Voters Reject Bans Against Pitbulls
A 2022 study found that 70% of Americans oppose breed-specific legislation (BSL), reflecting a national shift as voters and lawmakers increasingly reject breed-based dog bans — such as those targeting dogs labeled as "pitbulls." From Colorado to Florida to Canada, public opinion and policy are moving away from breed restrictions in favor of more effective, breed-neutral laws that focus on behavior, responsible ownership, and real public safety risks.
What do recent votes and public opinion studies on BSL reveal?
Voters Reject BSL
In a landmark 2020 vote, Denver residents repealed the city's 31-year pitbull ban with a 66% majority. Two years earlier, Springfield, MO, voters overturned a newly enacted ban with 68% support. Across the country, voters are standing up for fair, evidence-based policies — and rejecting BSL's outdated, ineffective framework.
Springfield, MO (2018)
68% voted to repeal a ban against pitbulls enacted by the City Council less than a year earlier.
Sources: Article | AKC Statement
Denver, CO (2020)
66% voted to repeal the city's 31-year-old ban against pitbulls — a landmark outcome, as Denver's ban was the longest-running in any major U.S. city.
Sources: Article | Ballotpedia
Aurora, CO (2024)
57% voted to repeal the city's 20-year-old ban against pitbulls.
Sources: Article | Ballotpedia
Florida (2023)
Eliminated all BSL statewide — in ~40 cities, including Miami — through Senate Bill 942, which passed
almost unanimously (155–1).
Quebec, Canada (2018)
Rejected a proposed
province-wide ban on pitbull-type dogs and Rottweilers.
Source: Article
100+ Cities & Towns
Since 2018, more than 100 cities and towns in the U.S. have repealed BSL in favor of more equitable and effective breed-neutral regulations — while almost no municipalities have enacted new bans during the same period. Most repeals have been led by city councils, with some occurring through direct voter decisions at the ballot box.
Source: BSL Repeals
Widespread Opposition
The majority of Americans and veterinarians oppose BSL, recognizing that breed is a poor indicator of aggression. They overwhelmingly support breed-neutral solutions that address real public safety risks — including irresponsible ownership, aggressive behavior, inadequate enforcement, and weak leash or dog-at-large laws.
There is growing evidence to suggest that such laws [breed-specific bans] are ineffective, negatively impact animal welfare, and, in fact, do little to make communities safer.
70% of Americans Oppose BSL
A nationwide study found that 70% of Americans oppose breed-specific bans, favoring breed-neutral approaches to improve public safety.
96% of Veterinarians Oppose BSL
A study found that 96% of veterinarians oppose BSL, and most described their experiences with pitbulls as either "positive" or "very positive."
96% of Cities & Towns Are Breed-Neutral
Only 4% (~800 out of 19,500) of cities and towns in the U.S. — primarily smaller municipalities — still have some form of BSL enacted, with virtually no new bans being introduced. With Denver's and Miami's bans repealed, no major U.S. cities currently have breed-specific bans, no U.S. states have statewide bans, and many states (~22) now prohibit or restrict municipalities from enacting BSL.
Sources: NCRC BSL Map | AnimalLaw.info
Momentum Against BSL
In recent years, voters in cities like Denver, CO; Springfield, MO; and Aurora, CO have decisively overturned BSL at the ballot box, with strong majorities ranging from 57% to 68%. These decisions reflect a broader shift in public attitudes: a 2022 study found that 70% of Americans oppose BSL and prefer breed-neutral policies that focus on behavior — not appearance. Additionally, BSL has been found unconstitutional in some cases, and many consider it un-American and a form of government overreach.
Support from the veterinary community is even more unified. A 2019 study found that 96% of veterinarians oppose BSL, citing its ineffectiveness and the unfair burden it places on dogs and their owners. Most veterinarians also report positive or very positive experiences with pitbull-type dogs in their care.
As scientific evidence continues to show that breed does not determine aggression, bite severity, or a dog's likelihood to bite, the public — alongside experts and professionals — is pushing for smarter, fairer policies that genuinely improve safety without arbitrarily targeting dogs based solely on their appearance or assumed breed.