A.B.A Res. 100 <\/b>https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/administrative\/mental_physical_disability\/Resolution_100.authcheckdam.pdf<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n This resolution was adopted by the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. It states that their position on breed-specific legislation is that it is ineffective and infringes on owners\u2019 due process rights. They therefore recommend the implementation of \u201ccomprehensive breed-neutral dangerous dog\/reckless owner laws.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Aliment, R. J. (2012, Aug) American Bar Association Resolution 100, <\/b>American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section<\/i><\/b>, https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/administrative\/mental_physical_disability\/Resolution_100.authcheckdam.pdf<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n This report explains the American Bar Association\u2019s stance on breed-specific policies as adopted in Resolution 100.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n American Kennel Club (2014, Apr 4, \u201cDangerous Dog\u201d Control Legislation) Summary Position Statements, http:\/\/cdn.akc.org\/Government_Relations\/Updated_April_2016_GDLGB2.pdf?_ga=1.11712116.1391756025.1467142082<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n This is a statement by the American Kennel Club regarding their position on the use of breed-specific policies. They clearly state that they are opposed and recommend that \u201creasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws\u201d be used to regulate pet ownership.<\/span><\/p>\n American Kennel Club (n.d.) Breed Specific Legislation, <\/b>http:\/\/images.akc.org\/pdf\/canine_legislation\/toolbox_bsl.pdf?_ga=1.242915650.1391756025.1467142082<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The American Kennel Club, a highly recognized and reputable source of information regarding canine matters, composed this statement regarding breed-specific legislation. It address the possible issues that could arise regarding these policies, both for pet owners and the communities affected. Additionally, it provides other breed-neutral policies that focus on education and responsible pet ownership rather than phenotypic targeting.<\/span><\/p>\n American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. (2014). Position Statement on Breed-Specific Legislation, https:\/\/avsab.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Breed-Specific_Legislation-download-_8-18-14.pdf<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), a reputable organization of veterinary professionals and researchers, released this position statement on breed-specific legislation. They explain what breed-specific legislation consists, explain the behavioral science behind violent dog-human interactions, and use studies of different breed-specific policies to show that they are not an effective approach to reducing aggressive dog interactions. They also provide data on means that have been shown to be effective in this goal. <\/span><\/p>\n Beaver, B. V. et al. (2001, Jun 1) A community approach to dog bite prevention. <\/b>Veterinary Medicine Today: Canine Aggression Task Force. <\/i><\/b>218(11) https:\/\/www.avma.org\/public\/Health\/Documents\/dogbite.pdf<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n This is a report by the American Veterinary Medical Association\u2019s Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions. The report seeks to address the issue of dog bites in an effective and accurate matter. By addressing the difficulties inherent in dog bite statistics and breed identification, the report explains that breed bans are ineffective animal control laws. Additionally, the report addresses the potential unconstitutionality of these policies as they can be seen as infringing on a pet owner\u2019s fourteenth amendment rights to equal protection and due process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Creedon, N., & Osuilleabhain, P. (n.d.). Dog bite injuries to humans and the use of breed-specific legislation: a comparison of bites from legislated and non-legislated dog breeds. <\/b>Irish Veterinary Journal<\/i><\/b>, <\/b>70<\/i><\/b>(1), 1\u20139. doi:10.1186\/s13620-017-0101-1<\/b><\/p>\n This study examines the characteristics of dog bite incidents in Ireland, an issue that was increasing at the time of the study, and how breed-specific legislation affects them. The authors, Nanci Creedon and P\u00e1raic S. \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in, each work at universities in Ireland. Creedon works in the Department of Dog Behaviour at Creedons College and \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in works in the School of Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in works in non-financial advocacy to lobby evidence based animal policies, which could create a potential bias. However, it is noted that neither \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in nor Creedon has no relationships that would create bias in their work. The study found that breed-specific legislation had a detrimental effect on dog bite incidences as it perpetuated false narratives about which breeds were safe and which were dangerous, thus inhibiting individuals\u2019 ability to appropriately gauge threats. Additionally, it created biases in how bites were to reported to authorities. <\/span><\/p>\n Mora, E., Fonseca, G., Navarro, P., Casta\u00f1o, A., & Lucena, J. (2018). Fatal dog attacks in Spain under a breed-specific legislation: A ten-year retrospective study. <\/b>Journal of Veterinary Behavior<\/i><\/b>, <\/b>25<\/i><\/b>, 76\u201384. doi:10.1016\/j.jveb.2018.03.011<\/b><\/p>\n This is a longitudinal retrospective study of fatal dog attacks in Spain since the implementation of breed-specific policies in search or more effective prevention strategies. It is an exploratory study as the subject of fatal dog bites had not been previously examined in Spain. The authors suggest a more comprehensive approach to dog-bite prevention according to specific factors present in different areas.