The Zoomies

I believe that there are better solutions than BSL, and am always relieved to hear when cities choose to enforce these laws instead. I think it important to present them when working against BSL proposals. It presents an alternative to BSL, one that will prove to be more effective and fair.

Often Dangerous Dog Laws are proposed as an alternative. They have stricter penalties for dogs that have proven to be dangerous or vicious. When implementing legislation like this, you are restricting dogs that have shown the potential to bite, and therefore have a higher potential of doing it again. Instead of punishing innocent dogs and their owners, you are putting restrictions on the dogs that already have shown aggressive behavior. The penalties vary with the severity of the attack as well as the circumstances surrounding it, and may include fines, muzzling, and greater insurance coverage. By focusing attention, money, and efforts on dogs that have proven to be dangerous, instead of dogs that look like ones that were dangerous, you will be using government resources much more effectively.

I believe that these laws should be integrated with ones that focus also on the owner’s responsibility. Owners should realize that they are responsible for the actions of their dogs at all times, and dedicate to making better choices for them. Putting more effort into regulating leash laws and greater penalties for loose dogs would cut down on the amount of attacks caused by wandering dogs. Dogs that are left unattended on a tether or chain can also be a problem. They can easily be approached by strangers and children, who may make them feel threatened or defensive. Owners should be discouraged of leaving their dogs unattended on a tether or in an escapable backyard through fines and other penalties.

Abandoned at the shelter pregnant and alone

Motivating owners to act responsibly would also be a good way to cut down on the number of attacks. Some examples would be low cost spay and neuter resources, low cost training opportunities, and lower license fees for dogs that pass the Canine Good Citizen test. There could be a large number of creative ways to inspire owners to spend more time learning their dog’s behaviors and temperament, and I believe that if people just took a little more time to work with their dogs, many unnecessary attacks could be avoided. I also believe that spaying and neutering is important for several reasons. First, dogs with hormones on overdrive may be more likely to bite a human that is getting in the way of their instincts. Also, dogs with poor temperaments may be reproducing more with the same issues. Breeding should be left to those who have the experience and knowledge to produce only the best of the breed, and random breeding should be discouraged.

Stricter laws against neglect and animal abuse would also be a more effective use of resources. Dogs that have no experience dealing with humans because of a lack of socialization may act aggressively when approached. Neglect is mental abuse, where lack of food, water, or attention may cause them to act confused and fearful when a human comes near them. Physical abuse of the dog will likely cause him to act aggressively out of fear, or to protect himself from more pain. People that abuse or neglect dogs are not only damaging a living creature, they are also setting a situation that can be dangerous to other people. Larger fines, jail time, and restriction from ever owning another animal should be strictly enforced.

Inmate 299 by Lucian Constandache

Another great way to utilize resources is a dog bite education program aimed towards children. There are several organizations that do these programs, and with great success. They teach the children the proper way to act towards dogs, and what to do if they see a strange one approaching. They even prepare them for what to do if a dog acts aggressively towards them. Teaching children how to act around dogs can make a huge difference in the number of attacks, since they will have the knowledge to prevent them from ever occurring.

These are just some basic ideas that I believe would be more effective than BSL at lowering the number of dog bites. Here are some great resources for those who are interested in delving deeper into the subject and examples of Non-BSL legislation:

The National Animal Interest Alliance has a great PDF file on constructing pet friendly ordinances

Other samples and suggestions:
Best Friend’s Model Ordinance and Community Safety Program
Alternatives to BSL
Stop BSL.com

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this article. Even though I own a mixed breed who is not currently legislated against, the subject of BSL is important to me. I know that to many people, their dogs are family, and to have them suffer or killed because of what they look like is devastating and heartbreaking. In my mind it is unacceptable to allow such unfair and illogical laws to continue, and I know that with continued awareness and action, dog lovers can join together to put an end to BSL forever.

Other articles of interest:
Introduction to BSL
Why Doesn’t BSL Make Sense?