Laws banning or restricting specific dog breeds are widely implemented despite limited evidence of effectiveness, and the welfare consequences for dogs affected by these laws are severe.
Breed-specific legislation causes severe welfare harms to individual dogs who are seized, impounded, and frequently euthanised based solely on their appearance rather than their behaviour. Dogs held for extended periods in kennel environments during legal proceedings develop fear, aggression, and psychological deterioration that makes them less likely to be successfully rehomed even if legally permitted to be. The evidence that BSL prevents dog bites is consistently weak, while evidence of welfare harm to affected dogs is clear. Breed-neutral legislation focusing on individual dog assessment, owner responsibility, and evidence-based risk factors produces better public safety and animal welfare outcomes.