One of the first things that every potential dog owner needs to do, is find out if he is actually permitted to have a dog at all. Numerous dogs in shelters that have been relinquished because their owners were not allowed to keep them are a sad testament to this lack of foresight.
Determining local laws and restrictions should be done before you move into a new neighborhood or town, but if you didn't have a dog to worry about at the time, it's unlikely that you would have noticed any laws governing dog ownership.
BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) and Municipal By-Laws
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is rampant across the continent, and in even in some foreign countries. BSL is a law that is centered around a dog's breed, not his temperament or even his known history. BSL can be as vague and encompassing as "all pit bull type dogs must be muzzled when not in their owners' places of residence", covering all breeds with a certain body type, or as specific as "all Rottweilers must be sterilized (spayed or neutered) by the age of six months". BSL can be set at any level of government, from state to municipal, so it is important to check them all.
Find out if your state has BSL
Lease Restrictions
If your lease firmly states "no pets", then "no pets" is what you must abide by. Attempting to sneak a dog into a rental unit that doesn't allow animals breaks a large number of responsible dog ownership rules and just solidifies your landlord's perception that dog owners are no good.
Home-Owners' or Neighborhood Associations
If you live in an area with restrictive covenants, you might be facing one or two that tell you that you can't have a certain breed, or even a certain size of dog. If you find you are stuck in an Association that restricts the type, size, and breed of pet you may keep, don't give up completely. The best way to affect change is to get involved in the Association itself. To learn more about living in a neighborhood with a community association and how to make changes, check out Community Associations Network.
Pet Limit Laws
Laws that limit the amount of pets you can have in your household, or more accurately, laws that limit the number of dogs you can have, are very common in municipalities. The average number is three dogs per household regardless of size, but some are as restrictive as two dogs only.
Don't be the dog owner that has to give up his dog because "I'm just not allowed to keep him". Make sure you investigate your local laws and limits thoroughly.
