Some of the recommended organizations: Calls, letters and emails from voters greatly influence public officials’ decision-making process, so encourage as many supporters as possible to contact the relevant government officials. Writer. My main points are: ~due to appearance (bad publicity because the breed looks scary to some, causing them to be targeted) ~due to breed history- if the breed was used as guard dogs, or police dogs, or any other job like that, they could be targeted breeds like Rotts. As animal lovers, we want to save animals, so we view breed discrimination from a very specific perspective. – A bill that would bar cities, towns and other municipalities from passing dog breed-specific ordinances made it through the General Laws Committee unanimously last week. Call your elected officials to respectfully voice your opposition to the existing law or proposed measure. Examiner.com “In the 1970s and 80s authorities tried to ban several breeds, the German shepherd, the Doberman pinscher, were just two of the breeds targeted. Keep going to city council meetings and speaking out against BDL. What is the process to sign up? As meeting dates approach or the vote nears, post updates online via social media, purchase small ads in local newspapers and distribute more flyers to encourage fellow citizens to show support and attend. Why in quotes? Some feel that banning a breed is like human racial discrimination. Doing so will alert other potential advocates and build your base while also warning dog lovers who may be thinking about moving to the community. The pit bull terrier was once known as “America’s dog.” In fact, even today they are one of the 10 most popular dog breeds in 46 states and rank in the top three in 28 states. Breed discrimination often places families in the untenable position of having to choose between keeping their beloved animal companion and keeping their home. In fact, legislation that targets dogs by breed has been proven to be ineffective when it comes to reducing dog-bite incidents. Note that both dates and agendas are prone to change at the last minute, so be vigilant in rechecking and confirming information. Avoid emotional pleas about how wonderful pit bull terriers are or how great your own dog is. Just don’t forget to update the page again after you’ve successfully defeated proposed BDL measures. Your local newspapers, television and radio stations may be very interested in what you have to say. Everyone has very strong opinions concerning one of the most heavily discriminated breeds, the “pit bull”. The right language, on the other hand, can create a solid case that few reasonable people can argue against. A dog who jumped at the sound of a heavy box falling to the floor can become frightened by other sudden noises down the road. By Travis Zimpfer on March 22, 2016 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. So don’t use images that prominently display a dog’s teeth, especially the dog’s canine (fang) teeth. Keeping the focus on reckless owners, rather than punishing responsible owners and friendly, innocent dogs. ©2019 Best Friends Animal Society. BSL is often enacted to ease fears over public safety, but these laws are ineffective and very costly. Though breed-discriminatory legislation (BDL) is often an attempt to improve public safety, studies show that it does not accomplish that objective. All breed-specific policies and laws can be traced to racism, classism, and ableism. In order to prepare their shelter dogs for adoption into a real home..., the Toledo Area Humane Society in Ohio decided to do something special.They converted office space to look like a living room and called it “The Real Life Room.” An effective and humane ordinance might include regulations that do the following: Best Friends can provide copies of ordinances that address problem pet owners, dangerous dogs, dogs running at large, anti-tethering laws, licensing and more. It's time to make a difference. Our legislative experts can also help you contact government officials to oppose the measure or request a repeal, and recommend proven public safety legislation in its place. It’s time for Michigan to become the 23 rd state in the nation to end breed discrimination. Include information about the law at issue along with the contact information for officials. Call your state senator first, if you’re able. 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