<\/span><\/p>\n National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) (2016, 23 Feb, Extended Animal Care & Control Concerns – Dangerous\/Vicious Animals) NACA Guidelines, p. 29-31 https:\/\/c.ymcdn.com\/sites\/www.nacanet.org\/resource\/resmgr\/Docs\/NACA_Guidelines.pdf?hhSearchTerms=%22%22breed+specific+legislation%22%22<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The National Animal Care and Control Association included a portion of their guidelines publication book addressing dangerous\/vicious animal laws. In this specific guideline, they state that policies regarding dangerous animals should rely on the behavior of individuals, not on breed. It also explains that breed-specific policies are difficult to enforce from an animal care and control professional\u2019s position and can be burdensome to owners who have proven to be responsible. <\/span><\/p>\n Ott, S., Schalke, E., Von Gaertner, A., & Hackbarth, H. (2008). Is there a difference? Comparison of golden retrievers and dogs affected by breed-specific legislation regarding aggressive behavior. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 3(3), 134\u2013140. doi:10.1016\/j.jveb.2007.09.009<\/b><\/p>\n This study from the Institute of Animal Welfare and Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Hanover, Germany examines the differences in temperament tests of breeds identified as dangerous by their breed-specific legislation and golden retrievers, a breed widely regarded as \u201csafe\u201d breed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pratt, H. (n.d.). Canine profiling: does breed-specific legislation take a bite out of canine crime. <\/b>Penn State Law Review<\/i><\/b>, <\/b>108<\/i><\/b>(3), 855\u2013879.<\/b><\/p>\n This source is a review of both the constitutionality and efficacy of breed-specific legislation. It comprehensively examines breed-specific legislation by exploring the history of dog domestication and the human-dog relationship, looking at breed-specific policies through a constitutional lense, examining recent laws and corporate policies, and suggesting alternatives. <\/span><\/p>\n The County Code, Prince George\u2019s County, Md. \u00a73-185.01 (1997)<\/b><\/p>\n This ordinance was adopted by the Prince George\u2019s County legislative body in 1997. This policy bans the ownership of \u201cpit bull terriers\u201d in Prince George\u2019s County and establishes criminal sanctions for those who do not comply.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Werkheiser, I. (2015). Fighting Nature: An Analysis and Critique of Breed- Specific Flourishing\u00a0<\/b>Arguments for Dog Fights. Society & Animals, 23(5), 502\u2013520.\u00a0<\/b>doi:10.1163\/15685306-12341375<\/b><\/p>\n This article, published in the Journal of Human-Animal Studies, explores flourishing, or the ideas that some breeds are born to fight and therefore being in dog fights is a \u201cflourishing life\u201d for them and they are fulfilled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Organizations<\/strong><\/p>\n Maryland Dog Federation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A local organization primarily focused on getting the breed-specific legislation in Prince George’s County repealed.<\/p>\n My Pit Bull is Family<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n An organization developing a pit bull friendly housing\u00a0 database as well as other information\/activism in the area of bully breeds and housing. It is relatively new and volunteer based.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sources used to inform this page: A.B.A Res. 100 https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/administrative\/mental_physical_disability\/Resolution_100.authcheckdam.pdf This resolution was adopted by the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. It states that their position on breed-specific legislation is that it is ineffective and infringes on owners\u2019 due process rights. They therefore recommend the implementation of \u201ccomprehensive breed-neutral dangerous dog\/reckless […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2391,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-34","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":32,"date":"2019-04-07T18:12:30","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T18:12:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/?page_id=32"},"modified":"2019-04-15T16:49:49","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T16:49:49","slug":"best-practices","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/best-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":" As you can find throughout this site, the findings discrediting BSL as a means of reducing violent dog-human interactions far outweigh those supporting it.\u00a0<\/span>However, now the question of what does<\/em> work inevitably comes to mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the most renowned organizations in the field of animal behavior and medicine have created policy and\/or program suggestions for how to reduce violent dog-human interactions effectively.<\/p>\n The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) put together \u201cA Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention\u201d<\/a> which outlines some effective measures (Beaver et al, 2001). The publication itself goes into extensive detail addressing different professional areas and disciplines, but the overarching idea is that in order to effectively prevent biting incidents, a multidisciplinary approach<\/strong> involving the entire community <\/strong>should be adopted (Beaver et al, 2001). These include:<\/span><\/p>\n On the legal side, the American Bar Association recommends legislation targeting aggressive dogs, not aggressive breeds<\/strong> as well as laws punishing \u201cnegligent or reckless owners\u201d (Aliment, 2012). They cite a number of policies implemented in different places, including Calgary, Illinois, St. Paul (MN), and Tacoma (WA) that have shown policies that target specific situations, such as individual dogs who are dangerous and poor ownership practices, rather than using unfounded generalizations to mandate unconstitutional policies.