Breed-specific legislation targeting dogs presumed dangerous fails to reduce bite incidents while causing significant welfare harm to banned breed dogs and their owners.
Breed-specific legislation creates significant welfare harm with no demonstrated public safety benefit. Dogs of targeted breeds may face euthanasia regardless of individual temperament and history. Owners keeping dogs in non-compliant jurisdictions often do so in conditions that compromise welfare to avoid detection. The stress of potential seizure affects both dogs and owners. The evidence base is clear: behavior-based regulation targeting individual dogs showing dangerous behavior is more effective and more welfare-positive than breed-wide bans.