In the last two decades, newspapers, and broad cast all over the United States have reported on injuries and attacks inflicted by dogs on people and animals alike. Like most stories open to the public, the media gave these attacks more interest than they needed. The over exposure and glamorization of these occurrences developed these incidents into, what seemed like, nationwide problems.  These attacks, which have occurred in many situations: dog fights, dogs reacting to mistreatment, dogs acting as guard animals, or local mishaps, were put in the spot light for the public to see. In an attempt to silence these attacks, government officials sought to eliminate the danger that pit bulls supposedly posed. Officials thought that by eliminating the presence of the dogs that were perceived to be the most dangerous, they were in result, get rid of the problematic animals causing these attacks.  In 1998, Arkansas decided that the first legislation, banning pit bulls from being owned and allowed in public places and common areas, would be set in place. These Misguided laws sought to bring a safer environment for the people following a rise in attacks by dogs. With Breed laws in place it caused Animals and owners to suffer alike. Breed specific legislation against pit bulls do little to provide a safer environment, they cause more harm to people than good, and advocate an idea that these animals cannot be safe pets, with no basis at all. These laws were a 'quick fix' 

solution to a problem that is still continuing, which provides even more truth to the claim that these laws don't satisfy their intended means. 

Have you ever been in a public place, and seen a sign that said "no pit bulls allowed"? You're not alone, people across the country see these signs and think little of them. But For the local pit owner, this is a sign that isn't welcomed. As I am a pit owner myself, my firsthand experience with these animals is more then what is common. I faced problems non-stop with my pets and there was little I could do about it. Things like Walking the dogs, taking them to the vet, and even simply having them in my front yard has caused many needless altercations with people who had no idea that these dogs were tender hearted, well-mannered animals. Changing vets to one that would actually treat the pits is one of the many problems that owning these animals has caused. As years have gone by, similar problems are faced by pit owners all across the country. The animals they have loved and have taken care of, are being stripped from their homes without notice, the care and needs that these animals require are being dismissed by vets, and pit bulls sit in kennels across the world endlessly waiting for a future owner that isn't coming. Suffering and pain are what these laws bring to pit owners and families. That is what this is aimed to stop. 

Breed specific legislation came into play in the late 20th century and early 21st century. After many years of brutal attacks on people and other dogs, city and town governments got together in the most affected area, and set up laws to stop these attacks. Due to the media placed affiliation that pit bulls had with gang members, rappers, and thugs, the pit bull took a 

hard hit from the laws across the country. During these first years of BSL places like Arkansas, Florida, Colorado, and Kentucky, just to name a few, major cities banned pit bulls from being owned all together.  As time has gone by millions of these animals have been killed each year, though a lot of cities have released the ban on owning these dogs,  most still upkeep the ban on bringing them into public places such as open markets, neighborhoods, and school zones. These changes are not enough. BSL are based off of un proven ideas that pit bulls are naturally the most aggressive and vicious dogs that are bred. These laws stand with false statues and "focus on the .00132% of bites [pit bulls] have committed in the last 20 years", while restrict the freedom and rights of dog owners (Kelly Quinn). According to other pit bull avocets, like Kelly Quinn, in the temperament test "[the pit bull] scored higher than the golden retriever" at 86.8% while the golden retriever scored 80.3%. Test like these give more weight to the ideas that pit bulls are not the problem, but people are. 

BSL attacked pit bulls on a national level. These laws tried to take the glorified dog attacks, fights, and incidents, and throw the blame on the most notorious breed, the pit bull. One of the main purposes and goals of breed specific legislation, was to put a stop to dog attacks, and create a safer environment. Many credible sources have spoken out against these laws in an effort to refute the position they take up, and to state how they fail to accomplish those very goals.  ASPCA uses these same opposing positions in their article discrediting BSL, stating "There is no evidence that breed-specific laws make communities safer for people or companion animals", "Breed-specific laws are also costly and difficult to enforce." With so many counter arguments against these laws, it's difficult to understand why over 600 cities still have breed specific laws that cause hundreds of thousands of pit bulls, who can't be adopted, to be put down every year in kennels and dog homes that can't hold them anymore. With the number of pit bulls in America slowly dwindling, the rise in hatred for Breed Specific Legislation has become a more problematic issue for cities and government officials around the world.

