Rescue-A-Bull Pit Bull Rescue

Breed Specific Legislation
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is a huge problem for pit bull owners and rescues.  Breed Specific Legislation bans pit bulls, pit bull mixes, and dogs commonly identified as pit bulls in certain areas and requires dogs that are “grandfathered in” to be labeled as dangerous, requiring owners to maintain mandatory liability insurance on their dogs.  BSL does not work, is costly, and unconstitutional.  Please view our thoughts on BSL in the statement below.  For more info see: http://www.pbrc.net/breedspecific.html

View our statement on BSL (breed specific legislation that was originally sent to the City of Boaz, AL)
To whom it may concern (City of Boaz, City Hall):

Breed Specific Legislation does not stop dog fighting, or prevent irresponsible owners from possessing bully breeds. Breed Specific Legislation is costly and does not work. Pit Bull Rescue Central, a national organization dedicated to educating the public, as well as fostering and adopting out pit bulls, estimates that there are more than 25 breeds of dogs with "pit bull" characteristics. Pit bulls are not by nature aggressive or dangerous. If you want to make a difference in your community, adopt stricter punishment for owners breeding or possessing dogs for fighting.

Animals have to be trained to attack people and other animals. Dog fighters have ruined the reputation of numerous breeds of animals. Preventing responsible pet owners from owning and loving pit bulls infringes on a person's constitutional rights, and destroys the bonds between loving owners and abused and neglected pit bulls. I have worked with animal rescues for a number of years, and fostered a pit bull for over a year. This dog did perfectly with all other dogs in my homes, with strange dogs, with cats, and with people. He was a favorite of regulars at the Huntsville Dog Park. This particular dog won my heart, and convinced myself and others of the many wonderful characteristics of bully breeds. He served as a breed ambassador, and is now in a very happy and loving home with another pit bull. Legislation such as what you are proposing would have prevented me from ever knowing the love of a pit bull, and I would have remained ignorant on issues concerning the breed.

I have done countless hours worth of research on BSL issues, and am adamantly opposed to adoption of such laws.

I encourage you to visit case law on the topic:

ο In Nicchia v. People of the State of New York 254 U.S. 228 (1920) the United States Supreme Court upheld a person's rights to due process in owning any dog breed, but suggested strict measures against dogs found to be dangerous.
ο In Sheila Tack v. Huntsville Alabama (2002), the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that pit bulls were not inherently dangerous, and were, in fact, no more dangerous than any other breed of dog. This case cost the city of Huntsville a large sum of money.
ο In Tellings v. City of Toledo CRB-02-15267 (ACF 2005) the Toledo Municipal Court ruled that pit bulls were not dangerous, and that passing Breed Specific Legislation infringed on a person's constitutional right to due process under the 5th and 14th Amendments.
ο In State v. Cowan (Ohio, 2004) The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that pit bulls were not dangerous and Breed Specific Legislation denied owner's due process.
ο In Westbury, NY (Spring 2003) the New York Supreme Court repealed BSL on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and infringed upon the constitutional rights of owners under the due process clause.

Given the above-mentioned examples, one should clearly see the risks associated with passing such legislation. Passing BSL will not stop the real foe, dog fighting. The proposed legislation will deny residents of your city their constitutional rights to due process. Such causes will be costly to your city, and will serve as a blight on the city of Boaz and the state of Alabama for implementing unconstitutional laws and denying the citizens of your city and this state with their basic human rights as guaranteed by the United States constitution and the laws of the state of Alabama

Please take this statement seriously when considering the proposed legislation.
Thank you,
Rescue-A-Bull Pit Bull Rescue