Weekly Roundup, Week Ending June 8 2008

It's been a really busy week, with a ton of stuff going on.  It's taken me awhile to compile this one but there's some good stuff so I hope you hang with me.

Dog Owners! Pit bulls and other breeds need training

We'll start the week with a letter from Captain obvious who writes to the Fredricksburg Free Lance Star that all dogs need training to prevent mishaps. What's sad is that as obvious as this statement seems, it is apparently news to many people in city council positions and for folks who push for irresponsible Breed Specific Legislation. Dogs need training.  Without it, they could be potential trouble...this is true regardless of the breed or type of dog involved.

Police shoot another dog that didn't bite anyone

The dog was off leash and ran up to the officer.  The officer opened fire and shot the dog.  The officer is appogetic, but defends his decision to open fire. The owner thinks the cops over-reacted because the dog was a pit bull type dog.  It becomes more and more obvious every week that police officers need more training in dealing with dogs.  While I support their right to shoot a dog if they're truly threatened, they also need more ability to determine the difference between truly threatened and just running toward them.

Toledo police shoot and kill two 'pit bulls"

I get more and more convinced every day that the Toledo Police have been given free rain to shoot any dog they see around, especially if the dog resembles a "pit bull" in any way.  Here, two dogs, in separate incidences, dogs that had not bitten anyone, were shot by police. If this were an isolated instance I would not really note it, but it seems that every week, a Toledo police officer shooting a pit bull is reported in the newspaper. Interestingly, one of the primary points of evidence used by Tom Skeldon to win the Toledo vs Tellings case was that "pit bulls' were shot more often by police officers.  He provided no stats for this, only made the statement...

Meanwhile, Toledo Police keep shooting dogs...

Shooting dogs can be dangerous for people

A 17 year old North Richland Hills, TX boy and his dog were both shot by a police officer this week.  The boy was just getting ready to start lifting weights with a friend when police pulled up and started walking up his driveway.  The dog ran up to the police officer barking (a natural reaction for most dogs when they see strangers) and the police officer shot the dog and ended up also shooting the 17 year old boy.  Injuries are not serious for the dog or the boy, and everyone will be ok.  But can we please, PLEASE provide some training for police officers so shooting dogs is not the first response.  It's dangerous, and this is three cases this week where non-biting 'pit bulls' were shot by police -- two of them on the dog's property.

Another story about an "attacking" pit bull

In this case, the dogs were in the vacinity of a young child and the child's great grandmother got between the dog and the infant and prevented an attack.  There were no bites.  Yet the dog is described as "attacking" and this is somehow newspaper fodder. 

87 Year old woman attacked by four "dogs" in Estracada, OR

Four dogs broke loose from their kennel and surrounded the elderly woman. A neighbor saw the commotion and came over to the dogs who greeted the neighbor with wagging tales.  The woman was treated by emergency personnel and taken to the hospital.  The type of dog was never mentioned, but the pictures certainly are not pit bulls (Burmese Mountain Dog maybe?  I am horrible at Breed ID among these types of dogs -- as is the average person horrible at breed ID among all dogs). 

American Bulldog owner fined after attack on Chichuahua

The owner of an American Bulldog is going ot face charges after their American Bulldog killed the neighbor's Chihuahua.  The American Bulldog won't be quarantined or investigated as being a dangerous dog.

"Dog" Attack Victim Speaks

Irena Michajilun is a concert pianist. Last week, she was out taking her morning walk and was attacked by a Belgian Malinois. Michaajlun descibes the dog as "overpowering", "overwhelming" and like a "horrific movie".  I thought that only "pit bulls" could have that type of attack?? Many types of dogs have this ability if the owners don't train them and contain them.

Family wants justice after their dog is killed

The family's tea cup poodle was attacked by an off-leash, roaming German Shepherd (which doesn't come out until paragraph three).  The dog attacked and killed the smaller poodle in North Huntington Township, PA.

"Dog" "Bites" 10 year old girl in Grand Forks, ND

The child suffered "severe" injuries to her arm and shoulder and received "several" stitches. The dog, a mixed-breed German Shepherd, was tied up in the yard "like it's always been" while children were playing out in a nearby yard.  Dogs are social creatures. They WANT to be part of the action.  To leave them tethered and frustrated, unable to socialize with those around them, will lead to frustration and later, aggressiveness.

Toddler injured in "dog" attack

A dog attacked a two year old boy in Las Vegas -- sending the child to the hospital with bites on his face and neck. The boy is listed in serious condition. The dog apparently escaped the yard when the wind blew a gate open in the yard.  The young boy was out walking to get the mail with his dad.  The dog is identified as a Boxer by the newspaper.

Relatives Arrested after "dog" attack on Baby

A 9-month old Freemont (CA) boy received serious wounds following an attack by a 3 year old Boxer named Tyson.   The dog had previously shown signs of aggression toward the child. A child coming into a home is difficult for dogs...if you are in this type of situation, and your dog shows aggression toward your new child, get help from a trainer quickly. Dogs CAN, and do, regularly live wonderfully with small kids -- however, sometimes they just need a little help. It is your responsibility as a dog owner to get that help if your dog needs it.

Spring Arbor, MI boy, 1 injured in "pit bull" attack

Note that the type of dog makes the headline here (unlike the previous SIX stories). In this case the dog "turned on" the one year old boy when the child grabbed and pulled on the dog's ear.  This type of bite (not "attack") is pretty reminiscent of many dog bites that we see...it's not news.  It's parents letting kids treat a dog poorly. The breed of dog is completely irrelevant, and yet that is the focus of the story vs the parents letting the child tug on the dog's ears.

