Editing Pit bull (section)

=== Breed-specific legislation (pit bull bans) ===
{{Main|Breed-specific legislation}}

Widely reported pit bull attacks have resulted in the enactment of [[breed-specific legislation]] (BSL) in many cities and countries. For example, in the United States as of 2018, there was some level of breed-specific legislation in 37 states and over 1,000 cities.<ref name="bslsummary2018">{{cite web |date=December 20, 2018 |title=Estimated U.S. Cities, Counties, States and Military Facilities with Breed-Specific Pit Bull Laws - Dog Breeds |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/56495216/Estimated-U-S-Cities-Counties-States-and-Military-Facilities-with-Breed-Specific-Pit-Bull-Laws |website=Scribd |publisher=[[DogsBite.org]]}}</ref>

Many of the jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls apply their restriction to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and any other dog that has the substantial physical characteristics and appearance of those breeds, such as the Canadian province of [[Ontario]].<ref name="Government of Ontario, Canada">{{cite web |date=August 29, 2005 |title=An Act to amend the Dog Owners' Liability Act to increase public safety in relation to dogs, including pit bulls, and to make related amendments to the Animals for Research Act |url=http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90d16_e.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702074542/http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90d16_e.htm |archive-date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=July 5, 2010 |publisher=Government of Ontario, Canada}}</ref> A few jurisdictions, such as [[Singapore]], also classify the modern American Bulldog as a "pit bull–type dog".<ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=November 15, 2010 |title=List of Scheduled Dogs |url=https://www.ava.gov.sg/docs/default-source/tools-and-resources/resources-for-businesses/summaryofab_doglicensingcontrol_rules_15nov2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827031216/http://www.ava.gov.sg/docs/default-source/tools-and-resources/resources-for-businesses/summaryofab_doglicensingcontrol_rules_15nov2010 |archive-date=August 27, 2015 |access-date=February 20, 2018 |publisher=Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore}}</ref>

Breed-specific legislation has been largely found to be ineffective at reducing the number of dog attacks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Position Statement on Breed-Specific Legislation |url=https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Breed-Specific_Legislation-download-_8-18-14.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527062101/https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Breed-Specific_Legislation-download-_8-18-14.pdf |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |access-date=August 15, 2020 |publisher=The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior}}</ref> Debates often center on whether apparent aggressive tendencies are the result of poor dog ownership or natural behaviors of the breed.<ref name=":0" />

Some municipalities take the opposite approach, and have passed anti-BSL laws. Anti-BSL laws have been passed in 21 of the 50 states in the United States, prohibiting or restricting the ability of jurisdictions within those states to enact or enforce breed-specific legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of States that Prohibit BSL - Animal Legal & Historical Center |url=https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-states-prohibit-bsl |website=www.animallaw.info}}</ref>

Some municipalities started with BSL laws, then repealed them, such as [[Denver]], Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Conrad |date=2020-11-04 |title=Denver election results for 2J: Voters repeal city's pit bull ban |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/03/denver-election-results-2j-pit-bull/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref>