Breed-specific legislation banning certain dog types has failed to improve public safety while causing significant welfare harms to dogs classified under prohibited breeds.
Breed-specific legislation causes significant welfare harms to individual dogs. Seized dogs are held in kennels for months or years awaiting legal proceedings — a profoundly stressful experience that causes chronic psychological deterioration. Dogs found to be prohibited types face death regardless of their individual temperament or behaviour. Many dogs classified as prohibited types are friendly, well-socialised animals whose only 'offence' is physical appearance. Extended kennel stays cause the kind of learned helplessness and chronic stress associated with long-term institutionalisation. The welfare case against BSL aligns with the evidence-based policy case: it does not work and harms animals unnecessarily.