Dear Michigan Representatives, I want to thank you for all you have done for the state of Michigan.

I am conce rned about HB 4714, a Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) recently proposed by Stat e Representative Tim Bledsoe - 1st District. I STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill. My co ncern is regarding the fact that the proposed bill profiles specific breeds, rat her than considering more severe anti-cruelty laws and stronger prosecution for owners of dangerous dogs of any breed. Dangerous dog regulations place liabilit y back on the owner, requiring individuals to take every step necessary in raisi ng and maintaining a healthy and socially saavy animal. I believe that strong e nforcement of leash laws, as well as clear guidelines for identifying and managi ng dangerous dogs, will promote responsible dog ownership and prevent tragedies from occurring. Simply placing restrictions on certain breeds will not improve p ublic safety - it will only punish responsible dog owners. I strongly support so und, enforceable, non-discriminatory legislation to govern dog ownership, and we appreciate legislators' desire to keep communities safe for both people and dog s.. I invite you to read Punish the Deed: Not the Breed (http://www.understand-a-bul l.com/BSL/Research/BSLPacket/lawsbsl_presspack_low.pdf). This study, published by Understand-a-bull, not only explains current statistics regarding pit bulls, but also cites various Breed Specific Legislations and the reasons they have bee n repealed (including the city of Detroit and Saginaw). From the Cincinnati Law Review: By singling out one breed of dog for more strin gent control, the new pit bull dog laws raise two constitutional problems: first , because many breeds of dog can cause harm to people, an ordinance that classi fies only one breed as vicious appears to be underinclusive and therefore, viola tive of the dog owner's equal protection rights. Second, because it is impossi ble to identify a breed of a dog with the certainty required to impose criminal sanctions on the dog's owner, it appears that the ordinances are unconstitutiona lly vague, and therefore violative of procedural due process. I ask you and the remainder of the legislature to vote no on HB 4714. The propo irresponsible dog owners. As the sed BSL does not address the root of the problem re is no genetic way to prove the breed of a dog, violations of ordinances will be based on physical appearance. Much like racial segregation, this is complete ly inappropriate and unethical. The Cincinnati Law Review recently had an artic le titled, The New Breed of Municipal Dog Control Laws: Are They Constitutional? This review cites reasons why Breed Specific Legislations may infringe upon pe t owner's protection rights. It also suggests variations on ordinances to prote ct responsible pet owners. I invite you to please review this article. http://www.grapevine.net/~wolf2dog/review.htm Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the American Dog Breeders Association ( ADBA), American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), the American Veteri nary Medical Association, the National Animal Control Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and a host of national animal welfare organizations that have studied the issue and recognize that tar geting breeds simply does not work. I trust that you are putting the safety of our state as a priority. As a Michig an resident I am thankful for that. I write you to shed light on alternatives t hat still protect the citizens. Pit bulls are not merely animals to responsible pet owners - they are best friends, faithful companions, family members, and ev en service/therapy dogs. I ask you to reconsider the stipulations of the propos ed bill. I would be more than happy to work with you to find ways that protect citizens and their loving pets while creating a safe environment. Thank you for your time and should you have any questions I would be more than happy to speak with you.

Jessica M. Guzmn