Perhaps Manderson, Wyoming should take a hint from Greybull, Wyoming and back away from their breed-specific legislation (BSL).   But not only is Manderson not backing away from their existing pit bull ban, they are now proposing to add Rottweilers and Dobermans to their breed ban.

We’ve seen this before.   Communities who ban one or several breeds will often keep adding breeds to their breed ban list.   Why?   Because when a city bans certain breeds, Animal Control spends so much time policing the banned or restricted breeds that the same irresponsible dog owners who have either ignored the breed ban or simply switched breeds are still causing problems.  

Myopically focusing on only one or several breeds instead of policing all dog breeds and all dog owners the same, is why counties like Denver and Miami-Dade have actually seen increases in dog bite-related hospitalizations.   In other words, breed-specific legislation is ineffective legislation that not only doesn’t keep communities safer, it may actually be putting them more at risk for increased dog bite incidences.

Manderson’s proposal to ban Rottweilers and Dobermans has already passed two readings and on Monday, December 2, 2013, it will have a third reading.     Hopefully the community will educate their city council in Manderson, much like advocates did in Greybull, and encourage them to not only repeal their long-standing ineffective BSL, but pass a dangerous dog (owner) law instead.