Breed Discriminatory Legislation (BDL) 

Over the last decade, the number of dogs in the United States has steadily increased to above 72 million total canines. As the dog population increases, there are bound to be more conflicts between human and canine, ranging from noise complaints to bites. For this reason, some sort of animal control is required in order to ensure safety to citizens and humane conditions for animals. While it is important that individual violent or uncontrollable dogs be removed from society, some jurisdictions are considering implementing breed-specific restrictions which indiscriminately target "pit bull type" dogs.

Breed discriminatory legislation is a misguided attempt to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused by dogs. Breed discriminatory legislation will not only exhaust the limited resources of the already underfunded animal control programs by flooding them with potentially "unadoptable" dogs; it could cost individual communities millions of dollars while providing questionable results fulfilling its purpose of preventing dog related injuries and fatalities. Read More: 5025.best friends methodology and write up.pdf

Our Position Statement

Wisconsin Voters for Companion Animals opposes breed-discriminatory legislation (also called breed-specific legislation, BSL), which arbitrarily targets particular breeds. These laws unfairly discriminate against responsible dog owners based solely on their choice of breed. Breed-discriminatory laws are not only ineffective at improving community safety, they are expensive and difficult to enforce and deplete needed resources from animal control. 

Wisconsin Voters for Companion Animals urges all state and local legislative bodies to adopt comprehensive breed-neutral dangerous dog/reckless owner laws that ensure due process protections for owners, encourage responsible pet ownership and focus on the behavior of both dog owners and dogs, and to repeal any breed discriminatory or breed specific provisions.

The following national organizations do not endorse breed discriminatory legislation.  Thank you to Animal Farm Foundation for compiling this list. Please click here to read the position statements. 

American Bar Association (ABA)
American Kennel Club (AKC)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
American Temperament Test Society (ATTS)
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Animal Farm Foundation (AFF)
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)
Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS)
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Maryland Veterinary Medical Association
National Animal Control Association (NACA)
National Canine Research Council (NCRC)
No Kill Nation
United Kennel Club (UKC)
United States Department of Justice (DOJ)

The following Wisconsin organizations oppose breed discriminatory legislation:

Brew City Bully Club
Dog Federation of Wisconsin
Lakeshore Bully Club
Milwaukee Animal Alliance
Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies
Wisconsin Voters for Companion Animals


If we have missed your organization and you would like to be added to our list please email us at [email protected]


Wisconsin Communities that have BDL include:  Baldwin, Hewitt, Juneau, Neillsville, Milwaukee,  St. Francis, Waunakee, Cudahy, and others 

Resources

Here is a list of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL or BDL)  resources and links that you will find useful if you are fighting BDL in your community:

Best Friends BDL Fiscal Estimator: 

BSL Overview: from Stop BSL


BSL Talking Points from Animal Farm Foundation


BSL Resources from The Stubby Dog Project: 

How To Challenge Breed Discrimination in Your Neighborhood Action Kit  (from Best Friends Animal Society)


American Bar Association Resolution urging repeal of all Breed Specific Laws

Download the book The Pit Bull Placebo  from the National Canine Research Council

Printable handouts from Animal Farm Foundation:

The Dark Side of Punitive Legsislation from The No Kill Advocacy Center

Pit Bull Friendly Insurance Agencies from Saveabull (Farmer's Insurance is no longer pit friendly)


Pit-Friendly Insurance Companies from Best Friends Animal Society (Farmer's Insurance is no longer pit friendly)

Dog Bite Prevention and Statistics from Best Friends Animal Society

Fear vs. Fact from the National Canine Research Council

How to Find, Keep and Enjoy a Pet Friendly Rental from Firepaw

Renting with Your Pit Bull from Partners in Shelter Services

Finding Pet Friendly Housing from Best Friends Animal Society


More links and articles  from Best Friends Animal Society