2005 is already shaping up to be a busy year for the American Kennel Club, fanciers, concerned dog owners, and other groups who work to oppose breed-specific legislation (BSL). With a myriad of local BSL ordinances pending across the country and the recent introduction of S247 in Oklahoma, S188 in New Mexico, and H78 in Georgia, the Canine Legislation department needs your help! (For more information on these bills, please check “Around the Nation” or visit our Legislative Alerts page.)

To successfully combat breed-specific legislation, one of the most important things Legislative Liaisons and fanciers can do is monitor your communities closely and alert the Canine Legislation department when issues develop. Read your local paper, watch your local news, and be aware of any animal control concerns, including dog bite incidents. Many legislators and proponents of breed-specific laws may see such legislation as a means to keep their constituents safe from irresponsible owners and their dogs.

The AKC believes that all dog owners should be responsible for their dogs. We support laws that establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous,” impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners, and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs that have been deemed dangerous. We do not believe that regulating or banning breeds is the answer to animal control problems. Since any breed of dog can be trained to be aggressive and to attack, eliminating certain breeds will only make irresponsible owners seek out a new breed to train. As a result of breed-specific laws, many responsible owners will be forced to part with dogs that are loving members of their family. Strongly enforced leash laws and responsible dog ownership education programs are more effective ways of dealing with this important safety issue.

BSL will continue to be a threat in coming months. In order to successfully defeat such proposals, fanciers must work together and recognize that breed-specific laws affect all purebred dog owners. An organized, collaborative effort helps ensure that the fancy’s voice is heard loud and clear when it comes to animal control concerns. One person’s opinion is important, but many fanciers united behind a concise message have much greater strength and much greater chance of success.

The Canine Legislation department has materials available to help fanciers oppose breed-specific legislation, from talking points to information packets and more. We can also assist by sending letters of support or opposition, posting alerts on our Web site, and sharing information in Taking Command. Remember to monitor AKC’s web site and this newsletter for regular updates and information on how you can help. Working together, we can help legislators understand that breed-specific laws will not make communities safer--they will only unfairly punish responsible dog owners.