Tell Des Moines to Drop Breed-Specific Legislation!

We, the undersigned, are concerned that the City Council of Des Moines, Iowa still has breed-specific legislation on the books, with no plans to change it. We understand that your current ordinance automatically labels 100% of pit bulls as vicious, whether or not a specific dog has shown any signs of aggression.

We believe that this legislation is based in stereotypes. As you likely know, Alaskan huskies caused the majority of 2014 dog bites in Des Moines, yet only one of the city's 276 Alaskan huskies was deemed "vicious", compared to 100% of pit bulls.

Breed-specific legislation is actually counterproductive. Abusive dog owners tend to adopt breeds with vicious reputations to present a certain image. Owners of so-called vicious dogs may hide their pets to avoid legal problems, and the subsequent lack of exercise and socialization can drive a dog toward bad behavior. Last but not least, stigmatized dogs end up crowding shelters and getting euthanized because families hesitate to adopt animals with a "vicious" label.

We respectfully urge you to drop breed-specific legislation from your dog ordinance. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.