Corpus Christi boy, 9, recovers after "pit bull" attack

Again, the dog's breed is in the headline.  The dog broke free from the small rope that had it tethered to a tree and jumped up on the boy that was riding his bicycle  The boy suffered a broken arm from the fall from the bike. According to the article, the dog is now quarantined and will likely be declared dangerous and be euthanized.

Another 'pit bull' that didn't bite makes the news

This story is a little unusual as the dog somehow slipped into a woman's house in Sanford, FL.  The woman panicked, and locked her children in a room (but for some reason not herself) and then went outside, locking the 'pit bull' inside.  The dog then participated in poorly trained dog behavior, like jumping up on couches, getting into the trash and urinating on the floor.  No one was injured in the incident.

Reporting "Facts" is different than it used to be

This may be one of the more disturbing articles I've seen in a long time.  This is from the editor (a person who has the final say in accuracy and fact checking) of the Abbotsford-Mission Tims in Canada.  The editor writes that their statements "are facts, not just personal opinions".  Then goes through a series of untrue and innaccurate statements.  Statement #1: "Pit bulls were bred for hudreds of years for one reason - to kill other animals".  Interestingly, the vast majority of dog breeds out there were bred to hunt something -- not just 'pit bulls'.  Statement #2: A pit bull has a bite strength of 2000 psi --- which is an innacurate statement.  It's really much closer to about 350 psi, the average bite strength for large dogs.  Statement #3: "Pit bulls" have been banded in three provinces and some states, including Miami Dade County. For starters, Miami Dade County is not a state.  For 2, no states have banned any dogs in the US.  Statement #4: Vets can tell if a dog is part pit bull by looking at an X-ray of their jaws because of its unique construction -- yet the AVMA has repeatedly said there is no structural difference in jaw structure between a 'pit bull' an another type of dog.  Statement #5 uses Animal Planet as a source.  It's TV for crying out loud.  This type of innaccurate reporting, in spite of evidence to the contrary in almost every instance is VERY disturbing. 

Boone County, KY looking at potential BSL

Beckey Reiter, the director of the Boone County Animal Care and Control says that bites are very situational with a number of components usually in place: including unsupervised dogs, unsupervised children, irresponsible owners and uneducated owners that simply didn't recognize warning times ahead of time. Yip.

"Pit Bulls seized in meth raid"

Four people were arrested for cooking meth in their residence on a daily basis -- including one person who was wanted on the charge of assault with a weapon. The headline and opening sentence emphasis?  Seven 'pit bulls' that were removed from the home without incidence. Why was that even relevant -- especially as the lead?

1-year old boy bitten by 'pit bull' in Pacoima, CA

There were two dogs at the residence.  One was apparently a 'pit bull', the other has been described as a pit bull, and as a mixed breed.  The 'pit bull' got the blame for the bite in most of the stories, but there is a little confusion as to which dog was responsible.  No circumstances of why the dog(s) bit the boy in spite of 30-some news sources covering the incident.  Anyway, the good news is that the boy sounds like he will be ok.

Calgary residents warned to control their dogs after Postie is bitten

The postal worker sustained some major bleeding last week when a Chow mix bit her and hit a major arteryy. It does sound like the woman will be ok.

Park City IA to look at potential Breed - Specific measures

An alderman had a "close encounter" with two barking 'pit bulls" that were tied to a tree in his neighborhood and has now requested the council tighten control on all dogs within the city. I'll keep an eye on this one -- certainly sounds like some tethering restrictions might be in order.  I'm just puzzled over the "close encounter" to the chained dogs -- if it really was a close encounter, it was because the Alderman got close to the dogs, not the other way around.  Most dogs bark at strangers. It is not unique to a breed, type or the fact that they are tethered (although I'm sure the tethering part didn't help).  So the idea of dogs barking at a stranger being a reason to institute a new ordinance doesn't seem like an appropriate response. 

Burley, ID looks at restrictions on "pit bulls"

The community is looking at mirroring Denver's ordinance. Councilman Vaughn Egan of course spreads mis-perceptions about these types of dogs.  "Most people with pit bulls are irresponsible" he said.  "If you ever get attacked by one of those dogs, you're not apt to live to tell about it."

The folks over at Bad Rap have had alittle fun this week over the idea of "thugs" being the only ones who own pit bulls....which is completely not the case, you just don't read about the many good owners in the newspaper.  Meanwhile, because 'pit bulls" are only responsible for about 3-8 fatalities a year, it seems like you are VERY likely to live through the experience of meeting one. 

The city attorney Randy Stone notes the difficulties that come with enforcing the ordinance, and that it is limited in scope because it doesn't deal with all potentially dangerous dogs. 

Sioux City Journal Article -- Do Breed Bans Work?

Sounds like most of the members of the council, and the executive director of the Siouxland Humane Society oppose Breed Specific bans. Everyone interviewed in this story recognizes that there are many types of dogs that have caused problems, and that the common link is, and always is, an irresponsible owner. The city appears to be working toward the goal of increasing owner responsibility.  There are many cities like Olathe, KS and Calgary Alberta that effective policies regarding irresponsible dog owners.  Let's hope the city of Sioux City follows these models instead of going down the road of breed specific laws that have proven to be unenforceable and ineffective.

Comments

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