What BSL Stands For & Why We Care
BSL stands for breed-specific legislation. It prevents certain breeds of dog from traveling to certain states, cities, or countries, or requires certain breeds to wear muzzles in public.
Breeds affected by these laws include any type of pit bull, dobermans, Rottweilers, Shar-Peis, German Shepards, and more. It even affects some mixed-breed dogs, such as Pit mixes and Rottweiler mixes.
Many times, euthanasia for BSL-affected dogs is based not off of DNA testing or vet records, but off of plain appearance--and for many mixed-breed dog owners, the appearance does not speak for the dog's breed. For instance, one cross of a Lab and a bulldog looked like a pit bull--but in fact had no pit blood in him!
Even if you don't like pits or other BSL-banned breeds, you should care! What if your dog looks like one?
Many pet owners wanting to travel own one or more breed affected by breed-specific legislation. In fact, if Pup's DNA makeup was different, she would have been classified as a BSL-affected breed mix.
We decided to create this page so that these dogs have a chance to travel, too. Pups and I definitely aren't prejudiced against specific breeds! In fact, Pups is part both Rottweiler and pit bull as shown through DNA testing! Had the vet written "pit bull" on Pups's registry certificate instead of Lab (lo and behold, she's actually a border collie! But that's another story...), we would never have visited half the places we have with her, and maybe we would never have adopted her!
Breeds affected by these laws include any type of pit bull, dobermans, Rottweilers, Shar-Peis, German Shepards, and more. It even affects some mixed-breed dogs, such as Pit mixes and Rottweiler mixes.
Many times, euthanasia for BSL-affected dogs is based not off of DNA testing or vet records, but off of plain appearance--and for many mixed-breed dog owners, the appearance does not speak for the dog's breed. For instance, one cross of a Lab and a bulldog looked like a pit bull--but in fact had no pit blood in him!
Even if you don't like pits or other BSL-banned breeds, you should care! What if your dog looks like one?
Many pet owners wanting to travel own one or more breed affected by breed-specific legislation. In fact, if Pup's DNA makeup was different, she would have been classified as a BSL-affected breed mix.
We decided to create this page so that these dogs have a chance to travel, too. Pups and I definitely aren't prejudiced against specific breeds! In fact, Pups is part both Rottweiler and pit bull as shown through DNA testing! Had the vet written "pit bull" on Pups's registry certificate instead of Lab (lo and behold, she's actually a border collie! But that's another story...), we would never have visited half the places we have with her, and maybe we would never have adopted her!
Resources for Fighting BSL
Resources for fighting BSL, breed-specific legislation, are listed below:
BSL-Affected Breeds
- Akita
- Alaskan Malamute
- Alfalfa Blue Blood
- American Bull Dog
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Any Dog Over 100 LBs
- Any type of dog looking like or classified as a "pit bull"
- Belgian Malanois
- Boerboels
- Brazilian Mastiff
- Bull Mastiff
- Bull Terrier
- Canary Dog
- Cane Corso
- Chow Chow
- Doberman Pinscher
- Dogo Argentino
- English Mastiff
- German Shepard
- Great Dane
- Irish Wolf Hound
- Mastiffs
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Old Country Bull Dog
- Perro de Presa
- Perro de Presa Mallorquin
- Presa Canario
- Rottweiler
- Scottish Deerhounds
- Shar-Pei
- Siberian Husky
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Tosa Inu
- Wolf Hybrid
Unsure about your breed? Look it up! (Don't worry; breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Beagles, and the such are safe.)
Source: Understand-A-Bull.com