Pro & Anti BSL (Breed Specific Legislation)

Recently in Montreal a dog named Wicca was killed by the city.  The five year old Pit Bull apparently bit two people.  Fortunately the injuries to both were minor and required no trip to the hospital.  The problem is that the city of Montreal has given low level civil servants with no experience the right to have animals destroyed even if the incident is minor.  If a dog or any other animal appears dangerous it's a sure bet in this city it will be killed.

Animal control is a serious problem in most major cities and towns.  And, many have taken to the ideal of Breed Selective Legislation.  These laws are intended to protect the community.  The debate is very heated and sharp.  There is no denying that some dogs and other animals do attack humans.  The control of them is the question that needs to be addressed.

Both sides in the debate regarding BSL make strong points.  To give you an illustration of how passionate the debate is.  Here are two sites one pro and on anti BSL.

The anti BSL site is stopbsl.org the counter to it is www.dogsbite.org.  The two sides are locked in a duel of sorts not to mention the public relations battle they are waging.  For the record I have no pets and I do think the idea of controlling pets has merit but, like anything else balance needs to be what people strive for.  Not all dogs in a specific breed are bad, not all owners of dogs are good and not all legislation is well thought out.  And, as for the people who administer such laws, they are not always the best or the right people for the job.

To get an idea on my take on this issue visit my other blog Four Eyes One Internet and read the entry titled Going to The Dogs Cats and Other Animals.

C. T..