Breed-specific Legislation - Worldwide

Worldwide

A number of other countries have breed-specific legislation on the books. Both the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland restrict the ownership of pit-bull type dogs and other breeds. In May 2010, a pit-bull type dog named Lennox was impounded from his disabled owner and deemed to be a danger to the public by authorities in Belfast, Northern Ireland, under the Dangerous Dogs (NI) Order 1991. The impoundment and subsequent court order to destroy Lennox sparked a two-year-long legal battle and heated public relations campaign over the fate of the dog that included an international letter-writing and social media campaign; a petition signed by more than 214,000 people worldwide; street protests in Belfast, London, and New York City; public appeals from celebrities like the boxer Lennox Lewis and the First Minister of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson; and threatening letters and acts of violence directed at some of Belfast's dog wardens. Dog trainer and international television celebrity Victoria Stilwell campaigned to save Lennox's life, appealing to the Belfast City Council and Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle O’Neill to allow her to re-home Lennox in the United States, where several rescue organizations had offered him sanctuary. All appeals, including Stilwell's were ignored by Belfast City Councillors, and Lennox was killed July 11, 2012. Belfast City Council declined to return Lennox's body, his collar, or his ashes to his family. July 11 has now been named "Lennox Day" by his supporters, who continue to work against breed-specific legislation in honor of his memory.

Nation Locality Date Type Details
Australia 2010-09-02 Banned for importation Dogo Argentino; Fila Brasileiro; Japanese Tosa; American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier; Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario; and advertising matter for these breeds.
Brazil State of Rio de Janeiro April 9, 1999 Banned for importation, commercialization, breeding and unauthorized creation Pit bulls in general and breeds derived from them.
  • Article 1 – It is prohibited throughout the State of Rio de Janeiro the import, the marketing and the breeding of dogs of the pitt-bull breed as well as breeds resulting from the crossbreeding with the pitt-bull, in kennels or in isolation.
  • Article 2 – It is mandatory from 06 (six) months of age, the sterilization of all pitbull dogs, or derived therefrom, in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
  • Article 3 – It will only be allowed to keep animals of the pitt-bull breed, or derived therefrom, upon proof of sterilization and updated vaccination.
Bermuda July 21, 2003 Banned Importing or breeding of any "breed of dog that may be perceived as dangerous" is prohibited. Proscribed breeds include (among others) the pitbull terrier, staffordshire, several of the mastiff breeds, Australian Dingo, Akita, and crossbreeds thereof, as well as "any exotic or uncommon breed" at the government's discretion.
Denmark July 1, 2010 Banned As of July 1, 2010, breeding, selling and importing of the following breeds is banned: American Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Central Asian Shepherd Dog, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Fila Brasileiro, South Russian Shepherd Dog and crossbreeds thereof. Currently existing dogs must be muzzled and leashed at all times in public. Same restrictions against mutts if the owner cannot prove that his/her dog is not a crossbreed.Information, Rets (2010-03-17). "Lov om ændring af lov om hunde og dyreværnsloven" (in Danish). Ministry of Justice of Denmark. https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=130729. Retrieved 2010-03-17.

It is also a "positive list", listing breeds that are looking pretty similar to them that are banned: Polski Owczarek Podhalanski, Cão Fila de São Miguel, Dogue de Bordeaux, Bullmastiff, English Mastiff, Napolitan Mastiff, Cane Corso, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dogo Canario, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Iberian Dogge. Owners of these breeds must have documentation for the breeds or types, but dogs on the positive list are not banned by law.
Ecuador March 2009 Banned Private ownership of pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers is prohibited.
France April 30, 1999 Restricted Non-pure-breed animals resembling pit-bulls are to be spay/neutered
Germany February 2001 Restricted

Importation of the Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or Bull Terrier is prohibited in some states.
Ireland, Republic of 1998 Restricted The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 place controls on 10 breeds of dogs, namely the American Pit Bull Terrier; English Bull Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Doberman Pinscher; German Shepherd (Alsatian); Rhodesian Ridgeback; Rottweiler; Japanese Akita; Japanese Tosa and to every dog of the type commonly known as a Ban Dog (or Bandog).

The controls, which must be observed when the dog is in a public place, require that these dogs, or strains and crosses thereof, must be securely muzzled and kept on a strong short lead by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling them. Dogs that are not kept under control will be euthanized.
Malta February 17, 1998 Restricted The following breeds may not be imported into Malta: American Pitbull Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Fila Brasileiro, or Japanese Tosa
New Zealand November 17, 2003 Restricted The following restrictions apply to dogs of these breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, or Japanese Tosa
  • It is illegal to import them alive or as semen, ova, or embryos
  • They are automatically considered "menacing dogs", which must be muzzled and on leash in public
  • Regional councils may order them spay/neutered
  • They must be microchipped
Norway July 4, 1991,
amended August 20, 2004		 Banned The following breeds are forbidden to give, sell, breed or import, including those in embryonic form, but dogs bred before the law came into effect are legal to possess:
  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Tosa Inu (incorrectly listed as "Toso")
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and any wolf hybrid

Dogs of these breeds that are kept legal, also have to be microchipped.
Poland 1997 Restricted Owners can have pit bulls but must display clear warning signs and keep the dogs behind reinforced fencing.
Portugal Restricted

Owners can have these breeds but they have to have them muzzled when outdoors, registered and sterilized. They also have to submit your own criminal record when they register the dog.

