If you have a pit bull, you are probably aware of breed-specific legislation (BSL) in one way or another. Sadly for the dogs that were once known as “nanny dogs”, pit bulls currently face a lot of negative stereotypes in the US. If you know their breed, you know that all they want is to make their humans happy. But unfortunately, out of control stereotypes have resulted in some municipalities not even allowing dogs that resemble pit bulls – for fear of what they “might be.” Others place heavy restrictions on the breed. As a result, shelters across the country are overflowing with pit bulls and breed-specific legislation continues to make it difficult to get sweet dogs into forever loving homes.
The more I have learned about BSL, the more I feel compelled to do something about it. That’s why I put together this list of 3 ways you can fight BSL.
1) Do Your Homework
First and foremost, to fight BSL effectively, it’s important to learn more about what BSL is exactly. Once you have a good grasp on BSL, start local. Find out if BSL exists in your community and if so, what exactly it stipulates. Once you know what you are up against, you can write to your legislators and spread the word about the changes that need to be made.
2) Foster
Consider fostering a pit bull. Contact your local shelter and odds are that you will find they are in desperate need of good foster homes. By fostering a pit bull, you are literally saving a life. Taking a foster dog into your home allows the shelter to take in one more and also provides your foster dog with a less stressful environment as they search for their forever home. Plus, you get the joy of knowing that you are making a huge difference in a dog’s life.
3) Spread The Good Word
Equally important is that we work to fight the negative stereotypes. If you have a super sweet pit bull of your own, show the world how sweet and lovable they are. Wear clothing (like this) that helps spread the positive message about pit bulls. Often times people are afraid of the stories they’ve heard, but the more people hear good stories too, the better they will understand the breed.
The more we work together to change the stigma against pit bulls and fight BSL, the more we can change things for pit bulls everywhere. Do you know of another way to fight BSL? Comment below!