 With the installation of Breed Specific Legislation, government officials sought to present a solution to an ongoing problem in cities across America. These laws do not accomplish their desired goals due to continued dog attacks by dog breeds that are not necessarily singled out, and the idea that the mere existence of these animals is evidence of aggression and dangerous behavior. According to DogBites.org charts, 6% of fatal dog attacks in 2013 involved bull mastiffs. In this same chart, another 6% of fatal dog attacks involved germen shepherds. With just data shown of fatal dog attacks, it's difficult to tell just how many dog attacks by socially acceptable breeds go unnoticed and unreported every year. As long as breed specific laws put the blame on the pit bull, these laws will surely fall short of their desired outcomes. Government officials who are in charge of proposing these laws, should take into consideration that people have most of the responsibility of these animals. These animals are not born dangerous and mean, their mere existence does not constitute an idea that they are monstrous animals.  Commonly pit bulls are raised in unfit environments around other hostile people and dogs. This exposure to heavily toxic surroundings, can cause an animals thoughts to shift from domestic to primal. These pet owners provide horrific living conditions for the animal. Along with starving, some animals may be beaten and attacked by other dogs the owner may have.  These conditions are usually below standard, which help to contribute to aggressive, uncharacteristic, and uncommon behavior amongst pit bulls. 

"Not all killers are psychotic". This is a general phrase TV shows, media outlets, and other sources have used to describe killers who do not choose to kill, but are put in a position where it seems like that is the only plausible decision. This same thought can be associated with pit bulls in many ways. Pit bulls rarely go out of their way to attack people or dogs. Most attacks actually happen within the animals' natural territory around the owners' house. This instinct to protect combined with a mistreated dog can lead to problematic and severe situations. Breed Specific Legislation plants an idea that all these animals are unconsciously vicious and cannot be house hold pets. On the contrary, the pit bull is one of the most obedient breeds in dog world. These animals live to serve their owners and provide protection to the things they love.  This love and their high level of trainability makes the pit bull a great dog to have around children, other pets, and families of all sizes. According to happypitbull.com "pit bulls population of anywhere from 40% to 60% or more of the total shelter population". With this information and the added statistic that the pit bull is the most rescued dog in the country, it's not a stretch to say that pit bulls are often mistreated. By mistreating their pit bulls, the owners put their dog into these situations like the killer. The dog may not be naturally aggressive but when years of abuse combine with a frightened mind, the result can be horrific. The animal may lash out in unexpected ways, which ends up making headline news. Aggressive pit bulls aren't born with a kill first mentality, but are products of abuse, fear, and neglect. 

Over the recent years, BSL has been under the scope of many renowned canine interest groups. Groups such as The National Animal Intelligence Alliance (NAIA), The Association for the 

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The American Kennel Club (AKC), and The Humane Society of The United States (HSUS), have voiced their opposing positions against breed specific legislation.  These breed specific laws need to be amended and nullified. With more research and a better understanding in today's society, we should be able to create better more efficient laws that don't put the blame on the animal, but take into consideration that the owner is more responsible for the way the animal is raised up. These laws base their rule on the idea that just cause the pit bull exist, it is dangerous and cannot be trained. Every year dogs are neglected in kennels and eventually euthanized due to these laws and the way they make it nearly impossible to own a pit within the city limits of these laws. Along with the animals suffering, owners are as well, people that own these dogs are being evicted in their rental housings or being forced to give up their beloved dogs and given no other choices.  If nothing is done about these laws then we may very well be seeing the end of legal pits due to the numbers of dogs being put down along with the strays that are left on their own.   An animal as gentle and as kind as the pit bull wouldn't face as much notoriety if it  wasn't for the glamorized dog fights, the criminal obsessions with the animal, and the perception of a vicious dog that the media has portrayed. These animals deserve a voice, and now it's our turn as dog owners across the world to clean the mud off the pit bulls name and give them their much earned respect as we do away with the unjust Breed Specific Legislation.  It's the pit bulls turn to take the pedestal in the media that we know today.  Time has come to show that these animals are loving, tender, kind, 

and great pets that live to please their owners.  Breed Specific legislation is unjust, based on superficial opinions, and an attack on innocent animals. Government officials need to take the  time and come to a solution that benefits the public while also respecting the dogs themselves. 
