lIST OF peer-reviewed scientific studies TO DISPEL bsl
“Breed-specific legislation and the pit bull terrier: Are the laws justified?” 2006.
Comparing the results of a large group of golden retrievers and breeds affected by BSL. No significant difference in aggression was found. A scientific basis for breed-specific legislation does not exist. This peer-reviewed study based rejects BSL on a false assumption of a breed’s aggression.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787806000128
"Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data".
Results indicate that greater public awareness regarding dog-bite injuries is needed. These results reinforce the need for education of both dog owners and the general public, including the older adult population and parents of young children. Dog owners should be aware that previous signs of aggression and learn to read their dogs behaviour to anticipate issues before they arise.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6617111/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#sec5-animals-09-00324
“Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000-2009)“.
Most dog bite related fatalities were characterized by coincident preventable factors; breed was not one of these. The study below results supported previous recommendations for multifactorial approaches, instead of single-factor solutions such as breed-specific legislation. This study rejects BSL based on breed risk
. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24299544/
“Cranial dimensions and forces of biting in the domestic dog” 2009. Debunking myths. A dog's overall size is the primary significant factor that affects its bite force. Breed was not an identified factor affecting bite force. Study concluded: "Force of biting in domestic caids is strongly related to size". The study below rejects BSL based on misinformation on a breeds bite strength.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19245503/
“Defaming Rover: Error-Based Latent Rhetoric in the Medical Literature on Dog Bites” 2017.
In many medical studies analyzed, there were "clear-cut factual errors, misinterpretations, omissions, emotionally loaded language, and exaggerations based on misunderstood or inaccurate statistics. In many of the medical studies analyzed, a due-diligence effort was not performed to accurately and/or scientifically identify the brees(s) involved in the bite incidents. The study linked below rejects BSL based on inadequate breed information and misidentification.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29068711/
“Dog bite injuries to humans and the use of breed-specific legislation: a comparison of bites from legislated and non-legislated dog breeds” 2017." There is no difference in the medical treatment required following a bite (or in the type of bite) inflicted between dog bites by breeds stereotyped as dangerous". The study below rejects BSL based on perceived bite severity on breed of dog.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5521144/
“Dog bites in The Netherlands: A study of victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation” 2010.
Dog bite incidents are the result of a complex set of factors including dog ownership factors, circumstantial factors, and other factors. Most importantly, the results of breed risk calculations did not match with the breeds legislated by the enacted breed-specific legislation”. This study rejects BSL based on legislative ineffectiveness. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090023309003888
“Fatal dog attacks in Spain under a breed-specific legislation: A ten-year retrospective study” 2018.
Dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) are the result of a number of different factors and breed-specific legislation was ineffective for reducing DBRFs. “The implementation of breed-specific legislation in Spain does not seem to have produced a reduction in dog bite–related fatalities over the last decade”. The study recommends a multidisciplinary, behaviour-based approach. This study rejects BSL based on a lack of legislative effectiveness.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787817301405
“Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors” 2014.
The study found aggression is strongly linked to an individual dog’s experience and/or environment and aggression is not a trait that can be associated with any specific breed. “It would be inappropriate to make assumptions about an individual animal’s risk of aggression to people based on characteristics such as breed.” This study rejects BSL based on false assumptions of breed’s aggression tendencies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016815911300292X
“Human hospitalizations due to dog bites in Ireland (1998–2013): Implications for current breed specific legislation“. 2013.
Breed-specific legislation has not been effective in Ireland and serious dog bite incidents significantly increased when breed-specific legislation was enacted”. Present legislation is not effective as a dog bite mitigation strategy in Ireland and may be contributing to a rise in hospitalizations. This study rejects BSL based on a lack of legislative effectiveness. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S109002331500163X
“Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff” 2015.
Lack of consistency among shelter staff indicated visual identification of pit bull-type dogs was unreliable. “Since injuries from dogs have not decreased following bans on particular breeds, public safety is better served by focusing on recognition and mitigation of risk factors for dog bites”. This study rejects BSL based on the inability of shelter workers to correctly determine breed identification.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26403955/
“Is there a difference? Comparison of Golden Retrievers and dogs affected by breed-specific legislation regarding aggressive behaviour” 2008.
