Legislation is being proposed to require muzzles and short leashes for selected breeds. Violations include putting the animal to sleep, with fines and jail time for the owner.
The major ethical issue is, "Is it ethical to have Breed Selective Legislation?"
I am actually proactive for Breed Selective Legislation, within ethical limits. Dogs are different than humans because we force highly refined selective breeding upon dogs in the first place. If we did the same thing with people we would have breeds of people that could run faster than a horse, others that would have photographic memories...
Genetic Intelligence is a very real consequence. In humans as well as dogs.
I would say that any breed which has a history of "irrationally provoked" violent behavior must have research done to find out specifically "why" the animal acts violently; not just take blanket actions. But what do we do until those technologies are developed?
If violence is because they have a food allergy, then a campaign should warn dog owners of that breed to be aware of that food allergy and how to spot the effects. People become irrationally abusive from caffeine, and even a small amount of peanut oil can cause death. A bull dog in England killed its owners because the owners gave the dog drugs; the withdrawl wasn't so funny. Animals have phobias like people. A strong animal that suddenly becomes afraid of you might attack; Schizophrenia.
If violence is because of inbreeding of dogs, then those people whom allowed the dogs to be inbred should be punished and the inbred dogs removed from society. Perhaps to a special farm where they are spayed and allowed to live normal lives; until they show symptoms of deranged behavior; or perhaps they can recieve pharmaceutical treatment. Owners who don't want to muzzle their dogs would either have to show papers proving their dog is not inbred, or they would have to provide DNA results that showed the dog is not inbred. Of course this predisposes that inbreeding can cause Schizophrenia.
These are actions that ethically address the problem and not the symptoms. Not all dogs are prone to Schizophrenia, and they should not be punished. If they are not a threat, and they are restricted, then it is a punishment; as it would be with people.
If a DNA test could be done by the Agricultural/Health Department on bully breeds, than perhaps the violent behavior of such animals can eventually be bred out of those breeds. I have since learned that some people take offense to the term "bully" breeds, because they feel that alpha-dog mentality is common to all dogs, and people unintentionally train their dogs to become alpha dominant.
Of special note, one should keep in mind that genetic intelligence is a real consequence of breeding. Certain features can be bred into, or out of, progressive generations. This is true for humans as well.
The cycle goes something like this. Alcohol is taken by someone during their pregnancy. The offspring acquire ADHD. ADHD causes the mind to float around unfocused. Alcohol is a depressant. The offspring unconsciously discovers during their teenage years that if they drink alcohol their minds are more focused. They unintentionally self-medicate with alcohol to function in society. They become alcoholic. They themselves drink while they are pregnant. Their offspring acquire ADHD. Their offspring marries to someone that does not have ADHD. Their offspring acquire ADHD. This is how ADHD spreads throughout our society.
As you know, ADHD is linked to violent behavior in many people. Should selective legislation be applied to people as well. I think it should be. All children should be tested for ADHD and be given medication before age ten. Any person becoming pregnant without continuous uptake of their medication throughout their pregnancy, or taking ANY alcohol during their pregnancy, should be put in jail for intentionally causing their baby to be mentally handicapped.
This is breed selective, because this legislation would focus only on people who had ADHD. But it would potentially allow ADHD to be bred out of our species.