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and American Veterineary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommend breed-neutral legislation<\/strong> that addresses responsible ownership, public education on dog interaction, and animal control measures<\/strong> as ways to reduce violent dog-human interactions. The AVSAB also cites a study in Calgary (Alberta, Canada) where these methods have reduced these incidents significantly. However, it is necessary to note that although these policies have shown encouraging results, more research and testing of these policies must be done to determine best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As you can find throughout this site, the findings discrediting BSL as a means of reducing violent dog-human interactions far outweigh those supporting it.\u00a0However, now the question of what does work inevitably comes to mind.\u00a0 Some of the most renowned organizations in the field of animal behavior and medicine have created policy and\/or program suggestions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2391,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-32","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":31,"date":"2019-04-07T18:12:30","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T18:12:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/?page_id=31"},"modified":"2019-04-15T19:07:16","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T19:07:16","slug":"policies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Why BSL Doesn’t Work"},"content":{"rendered":" There are many different studies and evaluations from a number of different perspectives showing that breed-specific legislation is both unfounded and ineffective. Below you will find the different arguments against the use of BSL.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Breed\u00a0<\/strong>Categorization<\/b><\/p>\n The interpretive nature of the term \u201cpit bull\u201d and the consequences of this categorization results in serious problems, both in policy and for individuals. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPit bull\u201d is not actually a breed<\/strong>, but rather a group of \u201cindividuals with a common general phenotype\u201d (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, 2014). Many widely recognized organizations, including the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and the American Kennel Club (AKC) oppose the use of BSL at least partially because of the inherent unreliability and subjectivity in breed identification<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n Both the AKC and the AVSAB have made statements opposing BSL and in these publications noted the difficulty of identifying breeds visually and assuming temperament solely based on presumed breed<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Legal<\/strong><\/p>\n In the same vein as breed identification issues, the report attached to the ABA\u2019s Resolution 100 states that the tendency of these types of policies is to \u201cvaguely define the targeted breed. \u201d It recognizes that \u201cpit bull\u201d is actually a colloquial term used as an identifier for a \u201cgenetically diverse group of dogs,\u201d of which no formal breed designations have been made (Aliment, 2012). <\/span><\/p>\n Consequently, these policies often infringe on a citizen\u2019s right to due process<\/strong> because the subjectivity of \u201cdangerous breed\u201d categorization does not give the public adequate notice to follow the laws<\/strong> and thus fosters the possibility of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement (<\/strong>Aliment, 2012). In her work \u201cCanine Profiling: Does Breed-Specific Legislation Take a Bite Out of Canine Crime?\u201d Pratt succinctly explains this in terms of the \u201cvoid-for-vagueness\u201d principle; if the definition of what breeds are banned is not clear, then citizens cannot be expected to follow the law and there (Pratt, 2004). In their handbook, the NACA also addresses the fact that \u201cidentifying a specific animal\u2019s lineage for prosecution may be extremely difficult\u201d and as such suggests dangerous\/vicious dog laws based on behavior, not breed.<\/strong> The reliance of BSL on breed identification by phenotype leaves it on unsteady footing both scientifically and legally<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Misinformed Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n And beyond the inaccuracy of breed identification, the popular view of the natural temperament of pit bull- type dog and resulting approaches to policy are generally falsely informed as well. Authorities on dog behavior, including the NACA, AVSAB, and AKC all echo the sentiment of \u201cdeeds, not breeds\u201d<\/strong> (AKC).<\/span><\/p>\n In the NACA\u2019s guidelines on dangerous\/vicious animal policies, they state that because \u201cany animal may exhibit aggressive behavior regardless of breed,\u201d policies should be focused on the individual animal\u2019s behavior. This is particularly interesting because it comes from an organization of people who are actively charged with enforcing these policies, highlights the practical difficulties of BSL, and suggests more reliable solutions. <\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, AVSAB comes the different perspective of veterinarians and behaviorists. Similarly, they explain that \u201cbreed alone is not predictive of the risk of aggressive behavior\u201d but instead both dogs and owners must be evaluated on an individual level to create a safe environment.