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

Wisconsin Voters for Companion Animals is opposed to laws that ban or discriminate against specific dog breeds or breed mixes without regard to the temperament and behavior of individual dogs. 

Wisconsin Communites that have BSL:  Baldwin, Hewitt, Juneau, Neillsville, Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Waunakee, Cudahy, and others

Resources

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

Best Friends BDL Fiscal Estimator: 

BSL Overview: from Stop BSL

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

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


Pit-Friendly Insurance Companies from Best Friends Animal Society

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