Comparing the results of a large group of golden retrievers and breeds affected by BSL. No significant difference in aggression was found. A scientific basis for breed-specific legislation does not exist. This peer-reviewed study rejects BSL based on a false assumption of a breed’s aggression.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787806000128
“Italian breed-specific legislation on potentially dangerous dogs (2003): assessment of its effects in the city of Florence (Italy)” 2015.
These findings suggest that restrictive legislative measures regarding potentially dangerous dogs are not effective for the control of canine aggression towards people. This study rejects BSL based on a lack of legislative effectiveness.
“Animal control measures and their relationship to the reported incidence of dog bites in urban Canadian municipalities‘ 2013.
This peer-reviewed study assessed differences in dog-bite related incidents between Canadian municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation (BSL). The data provided no evidence of lower dog-bite incidences in municipalities with breed-specific legislation. This study rejects BSL based on legislation effectiveness.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3552590/
“The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark – A time series intervention study – December 26, 2018.
Study supports previous studies showing breed-specific legislation (BSL) had no effect on dog bite-related injuries and specifically concludes breed-neutral regulations should be used to reduce dog bite-related incidents. This peer-reviewed study rejects BSL based on a lack of legislative effectiveness.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6306151/
“Bite Forces and Their Measurement in Dogs and Cats” 2018.
Debunking myths. A dog's physical characteristics related to size and weight are the primary factors that affect its bite force, breed was not an identified factor affecting bite force. The study below rejects BSL based on general misconceptions of bite strength in certain breeds or types of dogs. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00076/full
"Who is minding the biography? Daisy chaining, dropped leads, and other bad behaviour using examples from dog bite literature". August 2016
This peer-reviewed study reveals that dog bite literature frequently suffers from citation inaccuracies, where secondary sources are cited instead of original research, leading to data distortion and unverified claims are repeated and treated as scientific fact. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816300478?fbclid=IwAR0vw8mFsn4ltgrY1pgLq2RUCmvrKbCFVRg1N18OJJoC_YugYgJadEQveqk
"Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes". April, 2022.
To define this peer-reviewed scientific study; over 18,000 dog owners were surveyed (49% purebred). The study then sequenced DNA from 2155 of the dogs. Results in a nutshell shows your dogs breed is a great prediction of what your dog looks like, but not a predictor of how they act.
https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.abk0639
NCRC conducts comprehensive investigations into each dog bite fatality. No other group or agency, public or private, other than law enforcement, has approached our systematic rigor. This section discusses what we have learned and its implications for public policy.
National Canine Research Council – Summary Reports of Dog Bite Related Fatalities (US) – 2009-2017
Research conducted by animal behavior experts challenges the basis of breed specific legislation designed to protect the public from 'dangerous' dogs.
The American Bar Association urges all state, territorial, and local legislative bodies and governmental agencies to adopt comprehensive breed-neutral dangerous dog/reckless owner laws that ensure due process protections for owners, encourage responsible pet ownership and focus on the behavior of both dog owners and dogs, and to repeal any breed discriminatory 5 or breed specific provisions.
American Bar Association – Resolution on Repealing BSL, 2012
The opinions contained article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an endorsement by the authors or the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Problem of Dog-Related Incidents and Encounters (US Department of Justice, August 2011)
Findings that a higher proportion of sled dogs and, possibly, mixed-breed dogs in Canada than in the United States caused fatalities, as did multiple dogs rather than single dogs.
Fatal dog attacks in Canada, 1990-2007 – The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2008
Part I examines the growing problem of dog bites and dog-bite related deaths through statistical analysis. This part also provides a description and history of pit bull terriers, currently the most frequent target of breed-based laws. Part II examines common criticisms and concerns. Provides an overview of additional legislation that has been enacted to reduce the number of dog bites and attacks. Part III concludes breed-specific legislation is an ineffective and inefficient means of combating the dog-bite epidemic. .
SPECIAL REPORT FINDINGS: The most effective way to prevent bites is to encourage dog owners to become knowledgeable about their animals and to train and socialize them so that they can become good canine citizens.
Will Breed Specific Legislation reduce dog bites? – The Canadian Veterinary Journal, August 1996
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