<\/strong> The AKC, a distinctive organization focused on breeds and training, repeats the same idea in their position paper stating their disapproval of BSL. The reliance on the uninformed general idea that <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Data Validity<\/strong><\/p>\n Another issue that impacts the validity of BSL is the difficulty in obtaining accurate data when it comes to dog bite statistics. <\/span><\/p>\n In their ten-year retrospective study on the impact breed-specific legislation had on fatal dog bites in Spain, Mora et al noted the complex multidisciplinary approach<\/strong> that it takes to accurately assess bites themselves. This sentiment is also present in the broader work of the AVSAB in their position statement. <\/span><\/p>\n The great variance of dog bite data, similar to crime data, comes from potential lack of self-reporting and\/or proper documentation by the relevant authorities<\/strong> (AVSAB, 2014). Additionally, it notes the impact of media portrayal<\/strong> on people\u2019s perception of dog bite tendencies. Because of the myth that pit bull-type dogs have \u201clocking jaws\u201d and potentially incorrect visual breed identifications by the media, the general public felt that there was a disproportionately large number of dog bites by pit bulls (AVSAB, 2014). However, the likelihood of a dog to bite depends on many factors outside of breed, such as socialization, situation, and individual temperament<\/strong>, and in looking at multiple studies, a singular most aggressive breed or group of breeds could not be determined<\/strong> as findings across the literature were not consistent (AVSAB, 2014). <\/span><\/p>\n A study by Creedon and <\/span>\u00d3 <\/span>S\u00failleabh\u00e1in in Ireland showed just this by examining dog bite injuries. The study found that there were variances between legislated and non-legislated breeds when it came to factors surrounding the bite, such as the reports to authority, perception of aggressiveness, and location of bite, but none when it came to the actual medical treatment required for bites, the type of bite , age and relationship with victim, history of aggression, or repeated incidences. This shows that most of the supportive statistics are more related to how people perceive a dog than the natural tendencies of the dog itself.<\/strong> Said succinctly in Beaver et al, \u201cdog bite statistics are not really statistics, and they do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite.\u201d This source goes on to explain the impact of breed popularity, reporting variability, and breed misidentification in skewing the numbers. \u00a0<\/span>It is very difficult to find reliable literature in field of animal behavior that supports the idea that aggression is highly dependent on breed and that BSL properly addresses violent dog-human interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ineffective<\/strong><\/p>\n Not only is supporting research for BSL questionable, but evaluations of BSL almost exclusively reveal a lack of efficacy in actually preventing violent dog-human interactions<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n The Mora et al study in Spain showed that \u201cthe implementation of breed-specific legislation in Spain (1999 and 2002) does not seem to have produced a reduction in dog bite-related fatalities over the last decade.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, the study by Dr. Ott et al in Lower Saxony revealed that temperament tests of legislated breeds and golden retrievers showed no significant difference. This finding actually resulted in the repeal of the legislation in question. <\/span><\/p>\n The ABA report by Aliment also notes the findings of the Vicious Animal Legislation Task Force that studied the efficacy of BSL in Prince George\u2019s County, Maryland. <\/span>According to those findings, the ABA evaluated the policy to be \u201cinefficient, costly, difficult to enforce, subjective and questionable in results.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Likewise, the AVSAB position statement summarizes the results from cities in the United States and other countries, all of them finding that BSL is not effective in reducing dog bite incidences and\/or that other programs are more effective.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are many different studies and evaluations from a number of different perspectives showing that breed-specific legislation is both unfounded and ineffective. Below you will find the different arguments against the use of BSL. Breed\u00a0Categorization The interpretive nature of the term \u201cpit bull\u201d and the consequences of this categorization results in serious problems, both […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2391,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-31","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":30,"date":"2019-04-07T18:12:29","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T18:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/?page_id=30"},"modified":"2019-04-17T01:16:31","modified_gmt":"2019-04-17T01:16:31","slug":"bully-breeds","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/bully-breeds\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About “Bully” Breeds"},"content":{"rendered":" Myth: Pit bulls and other bully breeds have been bred exclusively to be aggressive and dangerous<\/strong><\/p>\n Fact:\u00a0\u00a0The story of the pit bull begins when nineteenth century aristocrats started breeding dogs previously used for baiting (yes, just what is sounds like, dogs used to bait other animals, like bears) to \u201cproduce a smaller dog better suited for fighting\u201d as dogfighting rose in prominence among the upper class (Swann, 2010). <\/span><\/p>\n Once the activity was outlawed, the association of pit bulls with criminality, particularly \u201curban deviance,\u201d continued to flourish. The media fed into this portrayal, such as a 1987 issue of <\/span>Sports Illustrated<\/span><\/i> featuring an article with the label \u201cBeware of This Dog.