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.
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!
Ch. Panda’s Black-Eyed Susan: BANNED
If this dog is caught in a city with a ban, she can be euthanized.
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!
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