 The restriction affects the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tosa Inu and Pit Bull.
Puerto Rico July 23, 1998 Banned The introduction, import, possession, acquisition, breeding, purchase, sale and transfer in any form in the island of Puerto Rico, of the dogs known as “Pitbull Terriers”, or hybrids produced by cross-breeding with dogs of other breeds, is ... prohibited.

The matter concerns the product of cross-breeding bulldogs and terriers. This product is defined as a breed of bull terriers which includes Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Argentine Dogo, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pitbull Terriers and crossbreeds of these and other terrier strains. Owners of existing pit bull-type dogs had until March 23, 1999 to register their dogs.
Romania April 26, 2002 Restricted The following restrictions apply:
  • Owners of the following breeds of dogs must be at least 18 years old, be certified psychologically fit to own a dog of this breed, and have a court order allowing them to own the dog: Pit bull, Boerboel, Bandog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, and Neapolitan Mastiff.
  • The import of pit bull-type dogs, Boerboels, and Bandogs is prohibited.
  • The following dogs must be muzzled in public places: Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd Dog, Doberman Pinscher, Presa Canario, Komondor, Giant Schnauzer, and Kuvasz.
Singapore June 4, 1991 Restricted The following breeds of dogs and their crosses are not allowed to be imported into Singapore – Pit Bull (which includes the American Pit Bull Terrier also known as the American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and crosses between them and with other breeds); Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Akita, Dogo Argentino, Boerboel, Fila Brasileiro and their crosses.

Owners of these breeds of dogs already in Singapore must comply with the following requirements:

  • the dog shall be implanted with a microchip;
  • the dog, if over 6 months of age, shall be sterilised;
  • the licensee shall have in force a policy of insurance approved by the Director-General for an amount of not less than $100,000 to cover any injury to persons or animals or damage to property that might be caused by the dog; and
  • the licensee shall furnish to the Director-General security in the form of a banker’s guarantee for $5,000, which shall be forfeited if —
    • the owner allows the dog to be in a public place otherwise than on a leash and securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent it from biting a person; or
    • the dog is reported lost.
    • The following dog breeds must be leashed and muzzled at all times when in public – Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd or any Shepherd related dog breeds, Rottweiler and Perro de Presa Canario.
Spain 2002 Restricted A royal decree restricts several breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Switzerland 2012 Varies by State; some states have adopted extensive BSL, others have no such legislation whatsoever. Several decisions of the Supreme Court have found that state BSL is constitutional. There is no BSL on the federal level; federal bills that would have enacted it died in 2006 and 2010.
Turkey 2004 Restricted The breeding, buying, selling, exchanging and advertising of Pit Bulls, Japanese Tosa dogs, and other "wild animals" is banned. Pit bull owners must register and sterilize their dogs.
Ukraine 1998 Restricted Dangerous breed list approved by Cabinet resolution from July 9, 2002, has over 80 breeds, including several varieties of Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, Livestock Guardian dogs, Boxer, Briar, Labrador Retriever, Welsh Terrier, German Shepherd and their mixes. Compliance requirements include mandatory insurance and micro chipping, walking on a short leash and muzzle in public places, other restrictions. Ukraine allows adapting local municipal laws to enforce further restrictions.

In Ukraine capital, Kiev, as per law adapted at 1998, the list of breeds forbidden for breeding and requiring mandatory sterilization, includes Akbash, APBT, Presa Canario, Kangal, Romanian Shepherd, Greek Shepherd, Alek Roshhin Doberman, Superdog and Superdog Mainkong mixes and 18 other recognized and unrecognized breeds. Besides mandatory spay, law requests muzzle, insurance, short leash, very high license fees and other measures.

As per Ukrainian Kennel Club KSU, dangerous breeds list includes over 20 breeds, such as American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, English Mastiff, Dogo Argentino, Dogue De Bordeaux.
United Kingdom August 12, 1991 Banned Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Owning dogs of the types known as the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Argentine Dogo, or Fila Brasileiro is prohibited. No person shall—
  • breed, or breed from, a prohibited dog type;
  • sell or exchange such a dog or offer, advertise or expose such a dog for sale or exchange;
  • make or offer to make a gift of such a dog or advertise or expose such a dog as a gift;
  • allow such a dog of which he is the owner or of which he is for the time being in charge to be in a public place without being muzzled and kept on a lead; or
  • abandon such a dog of which he is the owner or, being the owner or for the time being in charge of such a dog, allow it to stray.

Note: the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 does not apply in Northern Ireland; however, the same restrictions apply in Northern Ireland under the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
Venezuela 2014 Banned It will be illegal to import, breed, adopt, raise, or sell pit bull-type dogs starting December 31, 2014.

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