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Sports Illustrated Cover from 1987<\/p><\/div>\n This type of popular image of pit bulls is quite contrary to years earlier when they were cast as companions in shows like \u201cOur Gang\u201d (Swann, 2010). <\/span><\/p>\n Pete the Pup from Our Gang (later known as Little Rascals)<\/p><\/div>\n Through the lense of the philosophy of flourishing, Dr. Ian Werkheiser also examines the historical development of certain bully breeds. Flourishing is the idea that there is a best life and that \u201cthis best life [is] not a subjective preference, but objectively true\u201d (Werkheiser, 2015). Though originally meant for humans, a number of philosophers have extended the idea to animals and for dogs divided it up by breed. Traditionally it has been used as an argument to actually support dog fighting, with proponents claiming that \u201csome dog breeds are born to fight, and therefore dog fighters are helping them achieve their best lives\u201d (Werkheiser, 2015).<\/span><\/p>\n However, Dr. Werkheiser claims that though breed-specific flourishing is an applicable concept, perhaps the natural tendencies of these dogs aren\u2019t so much aggressiveness and viciousness, but loyalty and actually a lack of aggressiveness towards humans which makes them the ideal breeds for the cruel process of turning a dog into a fighter.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n This concept that \u201cbully breeds\u201d are not inherently more aggressive than other breeds also finds support in the German study by Dr. Ott et al where the results of temperament evaluations of a sample golden retrievers were compared to individuals of legislated breeds who had to undergo them in order to be considered for legal residence in the area of Lower Saxony. The analysis found that \u201ca significant difference \u00a0in the occurrence of aggressive behavior in inappropriate situations […] could not be found.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n All this to say that, despite their image, pit bulls and bully breeds are not inherently more dangerous than any other breed.\u00a0<\/strong>Understanding the factors and misconceptions in the historical shaping of the pit bull and \u201cbully breed\u201d narrative is crucial in evaluating current policies and investigating new ones, as we do here.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Myth: Pit bulls and other bully breeds have been bred exclusively to be aggressive and dangerous Fact:\u00a0\u00a0The story of the pit bull begins when nineteenth century aristocrats started breeding dogs previously used for baiting (yes, just what is sounds like, dogs used to bait other animals, like bears) to \u201cproduce a smaller dog better suited […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2391,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-30","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":28,"date":"2019-04-07T18:12:29","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T18:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/?page_id=28"},"modified":"2019-04-15T17:46:02","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T17:46:02","slug":"the-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/what-is-bsl\/the-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Basics"},"content":{"rendered":" In recent history, the image of certain dog breeds has become increasingly shadowed by perceptions of inherent aggression and volatility. As a result, many places have created policies restricting the ability for these dogs to live in certain residences and within certain jurisdictions. However, most of the literature in the field of canine behavioral studies and humane law has shown that it is not a dog\u2019s breed that results in aggression,<\/strong> but rather a number of contributing factors, most of them having to do with the human-canine dynamic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Additionally, the resulting public policies, widely known as breed-specific legislation (BSL)<\/strong>, garner very little support from empirical research; in some cases, it seems these policies have the opposite intended effect. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association , having these policies in place can actually\u00a0increase risk violent dog-human interactions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Not only do these policies have shaky scientific backing, but they also are viewed by many legal scholars, including those at the American Bar Association, as potentially unconstitutional<\/strong> as a violation of owners\u2019 14th amendment right to due process<\/strong>. This is because of the methods of enforcement primarily relying on breed identification solely on physical appearance which is highly arbitrary<\/strong> and incredibly inaccurate<\/strong>. All this to say that the stigmatization of so-called \u201cbully breed\u201d dogs and the misinformed policies that stemmed from it continue to cause serious issues for both the dogs and people involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In recent history, the image of certain dog breeds has become increasingly shadowed by perceptions of inherent aggression and volatility. As a result, many places have created policies restricting the ability for these dogs to live in certain residences and within certain jurisdictions. However, most of the literature in the field of canine behavioral studies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2391,"featured_media":0,"parent":17,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-28","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":27,"date":"2019-04-07T18:12:29","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T18:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/?page_id=27"},"modified":"2019-04-16T23:28:14","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T23:28:14","slug":"bsl-in-prince-georges-county","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edspace.american.edu\/bullyback\/what-is-bsl\/bsl-in-prince-georges-county\/","title":{"rendered":"BSL in Prince George’s County"},"content":{"rendered":" The Law<\/strong><\/p>\n The County Code, Prince George\u2019s County, Md. \u00a73-185.01 (1997)<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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