The term “breed-specific legislation” is not a term that comes up often in everyday discussions for most people. Breed-specific legislation refers to any laws that seek to restrict or eliminate the ownership of certain breeds of animals, most commonly dog ​​breeds. It was first conceived as a method to control and reduce animal cruelty, as well as to mitigate dog-related human injuries and illegal dog fighting activities and related crimes. Breed-specific legislation is distinct from animal control laws that restrict the ownership of wild or obviously dangerous animals (those with a history of unacceptable and aggressive behavior), because breed-specific legislation places a general restriction on all animals of a certain breed, regardless of individual history. This means that breed-specific legislation is often enacted based on the reputation of the breed. In recent years, it is the pit bull that has come under increased scrutiny by legislative bodies as their reputation is increasingly tainted by street crime. Saying “pit bull,” however, is a vague reference to several types of pit bull, which are considered distinct breeds by registries like the American Kennel Club (AKC). Each type has a slightly different breeding history; many began by breeding bulldogs with terriers to produce a loyal, compact and tenacious breed (“American Pit Bull Terrier”). The three standard pit bull types most often mentioned by name in breed-specific legislation include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. But that's not the scope of the legislation, which also includes dogs that "substantially conform to the breed standards established by the American Ken...... middle of paper ......e 2010." Web. November 22, 2010. Cohen, Judy and John Richardson. “Pit bull panic. » Journal of Popular Culture 36.2 (2002): 297. Academic Research Premier. Internet. November 21, 2010. “Dog Bite: Fact Sheet.” » Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, April 1, 2008. Web. November 13, 2010. “Dog Fighting Fact Sheet.” » The Humane Society of the United States. November 2, 2009. The web. November 23, 2010.Melvindale, Michigan, Municipal Code, s. II, § 4-137 (1990). Perry, April M. “Guilt by Saturation: Media Responsibility for Third-Party Violence and the Availability Heuristic.” » Northwestern University Law Review 97.2 (2003): 1045. Academic Search Premier. Internet. November 20, 2010. “The Truth About Pitbulls.” » PHAC. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, nd Web. November 22, 2010. “Dog bite deaths in the United States from January 2006 to December 2008.” DogsBite. April 20, 2009. The web. November 22. 2010.