I know a lot of conservatives hate the mere mention of HOAs, but I think if there IS any evidence of danger, a rational first step would be to pass a law that allows HOAs to vote on a ban within their communities.
That way, the people who live in a neighborhood would decide whether a dangerous dog breed was appropriate for their neighborhood, and people who wanted to own the breed could choose a home where the neighborhood hadn’t banned the dogs.
Already HOAs control things regarding pets in a way that encourages pet owners to choose their home purchases based on the HOA regulations. In my neighborhood, permanent “dog runs” are not allowed, so people who want their dogs outside are instead encouraged to put up fences. Not sure why dog runs are discouraged, but that’s the rule.
My pets are ferrets. So all of this is somewhat academic, except for the part about localities banning ferrets. Well, that and that I am required by law to get shots for my ferrets each year that, given they are indoor, mostly caged pets, make absolutely no sense.
"Ferrets are known for their unpredictable behavior, and they are prone to vicious, unprovoked attacks on humans. Ferret attacks reported nationwide over time have become notorious for their severity and capriciousness, causing serious injuries to some infants and young children in particular... In New York City's multiple dwelling residences, which are not natural habitats of ferrets, a ferret could crawl through holes in walls or travel along risers or ducts to other apartments, with potentially tragic consequences for the neighbor of a ferret owner."
-New York City Department of Health, Office of External Affairs Press Release #36 (1999)
The report, "Pet European Ferrets: A Hazard to Public Health, Small Livestock and Wildlife,"(California) claims that "ferrets sometimes unleash frenzied, rapid-fire bite and slash attacks on infants.... The animals have then been reported to drink the victim's blood and eat the shredded tissue."
Pretty hysterical, huh?