Pit Bulls are family too! End BSL in Lancaster!
- by: Kelsey Murphy
- recipient: Lancaster, WI city officials/council members.
My family is being put in a very difficult situation, because of a mis-information driven "Pit Bull dog" ban in Lancaster, WI. My spouse and I have 4 young children and a very friendly American Pit Bull Terrier. We currently live just outside the city limits, in South Lancaster Township. Our landlord will be putting our house on the market soon so we will need to find a new home. We do not want to move our children to a different town/different school, but we do not want to be forced to rehome our dog..this would crush the hearts of my entire family. Repealing the "Pit Bull dog" ban ordinance in Lancaster would give us the freedom to search and find a new home suitable for our family AND our beloved dog, Tank!
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The ban, prohibiting "Pit Bull dogs," currently enacted in Lancaster, unjustly singles out an entire breed(s) of dog because of wide-spread misinformation.
After much research, by many reputable organizations, there has been no evidence that breed bans or breed specific legislation (BSL) makes a positive impact in a community or municipality. There has, however, been substantial evidence that BSL harms communities in many ways. For example: BSL ignores the plight of victims of non-targeted breeds. It does nothing to make irresponsible dog owners accountable. It punishes owners and families whose pets are not vicious.
BSL is not supported by The American Veterinary Association, American Kennel Club, American Bar Association, United States Department of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not a single canine welfare organization, or the majority of law enforcement agencies in the United States.
Furthermore, many states have statewide prohibitions against BSL. The following states have repealed BSL: Colorado, Florida, Illinios, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Nevada, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Actual Grant County dog related incidents statistics, provided by the Grant County Health Department:
-366 reported dog bite records dating back to 1/1/2010.
-1.9% of incidents reported in Grant County involved Pit Bulls
-2.2% of incidents reported in Grant County involved mixed breed dogs containing some Pit Bull.
Research has proven that not only do Pit Bulls account for only a small percentage of dog-related incidents, but dog-related incidents continue and have risen in Grant County even after Pit Bull or Pit Bull dog bans have been enacted in municipalities.
Pit Bulls are not the problem. Irresponsible dog owners are the problem and there needs to be a change in enforcing general vicious dog ordinances, NOT breed specific bans!
The ban, prohibiting "Pit Bull dogs," currently enacted in Lancaster, unjustly singles out an entire breed(s) of dog because of wide-spread misinformation.
After much research, by many reputable organizations, there has been no evidence that breed bans or breed specific legislation (BSL) makes a positive impact in a community or municipality. There has, however, been substantial evidence that BSL harms communities in many ways. For example: BSL ignores the plight of victims of non-targeted breeds. It does nothing to make irresponsible dog owners accountable. It punishes owners and families whose pets are not vicious.
BSL is not supported by The American Veterinary Association, American Kennel Club, American Bar Association, United States Department of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not a single canine welfare organization, or the majority of law enforcement agencies in the United States.
Furthermore, many states have statewide prohibitions against BSL. The following states have repealed BSL: Colorado, Florida, Illinios, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Nevada, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Actual Grant County dog related incidents statistics, provided by the Grant County Health Department:
-366 reported dog bite records dating back to 1/1/2010.
-1.9% of incidents reported in Grant County involved Pit Bulls
-2.2% of incidents reported in Grant County involved mixed breed dogs containing some Pit Bull.
Research has proven that not only do Pit Bulls account for only a small percentage of dog-related incidents, but dog-related incidents continue and have risen in Grant County even after Pit Bull or Pit Bull dog bans have been enacted in municipalities.
Pit Bulls are not the problem. Irresponsible dog owners are the problem and there needs to be a change in enforcing general vicious dog ordinances, NOT breed specific bans!
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