Breed-specific legislation (BSL) targets dog breeds perceived as dangerous. Evidence suggests BSL is ineffective at improving public safety and harms welfare of targeted breeds.
Breed-specific legislation causes direct animal welfare harm by mandating euthanasia of dogs based on physical appearance rather than demonstrated behavioral risk. Dogs who have never shown aggression are killed because they resemble a targeted breed. BSL also creates perverse incentives: responsible owners abandon or hide targeted breeds while irresponsible owners who created dangerous dogs through abuse and neglect are less deterred. The scientific consensus is that behavior, not breed, predicts bite risk, and that training in bite prevention, responsible ownership programs, and enforcement of anti-cruelty laws are more effective approaches that do not require harming innocent animals.