General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Which Dogs Bite? [View all]Drale
(7,932 posts)The facts remain no matter what the breed,
-"Approximately 92% of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs, 94% of which were not neutered",
-"At least 25 different breeds of dogs have been involved in the 238 dog-bite-related fatalities in the U.S."
Breed-specific legislation (BSL)
-In response to these statistics, many communities have enacted breed-specific legislation (BSL) that prohibits ownership of certain breeds, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers and others.
-Any breed of dog can bite, and research suggests BSL does little to protect the community from dog-bite incidents.
-In fact, BSL can often have unintended consequences -- such as black-market interest and indiscriminant breeding practices -- resulting in subsequent breed overpopulation that leads to increases in the number of homeless, stray and euthanized dogs.
-Enforcement of BSL has been shown to be very costly and extremely difficult to enforce. One county in Maryland spent more than $560,000 maintaining pit bulls (not including payroll, cross-agency costs and utilities), while fees generated only $35,000.5
-Responsible breeding and ownership, public education and enforcement of existing laws are the most effective ways of reducing dog bites.
-American Humane supports local legislation to protect communities from dangerous animals, but does not advocate laws that target specific breeds of dogs.
Safe rules of behavior for kids
-Dont treat a dog unkindly.
Never hit, kick, slap or bite a dog or pull on his ears, tail or paws.
-Dont bother a dog when she is busy.
Never bother dogs with puppies or dogs that are playing with or guarding toys, eating or sleeping. Always leave service dogs
alone while they are working.
-Dont approach a dog you dont know.
Never approach a dog that is tied up, behind a fence or in a car.
-If you find an animal, call the police or animal control for help.
-If you want to meet a dog, first ask the owner for permission. If the owner says its OK, hold out your hand in a fist for the dog to
sniff. If hes interested, you can give him a little scratch under the chin (notover the head) and say hello.
-Do be calm.
Always talk in a quiet voice or whisper -- no shouting -- and take a time out if you feel angry or frustrated.
-Do be still.
If a loose dog approaches you, stand still like a tree. Keep your hands at your sides, and stay quiet and calm. Look away from
the dog.
If you are on the ground, curl up into a ball, like a rock. Keep your knees to your chest and your hands over your ears. Stay quiet
and calm. Look down at your knees, not at the dog.
Always make slow movements, set things down carefully and dont run when youre around dogs, as this gets them excited and
they may accidently hurt you.
What can dog owners do?
-Spay or neuter your dog.
-Neutering reduces aggression, especially in males. Un-neutered dogs are more than 2.6 times more likely to bite than neutered
dogs.3 Female dogs in heat and nursing moms are much more dangerous than spayed females, and their behavior can be
unpredictable. Talk to your veterinarian to schedule an appointment, or contact your local humane organization or animal shelter for
information on low-cost spay/neuter assistance.
Supervise your dog.
Dogs left on their own may feel uncertain and defensive, or even overly confident, and this poses risks to your dog, as well as to
other people and dogs. Eighty-eight percent of fatal dog attacks among 2-year-olds occurred when the child was left
unsupervised.1
Train and socialize your dog.
Be sure your dog interacts with and has good manners around all members of the family, the public and other animals. Basic training is
as important for the owner as it is for the dog, and socialization is the key to a well-adjusted adult dog. It is essential that puppies
between 8 and 16 weeks old be exposed to a variety of people, places, dogs and other animals. As dogs age, do your best to
continue their exposure to these things to ensure that they are well socialized throughout their lives.
Restrain your dog.
Twenty-four percent of fatal dog attacks involved loose dogs that were off their owners property.4 Dogs that are allowed to roam
loose outside the yard may perceive your entire neighborhood as their territory and may defend it aggressively. By obeying leash
laws and taking care to properly fence your yard, you will not only be respecting the laws in your community, but you will also be
helping keep your dog safe from cars, other dogs and unforeseen dangers.
Unchain your dog.
Chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite.3 Tethering or chaining dogs increases their stress, protectiveness and vulnerability,
thereby increasing the potential for aggression. Fencing is the better solution.
Irresponsible dog owners and people like yourself that spread false information and fear and causing a genocide against dogs. I'm betting you laugh at Faux New's watchers for getting caught up in the fear and believe the lies but you and others like you have the same condition when it comes to Pitty's. You know nothing other than what the media tells you, which is wrong most of the time about 60% of the time they call a dog that is not remotely related to a pitbull, a pitbull. You get scare and say these animals are dangerous just like Tea Baggers think minorities are dangerous. I'm sure you'll get angry and say "IM NOTHING LIKE THEM" but unfortunately you have your mind closed to the issue and refuse to admit it or educate yourself.
http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/dog-bites.html