Breed Specific Legislation
Introduction
Breed specific legislation is the prohibition and limitation of certain breeds of dogs which are said to be dangerous and harmful for example dogs known as German shepherds. Most of the countries and states are asking the municipal governments to enact laws that protect them from those dangerous dog breeds. The dogs cause attacks to people which is an alarming case in most countries and states. Many people view breed specific legislation as a good method of reducing bites and attacks from dangerous dogs which are not the case since the circumstances leading the dogs to behave so are the ones to be investigated instead. The breeds are of less importance in this case and their main cause should be clearly investigated.
Disadvantages of breed specific legislation
Breed specific legislation does not seem to work
The use of pathos describes the feelings of the people being attacked by the dangerous dogs. Breed specific legislation does not look at the cause of the dogs being dangerous but emphasizes on means of reducing the rate of harm caused by the dogs. The root cause of the problem should be analyzed instead so as to find for the best solution (Rigney, 2010). The people involved suffer sadness and are affected physically, emotionally and psychologically by this issue. The laws interfere with the way some people handle their pets since there are some people who control and love their dogs and who do not affect the surviving of others. The legislation does not cater for such person who is very unfair since everybody is entitled to rights that should be respected (Rigney, 2010). Breed laws are not the best to enforce and are very hard since it is time consuming to identify every type of dog.
Breed specific laws are costly for the community
Ethos explains in details the author’s knowledge of the topic which clearly enhances arguments to be valid as in this case of breed laws which are viewed as very expensive laws to the community. Community people can abandon household dogs as a result of shelter matters (Dog law, 2011). Enforcing and implementing the laws is cumbersome and very hard since the required budget is costly for both the community and animal agencies. Many rural areas are affected by these rules since the fund is not available to form the animal agencies for regulation and control of breeding dogs. The funds are not available so as to employ the necessary manpower required in that whole process of identified the unnecessary dogs in the communities (Dog law, 2011). For example it was very expensive for Maryland to maintain pit bulls which make many states go against the rules and laws of breed specific since it a very expensive project. Many countries have therefore supported the bun of these specific breed laws and regulations since they are of disadvantage to the community and the society at large (Dog law, 2011).
Breed specific laws fail to withstand authorized and permitted challenges
The laws are seen as unconstitutional in the society since the animal agencies are not specific on the kin d of breeds that are considered dangerous and harmful. Eliminating dogs could be termed as unconstitutional since it is seen as termination of the properties without the owner’s permission (Palika, 2006). It is unconstitutional and thus the rhetoric aspect of logos is portrayed here since there is no logic in performing such actions that are causing trouble to other people instead of actually developing them. These laws are seen to contribute negatively to the community and are greatly opposed by people. Proper identification of dogs that are dangerous and harmful is challenging which makes it an expensive mean of controlling breed types in dogs (Palika, 2006).
Solutions to the specific breed laws
Using animal control laws
Animal control laws should be enforced especially the leach laws which will deal on how to handle and maintain the harmful dogs (Alexander, & Earle-Bridges, 2007). The communities should support the animal control laws and support them by funding and providing resources for such laws to be implemented.
Public awareness and education
The public should be educated and made aware of how to deal with dangerous and harmful dogs and especially train children and teenagers who are prone to such attacks when playing with pets (Alexander, & Earle-Bridges, 2007). Adults should closely supervise their kids when playing with pets so as to avoid unnecessary bites from dogs.
Spraying the dogs
The people should start a policy on spraying male and female dogs. People should consult their veterinaries so as to reduce cases of bites and injuries from dogs both dangerous and good ones. The services provided by veterinaries should be of affordable costs so as to maintain good relationships between pets and their owners instead of actually eliminating them (Alexander, & Earle-Bridges, 2007). Pets are good and should always be maintained since they can also protect the people from unwanted persons.
Possible disadvantage of these solutions
The public might become very arrogant in getting education on methods of controlling their pets which could end up causing serious problems to children especially (Alexander, & Earle-Bridges, 2007). The enforcement of animal control laws is also very expensive and can be ignored by the public and thus the problem of dog bites may continue.
Conclusion
Breed laws are not acceptable to the people from the above point of view and it is evidently observed that they are followed by a number of disadvantages. Dogs should be protected instead of eliminating hem thus enacting animal control laws instead of breed specific laws since they are time and money consuming. Thus the public and especially adults should take good care of their pets and control them to avoid them from hurting their children.
References
Alexander, C., & Earle-Bridges, M. (2007). Bull terriers: Everything about purchase, care, nutrition, behavior, and training. Hauppauge, N.Y: Barron's.
Dog law: Breed-specific legislation, wolf-dog hybrid, pet passport, animal control officer, Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, dog licence, one-dog policy, Dempsey, dogcart, Dogs Act 953. (2011). Memphis, TN: Books LLC.
Palika, L. (2006). American Pit Bull Terrier Your Happy Healthy Pet. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Rigney, D. (2010). The Matthew effect: How advantage begets further advantage. New York: Columbia University Press.
