Informative Speech: Breed Specific Legislation Essay

For many years there has been an ongoing debate on whether or not animals should be given rights, even there own bill of rights. Some who are against the animal bill of rights argue that testing products on animals is important to the safety of humans. Others who want the new bill of rights claim that animals have feelings and that science is treating them inhumanely. Animal activists also add that animals are intelligent beings and are aware of how they are treated. Based on science proving animal activists correct on many of their points, this calls for a new bill of rights, in the United States, especially written for the protection and care of wild and domestic animals.

As an activist against cosmetic animal testing I not only have done extensive research on this topic for my personal interest but also for this speech specifically.

When BSL is enacted in a community it gives the citizens a false sense of security. They believe that all the “dangerous” dogs are done away with. Breed-specific laws have a tendency to compromise rather than enhance public safety. When limited animal control resources are used to regulate or ban a certain breed of dog, without regard to behavior, the focus is shifted away from routine, effective enforcement of laws that have the best chance of making our communities safer: dog license laws, leash laws, animal fighting laws, anti-tethering laws, laws facilitating spaying and neutering and laws that require all owners to control their dogs, regardless of breed.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” (King, 1963). As members of the millennial generation, we are taught that it is unacceptable to judge people by the way one looks, dresses, or talks. So why is it excusable for you to judge my four-legged companion based on the way she looks, the way she is built, or the way her bark sounds?

In addition to pet owners being irresponsible with breeding practices, some owners believe that they can breed the animals for a profit. They do not take into consideration the moral or

Pit bulls are the most misunderstood dog breeds in the world. When people hear the word pit bull they automatically think of dogs fighting and attacking. When people say "pit bull" they're usually referring to a range of breeds and, often, a mixed-breed dog. (Lawrence, C Louisville Magazine Feb 2007) People think they are a very dangerous breed of dog. Because of this, some areas do not allow pit bulls and breeds like them. Pit bulls are the leading culprit of dog bites in America, but on the other hand, they are the gentlest dogs people will ever meet. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association

Breeds that are most often called “pit bulls” are the American pit bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier, and the Staffordshire bull terrier (Warnes, 2017).

Pit Bulls are among the top percentage of dog bites across the nation, but it partly due to the misrepresentation. Most handlers just see a similarity to a Pit Bull’s physical appearance and then the dog is classified as such. The media always misrepresents and wrongly accuses Pit Bulls, they are always quick to name the pit bull breed as the attacking dog. The government also does the same thing if a dog has similarities to a Pit Bull, then it is automatically classified as a Pit Bull even if it’s not correct. They don’t care about

Introduction: Today I will persuading my audience the benefits of getting a dog as a pet. Dogs can offer companionship, protection and even improve your health. Sixty eight percent of U.S households own a pet according to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey calculated by American Pet Products Association (APPA), and majority of the pets owned are dogs, weighing in at sixty percent. Dogs are domesticated animals that consist of various breeds such as Yorkie Terriers, German shepherds and more. There are over three hundred breeds according to the World Canine organization. This organization is the largest registry of certified dog breeds. This canine organization recognizes three hundred and thirty nine breeds of dogs which are classified into ten groups based on the dog’s function or size. There are various unique breeds that can fit into one’s specific lifestyle, giving no excuse not to have a dog to compliment ones personality.

Pit bulls are one of the most popular breeds of canines. A descendant of the original English bull-baiting dog, which was bred to bite and hold bulls and other large animals around the face and head, pit bulls were regarded as guardians of both property and livestock(ASPCA). Pit bulls are powerful and strong physically, but they are the best guard dogs. These pit bulls are like a ball of energy but sweet and loyal dogs, which is why they are the perfect family dogs to have in the right homes. A dog’s temperament,

Pit Bull is not actually a breed. “The legal definition of a pit bull is a class of dogs that includes the following breeds: American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog and any other pure bred or mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs (DogsBite, Pit bull FAQ).” Even though these breeds may be classified

Breed-specific legislation is not as functional or as useful as it was intended to be. According to Fred Kray of StopBSL.com, “Breed specific legislation (BSL) is a law that bans OR restricts certain types of dogs based on their appearance, usually because they are perceived as ‘dangerous’ breeds or types of dogs”. These restrictions include total exclusion of certain breeds from individual cities, muzzle requirements for dogs in public, the requirement of purchasing liability insurance for dog bites or even the requirement of placing a “vicious dog” tag on the dog’s collar just to name a few. BSL causes the bully breeds (breeds considered dangerous and most importantly, have a Pitbull terrier appearance) to become more dangerous, leads to the discrimination of individual breeds, and causes Pitbulls to be put down when surrendered to shelters instead of being adopted into loving homes.

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to petition against Maryland’s law to identify “Pit Bulls” as a dangerous breed of dog.

Imagine you are a proud dog owner, having adopted a puppy from a local rescue not knowing what breed your new “bundle of joy” is. As your puppy turns into an adult, it becomes obvious that your dog is a mix or full-bred American Pit Bull Terrier. You run into trouble moving into certain communities, ranging from neighborhoods with homeowners associations to apartment complexes. Even your insurance company is placing regulations and additional fees on you based solely on the breed of your dog. If you are living in a town that places a law forbidding your dog’s breed following a high profile dog bite case, you face the problem of having to move or the possibility for your dog to be seized and possibly euthanized.

Specific Purpose – To persuade my audience that animal testing is wrong and how other safer alternatives should be taken.