EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO BREED BANS

Brady - abused Bully now Good Canine Citizen

We know that Breed Bans do not work for multiple reasons - they target all dogs of a breed -- the innocent as well as the guilty; are difficult and expensive to enforce; and do not end the use of guardian dogs by criminals. If pit bulls in their various incarnations are banned, drug dealers and other felons switch to another breed or mix.

With the impending vote on an ordinance that will ban American Pit Bull Terriers in Marion, AR - it is easy for us to say that breed bans are a bad idea - but where does that leave a city government that is trying to make its community a safer place to live? Below are alternative and effective strategies to address the problem of dog bites and dog fighting in any community.

EDUCATION: As proven through Calgary's animal control bylaw - Education is the key to preventing dog attacks and promoting safer interactions between humans and dogs. Research shows that just 1 hour of dog safety training in grades 2 and 3 can reduce dog bites/attacks by 80%. Since implimenting its new animal control bylaws in 2007 - Calgary's bite reports have consistently fallen and are at the lowest they have been in 25 years.

DOG LICENSING - Mandatory dog licensing enables law enforcement officers to keep track of pets and owners which assists greatly in tracking/addressing dog incidents. Many communities offer lower licensing fees for altered dogs and higher fees for unaltered dogs (unaltered dogs have a higher rate of aggression) - which encourages spay/neutering and also generates funds for low/cost spay/neuter and other community safety programs.

LEASH LAWS. Enact, strengthen and enforce leash laws. Owners are responsible for containing their animals, and far too many times, existing leash laws are simply ignored. Quite frankly, if a community cannot enforce the simplest of laws such as a leash law (where there is no question as to whether a dog is or is not on a leash), how can they possibly expect to enforce a breed ban, wherein animal control officers will be forced to question what breed a dog may or many not be?

ANTI-TETHERING LAWS. According to the Center for Disease Control - a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than one that is not. The victims of dog bites by chained dogs are mostly children. Limiting the amount of time that dogs are allowed to be tethered can greatly reduce the number of bite incidents in a community. Does this mean that dogs should be allowed to run free? Of course not. Leash walking, containing a dog in the home or in a fenced in yard is a much better way to keep a dog and its neighbors safe and more likely to result in a better socialized/less aggressive dog.

LAWS THAT HOLD OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE: Strengthen and enforce penalties for irresponsible dog owners. Rather than create dangerous dog laws, we should instead focus on "dangerous owner" laws. Problem dogs are the result of irresponsible, negligent and careless owners, and greater focus on the cause of the problem will result in a community that experiences less issues with both "dangerous owners" and their dogs. Generic dangerous dog laws which address the underlying cause of most dog-related deaths and injuries – irresponsible dog ownership - are a key point in preventing dog related incidents in the community.

Good dangerous dog laws place the owner in the position of ensuring that their dog(s) comply with all state and local requirements. Fines for violations can vary, but the leading principle is that dog ownership should be more costly to the irresponsible individuals. Experience has taught us that most bite incidents are examples of irresponsible ownership, not the specific dog breed involved. In other words, we need stricter regulations on dog ownership, no matter what the breed.

Non-breed specific legislation is cost effective in comparison to outright breed ban and is more readily accepted for the most part. More importantly, a well-thought non-breed specific legislation addresses the root cause of most, if not all, dog related injures and deaths, which is the irresponsible dog owner.

STRENGTHEN ANIMAL ABUSE & DOG FIGHTING LAWS. Dogs of all breeds become aggressive as the result of cruelty, abuse, neglect and/or otherwise improper care, and proper attention needs to be focused on the owners who inflict these living conditions on their dogs.

REGULATE DOG BREEDERS. Breeders play an important role in the temperament of the dogs they produce and sell. Irresponsible breeding plays a very important role as the mating of two dogs with poor and/or unacceptable temperaments will no doubt result in puppies with unstable temperaments. Moreover, if irresponsible breeders do not screen the individuals they sell their dogs to, you have the potential combination of ill-breed dogs in the hands of irresponsible owners. A disaster in the making.

LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER: Provide easy access low cost spay/neuter options in the community. Unneutered dogs, particularly males, are far more likely to attack a human than either neutered males or spayed females. In analyzing over 448 dog attack cases, Karen Delise, author of Fatal Dog Attacks, determined that overwhelmingly, most dogs involved in the attacks were unneutered male dogs that were maintained for reasons other than to be household companions (i.e., yard dogs).

Providing lost cost options for the healthcare of dogs, including spay and neuter services, is an excellent way to help dog owners better care for dogs and take more interest in their dog's healthcare and well-being.

Resources:
The Calgary Model
http://www.defendingdog.com/id38.html

Dog Bites: Problems and Solutions, Animals and Society Institute
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/Research/Bradley%20DogBites.pdf

Breed Statitics from The American Temperment Test Society (note that Golden Retreivers and Minature Poodles have a higher rate of failure than American Pit Bull Terriers).
http://www.atts.org/statistics.html

Which Dogs Bite? Center for Disease Control Study
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dog3.pdf

Dangerous Dog Report from Prince George County, Maryland
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/Research/PGCMD/PGCMTOC1.htm

Dog Attacks Where the Breed was Identified Incorrectly
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/MistakenIdentity/WrongId.htm

Dogs Currently Effected by BSL in the US
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/BreedsaffectedbyBSL.htm

Related Posts
Dixon - Amazing Bully Success Story
http://pawsofmarion.blogspot.com/2010/08/dixon-amazing-bully-success-story.html

Breed Ban on the Table - Marion, AR
http://pawsofmarion.blogspot.com/2010/09/breed-ban-on-table-in-marion-ar.html

Can You Find the Pit Bull?
http://pawsofmarion.blogspot.com/2010/09/can-you-find-pit-bull.html

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Write a letter, make a phone call, send an email to Mayor Frank Fogleman and the other City Council members. Have you adopted a Pit Bull/mix from us? Be sure to include pictures and share the happiness that your Pit Bull Terrier brings to your life every day.

Attend the next City Council Meeting (9/28) - make sure your opinion is known.

Share this story with everyone you know. This is an issue that affects all dog lovers - not just the Pit Bull lovers in Marion, AR. Today it may be Marion and Pit Bull Terriers - tomorrow your town and Doberman Pinchers or German Shepherds or Chows Chows or ...

Go to the shelter and save a Pit Bull's life!


Katie deserves a loving home just like any other dog!

As always - thank you for caring about our dogs!
http://www.pawsofmarion.org/