Help Save Diggy: The Absurdity of Breed-Specific Legislation
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) has never been proven effective. It lacks scientific backing and doesn’t contribute to community safety. What it does is create unnecessary challenges for dogs that have a certain look.
BSL involves laws and bans based solely on a dog’s appearance. These regulations prohibit owning certain breeds in specific areas, often targeting pit bulls and similar dogs. The legislation doesn’t consider the dog’s upbringing, personality, or origin, focusing only on their looks.
This unfairly impacts dogs in shelters whose future is already uncertain. Statistics show only 1 in 600 pit bulls in shelters survives, with about 4,000 being euthanized each day. BSL makes their chances even slimmer by increasing obstacles for them to be adopted. In the U.S., 65% of dogs in shelters are labeled as pit bulls or pit mixes. Instead of controlling the problem through spaying and neutering, people continue breeding pit bulls more than any other breed in America.
There is hope thanks to advocates working tirelessly for these dogs. However, these advocates face significant barriers due to existing BSL across the country. The laws discriminate against dogs based on appearance alone, ignoring that any dog, regardless of breed, can bite. Behavior, not looks, determines a dog’s risk level.
A recent case highlights the issue vividly. Dan Tillery from Michigan adopted a dog named Diggy, making headlines with a viral photo of their happy moment. But four days later, local police informed Tillery that Diggy couldn’t stay because he resembled a pit bull. Waterford Township, where Tillery lives, bans pit bull-type dogs.
Tillery and his girlfriend adopted Diggy from Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR) after seeing the dog’s smiling face. DDR had vetted Diggy as an American Bulldog and even verified this with local authorities before the adoption, ensuring there would be no issues. They were told that as long as Diggy wasn’t considered a pit bull, he was safe.
Despite this assurance, after the photo went viral, police arrived, stating that because Diggy looked like a pit bull, he needed to leave. DDR had provided all necessary papers identifying Diggy as an American Bulldog, but the local authorities insisted on a re-evaluation by their chosen veterinarian. If the vet agreed Diggy was an American Bulldog, he could stay. If not, Diggy would have to go.
This story of Diggy underscores the irrationality of BSL, showing how it impacts dogs and owners based on looks rather than facts.
