Constitutionality of breed-specific laws ::

Both state appellate courts and federal courts consistently uphold the constitutionally of breed-specific legislation. In 2008, the United States Supreme Court weighed in favorably as well.

Federal courts

Denise Venero v. Prince George’s County, Maryland
No. 22-cv-01805-LKG (March 2024)
United States District Court, Maryland, upholds the Prince George’s County pit bull ban.

Rachel Danker v. City of Council Bluffs, Iowa
No. 21-3794 (November 2022)
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upholds the Council Bluffs pit bull ban.

Rachel Danker v. City of Council Bluffs, Iowa
No. 1:20-cv-00016 (November 2021)
United States District Court, Southern District of Iowa, upholds the Council Bluffs pit bull ban.

Frost et al v. City of Sioux City, Iowa
No. 18-2138 (April 2019)
United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit upholds the Sioux City pit bull ban.

Buchda v. Village of Fall River, Wisconsin
No. 15-cv-120-wmc (May 2016)
United States District Court, W.D. Wisconsin, upholds the Village of Fall River pit bull ban.

Tarquinio v. City of Lakewood, Ohio
No. 1:11 CV 325 (September 23, 2011)
United States District Court, N.D. Ohio, upholds the Lakewood pit bull ban.

American Canine Foundation v. City of Aurora, Colorado
No. 06-cv-01510-WYD-BNB (May 8, 2009)
United States District Court, District of Colorado, upholds the Aurora Fighting Breed ban.

Paul Tellings v. Toledo, Ohio
No. 07-8545 (April 14, 2008)
United States Supreme Court denies cert petition; upholds the Toledo pit bull ordinance.

Sonya Dias v. City and County of Denver
No. 07-cv-00722-WDM-MJW (March 20, 2008)
United States District Court, District of Colorado, upholds the Denver pit bull ban.

American Canine Foundation v. Sun
No. C-06-4713 MMC. (March 21, 2007)
United States District Court, N.D. California, upholds the San Francisco pit bull ordinance.

CHAKO v. City and County of San Francisco
No. C-06-1887 MMC (Feb. 27, 2007)
United States District Court, N.D. California, upholds the San Francisco pit bull ordinance.

Robert McNeely v. United States
No. 98-CF-924 (May 12, 2005)
District of Columbia Court of Appeals upholds the emergency "Pit Bull Act" of 1996.

George Anderson v. Ohio
No. 90-8062 (June 28, 1991)
United States Supreme Court denies cert petition; upholds the State of Ohio pit bull law.

American Dog Owners Association v. Dade County, Florida
No. 89-771-CIV (November 30, 1989)
United States District Court, S.D. Florida, upholds the Miami-Dade pit bull ban.

Hearn v. City of Overland Park
No. 89-412 (November 27, 1989)
United States Supreme Court denies cert petition; upholds the Overland Park pit bull ordinance.

Robert Vanater v. Village of South Point
No. C-1-87-708 (June 29, 1989)
United States District Court, S.D. Ohio, upholds the Village of South Point pit bull ban.

Starkey v. Township of Chester
No. 86-0865 (February 25, 1986)
United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania, upholds the Chester pit bull ordinance.

State supreme courts

Steve Hardwick and Sharon Nalley v. Town of Ceredo
No. 11-1048 (January 14, 2013)
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals upholds the Town of Ceredo pit bull ordinance.

City of Toledo v. Tellings
No. 2006-0690 (August 1, 2007)
Supreme Court of Ohio reverses appellate court; upholds the Toledo pit bull ordinance.

Colorado Dog Fanciers v. City and County of Denver
No. 90SA342 (November 12, 1991)
Supreme Court of Colorado upholds the Denver pit bull ban.

Holt v. City of Maumelle
No. 90-352 (October 28, 1991)
Supreme Court of Arkansas upholds the City of Maumelle pit bull ban.

Greenwood v. City of North Salt Lake
No. 890355 (September 10, 1991)
Supreme Court of Utah upholds the North Salt Lake pit bull ordinance.

Roger Anderson v. City of Des Moines
No. 89-1725 (May 15, 1991)
Supreme Court of Iowa upholds the Des Moines pit bull ordinance.

The State of Ohio v. Anderson
No. 89-2113 (February 13, 1991)
Supreme Court of Ohio reverses appellate court; upholds the State of Ohio pit bull law.

American Dog Owners v. City of Yakima
No. 56122-2 (August 24, 1989)
Supreme Court of Washington upholds the Yakima pit bull ban.

Hearn v. City of Overland Park
772 P.2d 758 (April 14, 1989)
Supreme Court of Kansas upholds the Overland Park pit bull ordinance.

State appeals courts

State of Kansas v. Lee
No. 102,004 (June 10, 2011)
Court of Appeals of Kansas upholds the Kansas City/Wyandotte County pit bull ordinance.

State of Ohio v. Smith
No. 1-07-67 (April 21, 2008)
Court of Appeals of Ohio affirms lower court; upholds the State of Ohio pit bull law.

Bess v. Bracken County Fiscal Court
No. 2005-CA-000541-MR (December 1, 2006)
Court of Appeals of Kentucky affirms lower court; upholds the Bracken County pit bull ban.

City of Pagedale v. Murphy
No. ED83655 (June 15, 2004)
Court of Appeals of Missouri affirms lower court; upholds the Pagedale pit bull ordinance.

Dog Federation v. City of South Milwaukee
No. 92-2131 (July 20, 1993)
Court of Appeals of Wisconsin upholds the South Milwaukee pit bull ordinance.

Singer v. City of Cincinnati
No. C-890060 (1990)
Court of Appeals of Ohio affirms lower court; upholds the Cincinnati pit bull ban.

State of Ohio v. Robinson
No. CA88-06-047 (January 23, 1989)
Court of Appeals of Ohio affirms lower court; upholds the State of Ohio pit bull law.

State of Florida v. Peters
No. 87-652 (November 15, 1988)
District Court of Appeals of Florida upholds the North Miami pit bull ordinance.

Garcia v. Village of Tijeras
No. 9424 (October 11, 1988)
Court of Appeals of New Mexico denies cert petition; upholds the Tijeras pit bull ban.

International courts

Cochrane v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario
No. 33067 (June 11, 2009)
Supreme Court of Canada dismisses leave to appeal; upholds the Province of Ontario pit bull ban.

Cochrane v. Ontario (Attorney General)
No. C47649 (October 24, 2008)
Ontario Court of Appeals upholds the Province of Ontario pit bull ban.

R v Crown Court at Knightsbridge ex parte Dunne; Brock v DPP
No. CO-33993/CO-204092 (July 2, 1993)
Crown Court adopts the American Dog Breeders Association standard for identifying a pit bull.