Nevada dog owners and advocates have something to celebrate this week after the historic passage of Assembly Bill 110, which outlaws Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in The Silver State. Under the new law, towns and municipalities in Nevada can no longer outlaw dogs based on their breed.
American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and dogs with similar physical characteristics are especially targeted by BSL across the country, though other often misunderstood breeds such as the Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, and Chow Chow are sometimes banned as well. Despite numerous studies conducted that refute the effectiveness of targeting specific breeds, new BSL measures are still signed into law in towns across the country every day.
When Republican Governor Brian Sandoval signed AB 110 into law May 24, Nevada became only the 14th state in the nation to prohibit the ban of dogs based on their breed.
But Jessica Clemens, founder of Las Vegas nonprofit Pit Bull advocacy group Incred-a-Bull, said in a statement that last week’s bill signing was a huge victory for opponents of BSL and the loving bully breeds they love and care for.
“This is a monumental step and could not have been accomplished without the outpour of local support,” Clemens explains. “A sincere thank you to the countless supporters, nonprofits, animal rescue organizations, and hard working civil servants who helped to protect Nevada residents’ right to responsibly own the dog of their choice.”
Clemens believes breed bans only punish responsible dog owners and put thousands of loving dogs at risk. The passage of AB 110 in Nevada will lead to a brighter future for Pit Bulls, Pit Bull mixes, and other bully breeds across the state.
“We are thrilled that Nevada families and their pets are no longer in danger of BSL bans and discrimination in our community,” Clemens says. “At Incred-A-Bull, we believe that every dog should be treated equally and evaluated on its behavior rather than its breed. We advocate for owner responsibility and accountability, not public policies that discriminate against a certain portion of the pet population.”
“I’m confident that this law will benefit dogs, dog owners and animal lovers throughout our great state,” says AB 110 sponsor Assemblyman James Ohrenschall, who worked in tandem with the Best Friends Animal Society to promote the passage of this anti-BSL law.
“I’m proud of sponsoring this legislation because it will help keep our innocent friends from being killed needlessly and senselessly,” Assemblyman Ohrenschall adds. “This bill will help strengthen the bond between humans and our beloved dogs.”
Assembly Bill 110 will go into effect on October 1, 2013.
Sources: Assembly Bill 110, Las Vegas Review Journal, PRWeb.com
