in 30 days Bans will usually take effect in 30 days or lessor less

Dogs seized under bans are generally Dogs seized under bans are generally euthanizedeuthanized

I’m a Responsible OwnerI’m a Responsible OwnerWhy Should I Worry?Why Should I Worry?

Grandfather clauses are not mandatoryGrandfather clauses are not mandatory Individual owner or dog’s history has no Individual owner or dog’s history has no

bearing on restrictionsbearing on restrictions Often 30 days is the maximum Often 30 days is the maximum

permitted to move or get rid of your petpermitted to move or get rid of your pet If you don’t meet the requirements, If you don’t meet the requirements,

your pet could be euthanizedyour pet could be euthanized

My Dog is a MuttMy Dog is a MuttNo Problem, Right?No Problem, Right?

WRONG!WRONG!Bans include dogs “with the Bans include dogs “with the

similar appearance and similar appearance and characteristics” of targeted characteristics” of targeted

breeds!breeds!

Non-registered dogs are at the Non-registered dogs are at the mercy of Animal Controlmercy of Animal Control

There is NO SCIENTIFIC or OBJECTIVE WAY

To determine BREED heritage in a mixed breed dog

Or to prove the breed of an unregistered dog.

Is this a dangerous dog? What do your town’s laws say?

Where has BSL been enacted?

United States

AlabamaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutFloridaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKentuckyLouisianaMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioKansasOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtah VirginiaWashingtonWisconsin

BSL in Iow

a

Garrison Atkins Belle PlainBlairstown Keystone LuzerneMt. Auburn Newhall NorwayShellsburg Urbana Van HorneVinton Wallford WatkinsAinsworth Albia AllisonAsbury Anamosa AltoonaAudobon Bellevue Blue GrassBritt Buffalo Center CarrollChariton Centerville CherokeeCoggin Coutier CascadeCarter Lake Council Bluffs ConradClarence Dallas Center Dakota CityDexter Donnellson DumontDurant Des Moines DowsEmmetsburg Epworth EstervilleEvansdale Fairfax FairfieldForest City Hiawatha HolsteinHubbard Ida Grove JewellKesauqua LaPort City Lake MillsLamoni LaurensNew ViennaManning MansonMaquoketaMarcus MarshalltownMediapolisMissouri Valley Mount Ayr Mount PleasantMonticello Muscatine New LondonOsage Oceola OdeboltOlin Ottumwa Oxford JunctionPocohantas Palo PrestonPostville Perry RockwellRake Roland Rockwell CityRock Rapids Scarsville ShellsburgSloan Springville Shell RockSanborn Sigorney Sac CitySheldon Tabor ThompsonToledo Urbana VilliscaVinton Wapello WellmanWest Des Moines Wilton Windsor HeightsWinfield Winterset WoodbineAkeny Clarinda Clarion

Countrieswith BSL

Australia Belgium

Brazil Chile

Canada Denmark

Finland France

Germany Great Britain

Holland Hungary

Iceland Ireland

Italy New Zealand

Norway Panama

Pitcairn Islands Poland

Romania Samoa

Spain Sweden

U.A.E. U.S.A.

Wallis & Futuna Islands

West Bank W. Sahara

Yemen Yugoslavia

Zaire Zambia

Restricted or Banned in the U. Restricted or Banned in the U. S.S.

American Pit Bull TerrierAmerican Pit Bull Terrier Staffordshire Bull TerrierStaffordshire Bull Terrier

American Staffordshire TerrierAmerican Staffordshire Terrier Bull TerrierBull Terrier

AkitaAkita Alaskan MalamuteAlaskan Malamute

American BulldogAmerican Bulldog Belgian MalinoisBelgian Malinois

BoerboelsBoerboels Cane CorsoCane Corso

Chow ChowChow Chow Doberman PinscherDoberman Pinscher

Dogo ArgentinoDogo Argentino English MastiffEnglish Mastiff

Fila BrasileiroFila Brasileiro German ShepherdGerman Shepherd

Great DaneGreat Dane Irish WolfhoundIrish Wolfhound

Presa MallorquinPresa Mallorquin Presa CanarioPresa Canario

RottweilerRottweiler Scottish DeerhoundScottish Deerhound

Shar PeiShar Pei Siberian HuskySiberian Husky

Tosa InuTosa Inu Wolf-HybridWolf-Hybrid

Banned Because of Size (>100 Banned Because of Size (>100 lbs)lbs)

AkbashAkbash Anatolian ShepherdAnatolian Shepherd

Alapaha Blue Blood BulldogAlapaha Blue Blood Bulldog BorzoiBorzoi

Bull MastiffBull Mastiff Dogue du BordeauxDogue du Bordeaux

Estrela Mountain DogEstrela Mountain Dog Great PyreneesGreat Pyrenees

Italian MastiffItalian Mastiff KomodorKomodor

Kangal DogKangal Dog KuvaszKuvasz

LeonbergerLeonberger Neopolitan MastiffNeopolitan Mastiff

NewfoundlandNewfoundland Otter HoundOtter Hound

St. BernardSt. Bernard Spanish MastiffSpanish Mastiff

The most often targeted The most often targeted breeds:breeds:

Don’t let lawmakers close the curtain on our beloved dogs!

Is Your Breed Banned?

If your town enacts BSL, your breed may be next!

Irish Wolfhound: Restricted in Fairfield, Iowa.Irish Wolfhound: Restricted in Fairfield, Iowa

Ch. Panda’s Black-Eyed Susan: BANNED

If this dog is caught in a city with a ban, she can be euthanized.

Davang’s Noelle KrohnObedience Champion

Dangerous Dog?

Is this child really in danger?

Great Dane: Restricted Breed

Mastiff: Restricted Breed

Vacationing withyour dog could become an extincthobby.

If we don’t stop BSL…

These dogs won’t be clowning around any more.

Saint Bernard: known for rescue work

Now a restricted breed.

No Breed Is Safe From BSL

How can YOU prevent BSL?

Time is Running Out!

Get Involved!

• Join your local Kennel Club!• Get your dog an AKC Canine Good

Citizen Certificate!• Train and get your dog certified as a

therapy dog!• Be seen as an important, contributing

part of the community!• Help incorporate strong responsible

dog ownership laws!• Encourage enforcement of LEASH

LAWS!

Educate! Educate! Educate!• Volunteer to teach kids about safe

behavior around dogs!• Support efforts to teach responsible

dog ownership!• Offer neighborhood classes to teach

families about THEIR dogs!• Support dog bite prevention programs!• Invite your city officials to your events!

Use Available Resources!

• Work with the local Humane Society, breed rescues, dog clubs and animal shelters!

• Volunteer for public awareness campaigns to encourage adoption of pets!

• Get to know your local lawmakers and help them learn about dogs in the community!

Remember: United we Stand!

• Maintain a good relationship with local shelters, rescue groups and dog clubs!

• Present yourself to local legislators as part of the solution and not part of the problem!

• Diplomacy will go far in preventing bad legislation!

• There is an OWNER problem, help draft good dog laws without infringing on the rights of the responsible owner!

Good PR is vital to keeping our beloved breeds!

My City Has Proposed BSL!My City Has Proposed BSL!

Now What????Now What????

CommunicateCommunicateSet up a phone tree to contact local Set up a phone tree to contact local

dog club membersdog club membersAttend public meetings and be Attend public meetings and be

prepared to speakprepared to speakSplit a list of points between several Split a list of points between several

people when making timed speechespeople when making timed speechesKeep each other informed on meeting Keep each other informed on meeting

times and new developmentstimes and new developmentsAlways be polite, professional and Always be polite, professional and

knowledgeableknowledgeableRemember, whatever you do or say Remember, whatever you do or say

represents many dog ownersrepresents many dog owners

Organize! Contact:Organize! Contact:

National and local dog clubsNational and local dog clubsTraining clubs & professional trainersTraining clubs & professional trainersHunters & sportsmen who use dogsHunters & sportsmen who use dogsBreed rescues & private sheltersBreed rescues & private sheltersVolunteers in therapy or SAR workVolunteers in therapy or SAR workVeterinarians & groomersVeterinarians & groomers

Start a Petition Drive!Start a Petition Drive!

Get requirements from the County Get requirements from the County ClerkClerk

Get a list of voters from a friendly Get a list of voters from a friendly politicianpolitician

Only allow registered voters to signOnly allow registered voters to signMake sure people know to sign only Make sure people know to sign only

onceonceGet volunteers to take petitions Get volunteers to take petitions

everywhere people gathereverywhere people gather

Be Heard!Be Heard!

Send e-mails, letters and faxes Send e-mails, letters and faxes stating your position against BSL to stating your position against BSL to your representativeyour representative

Call sponsors of BSL proposalsCall sponsors of BSL proposalsContact Committee members who Contact Committee members who

will decide the fate of BSLwill decide the fate of BSLContact Council Members and Contact Council Members and

determine their positionsdetermine their positions

Be Seen!Be Seen!

Attend Council meetings where BSL Attend Council meetings where BSL will be discussedwill be discussed

Agree to wear ribbons or t-shirts that Agree to wear ribbons or t-shirts that identify you as foes of BSLidentify you as foes of BSL

Use bumper stickers or ribbon Use bumper stickers or ribbon magnets for a visual message on the magnets for a visual message on the streetstreet

Prepare for the WorstPrepare for the Worst

Plan fundraisers for legal feesPlan fundraisers for legal feesContact national organizations that Contact national organizations that

might help in courtmight help in courtGet recommendations for an Get recommendations for an

attorney experienced in dog lawattorney experienced in dog law

Hold Elected Leaders Hold Elected Leaders AccountableAccountable

Learn the laws concerning recall Learn the laws concerning recall elections-and use them if bad laws elections-and use them if bad laws are passed!are passed!

Vocally support dog-friendly Vocally support dog-friendly lawmakers, volunteer for their lawmakers, volunteer for their campaigns and help keep them in campaigns and help keep them in office!office!

Vocally oppose those who vote for Vocally oppose those who vote for laws that hurt our dogs!laws that hurt our dogs!

Created by Karen Brinkley, LTD.Created by Karen Brinkley, LTD.

Copyrighted by American Rottweiler Club, Inc.Copyrighted by American Rottweiler Club, Inc.

Thanks go to all those who donated pictures of their beloved dogs to help raise Thanks go to all those who donated pictures of their beloved dogs to help raise

awareness of Breed Specific Legislation and to those that collected much of the awareness of Breed Specific Legislation and to those that collected much of the

information on the various cities, states and countries.information on the various cities, states and countries.

For additional information go to www.amrottclub.org/bslFor additional information go to www.amrottclub.org/bsl

WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE EVER VIGILANT TO PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO

OWN THE BREEDS OF OUR CHOICE