Category: BSL

  • Springdale, Arkansas Opinion Editorialist Ponders Pit Bulls, BSL, and What’s in a Name

    Springdale, Arkansas Opinion Editorialist Ponders Pit Bulls, BSL, and What’s in a Name

    While Springdale, Arkansas is poised to consider breed-specific legislation (BSL), opinion editorialist Richard Drake in his piece “Springdale: Dont ban pit bulls – ban morons, instead” opined about his dread at not only reading about a so-called pit bull named Damian who mauled a Peke-a-poo named Chewie to death on Nov. 4, but also about…

  • Yakima, WA Pit Bull Ban Study Session: It’s Complicated

    Yakima, WA Pit Bull Ban Study Session: It’s Complicated

    The Yakima, Washington City Council met Tuesday, November 12, 2013, for a study session.   Under consideration was whether to repeal Yakima’s 26-year old breed-specific legislation (BSL), a pit bull ban, or whether to simply tweak it or leave it as is.     While  Yakima’s Code Administration Manager Joe Caruso staunchly supported leaving Yakima’s…

  • Springdale, Arkansas Pursues Breed Ban, Yet Has Dog Containment Problem

    Springdale, Arkansas Pursues Breed Ban, Yet Has Dog Containment Problem

    Springdale, Arkansas is again considering breed-specific legislation (BSL), a pit bull ban, as they did in 2010, and 2007.   With places like Dardanelle, Dover, Garland County, Caddo Valley, West Memphis, and Marion, Arkansas, who have passed BSL or considered it, perhaps Springdale thinks it will be in good company.   Yes, indeed, notice that…

  • Yakima, Washington Will Consider Pit Bull Ban Repeal

    Yakima, Washington Will Consider Pit Bull Ban Repeal

    After months of lobbying by animal advocates, the Yakima, Washington City Council will, on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, hold a study session to consider repealing Yakima’s 26-year-old pit bull ban.   In lieu of the long-standing breed-specific legislation (BSL), it is hoped that Yakima will consider a dangerous dog (owner) law instead.   Yakima has,…

  • Baker City, Oregon May Consider Pit Bull Restrictions Via Dangerous Dog Law

    Baker City, Oregon May Consider Pit Bull Restrictions Via Dangerous Dog Law

    After the mauling death of 5-year old Jordan Ryan in September by a so-called pit bull, Baker City, Oregon convened an ad hoc advisory committee headed by Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner to research and propose options for better control of potentially dangerous dogs.   Unfortunately, one of those options could be breed-specific legislation…

  • Ringsted, Iowa to Vote on Pit Bull Ban Ordinance November 11, 2013

    Ringsted, Iowa to Vote on Pit Bull Ban Ordinance November 11, 2013

    According to the Cedar Valley Pit Bull Rescue, the tiny town of Ringsted, Iowa, population a little over 400, has had two readings of a breed-specific legislation (BSL) proposal that would ban pit bulls from the city of Ringsted.   Monday, November 11, 2013, the Ringsted City Council will vote on the pit bull ban…

  • Albany, Georgia to Propose Pit Bull Restrictions; Recites Long-Debunked Urban Mythology

    Albany, Georgia to Propose Pit Bull Restrictions; Recites Long-Debunked Urban Mythology

    It is astounding that in the age of the Internet a city government and a humane society will still recite long-ago debunked urban mythology about pit bulls as gospel truth, even as these lies have been discredited for many years.   Yet the Albany, Georgia Board of City Commissioners and the Albany Humane Society are…

  • Dardanelle, Arkansas Passes Profiling Pit Bull Ban?

    Dardanelle, Arkansas Passes Profiling Pit Bull Ban?

    Like so many of its neighbors, Dardanelle, Arkansas may have had an underlying agenda in passing breed-specific legislation (BSL) on Monday, November 4, 2013, when all but one of its council members voted to pass a pit bull ban.   In communities attempting to “revitalize,” city councils often pass BSL in an attempt to rid…

  • Waunakee, Wisconsin Reverses Pit Bull Ban

    Waunakee, Wisconsin Reverses Pit Bull Ban

    Last month, Waunakee, Wisconsin decided to revisit their long-standing pit bull ban after Waunakee resident Kelly Lappen was cited for harboring a banned breed and Lappen considered legal action against the city.   Monday night, November 4, 2013, Waunakee’s village trustees unanimously decided to remove the circa 1988 breed-specific legislation (BSL) pertaining to so-called pit…

  • What is BSL?

    What is BSL?

    BSL, or breed-specific legislation, is legislation, or a law, on the federal, state, or municipal level that outright bans or restricts specific, named breeds of dog. BSL is unconstitutional because it has not been scientifically proven that there is any such thing as a vicious breed or breeds, and therefore no rational basis, like safety,…