This week has been highlighted by a lot of big stories. We'll round up the smaller stories -- and the follow ups to the bigger ones today. Also note, I'm going to using up some vacation time over the next week or so - -so posting may be a little more sporadic than usual, but I will try to not go dark for a week or so. There won't be a weekly roundup next week however -- so I'll be rolling two weeks worth of stuff up on the 20th. Ok, enough of all that, on to the roundup.
Cities and Laws
Livonia, MI is looking at changes to the city's dangerous dog ordinance. At this point it appears as if the ordinance will be a behvior-based ordinance vs one focus on breeds.
Clinton, IA is looking at some new dangerous dog laws. The laws will include harsher fines for owners who violate dog laws, but will not be breed specific.
Mobridge, SD passed a new ordinance that puts certain requirements on owners of 'pit bulls'. The law was passed after residents complained about some dogs that were running off-leash.
The appeals court in Oklahoma has ruled that Midwest City, OK cannot ban particular breeds of dogs because it is illegal under the state law. Midwest City has now spent thousands of taxpayer dollars trying to protect a law that is clearly in violation of the state law....but instead of resigning to that, they say they are now taking the case to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Talks of a breed ban in Hot Springs, AR ended very quickly this week when Councilwoman Peggy Maruthur made a motion to ban 'pit bulls' but the motion failed to receive a second to open it up for discussion. Even after a 2nd request by a mayor to second the motion, the other council members stood silent and the bill died instantly.
A proposal in Chicago to enact an ordinance that would limit the number of dogs per household to 5 was voted down again this week.
Dog Bites and Attacks
A 70 year old New Jersey Woman was hospitalized after she was attacked by two 'pit bulls'. The dogs were apparently being cared for by somoene while the owner was out of town and the dog-sitter apparently left the gate open and the dogs got out.
A Hanover County, VA woman was attacked by two American Bulldogs. Authorities have been called on the same house twice in the past 2 years for dog-bite incidences. Major dog attacks are almost never the first sign of aggression shown by a dog.
A officer in Delaware was bitten by a woman's Hound dog after the officer pulled the woman over in her car for a DUI. Marijuana was also reported to be found on the woman. Prior to making arrangements to have the woman's car towed, the officer tried to secure the dog that was riding with the woman and was bitten.
In Malibu, a family had their 35 lbs puppy killed on the beach by four at large dogs -- described as 2 mastiffs, a German Shepherd and an unidentified breed. Often a lot is made of dog aggression vs other dogs being a breed-specific issue -- but it's not.
A 79 year old Spring Hill, FL woman was hospitalized after she was bitten by a Chow/Labrador mix. The woman was out walking her dog when the Chow/Lab mix (which was off-leash) began attacking her dog. She was knocked down as she tried to prevent the dog from attacking hers.
A West Virginia man is in critical condition after being mauled by a pack of dogs that were roaming at large. It is not uncommon for a group of dogs, particularly in a rural setting, to form a pack mentality if they are allowed to roam free. It is interesting that the dogs are described as "pit bulls' and yet the number of dogs involved is said to be either four or five dogs. I'm not sure how we can have identified the breed involved in the attack, but not the actual number of dogs...
In include this feature not to make people think that dogs are dangerous -- they're not - -simply to show that aggression can come in all forms from a variety of different breeds of dogs, and that the causes of the attacks, regardless of breed, are the same -- and involve an irresponsible owner.
Fallout of Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK
Earlier this week, there was a fatal dog attack in the UK and in the aftermath of the death, many are again questioning the vailidy of the UK's Dangerous Dog's Act (which bans four different breeds of dog) and whether or not it's effective (it's not).
From K9 Magazine: Fatal Dog attacks, what can we learn? A look at the most recent attacks in the UK and the similarities in the cases (hint, breed isn't one of the similarities).
Also from K9 Magazine: Are we being lied to about dog bite statistics?
The BBC shows the history of the Dangerous Dogs Act and where it has failed (including the 40% increase in hospitalizations due to dog attacks.
Eighteen years after the act outlawing them, why are the devil dogs still killing our children? The article explains the problems the UK is having with breed identification and how making breeds illegal has actually increased the demand for them among thugs and low-lifes in society. The article misses the point - -that the law should be targeting the irresponsible owners in the first place - but does a good job of describing all the failings of the current breed ban.
Another story about a 21 year old man who was attacked and killed by two German Shepherds in the UK -- German Shepherds are not included in the country's breed ban.
One area of the UK, West Midlands, has seized 147 dogs since April under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Miscellanious News
More from the Toledo Blade on Tom Skeldon -- this one includes potential open records violations by withholding information about the dog's death from the owner of the 10 lbs Pomeranian/Beagle mix that was shot with a tranquilizer on its own front porch, died from the dosage, and wasn't given proper medical treatment. Speaking of Toledo, it also appears that the man who managed Tom's brother Marty's city council campaign has been appointed to the Dog Warden Advisory board. Looks like nepotism is still alive and well in Toledo.
HSUS Agenda on Par with that of PETA - -a good article from Dr. Patty Khuly in Veterinary Practice News.
Mike Vick is no longer anything like the one the Eagles wanted -- CBS Sportline writes a column about Vick no longer the player he once was. I remember predicting this a few months ago and wondering why and NFL team would take a chance on this guy, deal with the negative publicity, for a guy that was bound not be nearly the player he used to be. Speaking of Vick, it sounds as if some day he hopes to own a dog again -- let's hope the courts hold on to his punishment and be sure that never happens.
A service dog in St. Louis is helping a war veteran cope with with some of the side effects of post tramatic stress disorder.
Not at all dog related, but a Uniontown, PA woman plead guilty this week to child endangerment after her 3 year old daughter fell out of a window and fell 11 feet to the ground (the child is doing fine now). The woman was not watching her child because she was "preoccupied with a social networking web site." Parents (and sitters) not watching their children has led to several fatal dog attacks this year -- and yet, people have been quick to try to blame the dogs for the fiascos instead of the neglegent parents.
Positive Press
Tia Torres of Villalobos Rescue in California (and the focus of the program "Pit Bulls & Parolees") was on the Ellen Degeneres show this week talking about 'pit bulls' with Ellen. I'm not always the biggest fan of Tia's show -- but this interview is mostly good and the dog, Snorky, really stole the show.
A really great article from the Ft Walton (FL) Tribune about an owner of 'pit bulls' and giving an objective view on the truths about 'pit bull' ownership.
"Pit Bulls" in Salt Lake City peformed their version of the "Muttcracker" -- a holiday inspired doggie 'ballet' performance featuring "pit bulls' in tutus and a 'sugar pit fairy.' This one HAS to be on Youtube somewhere, but I can't find it.
Tough Love for "Bully Breeds" -- this is a really great article about "Accidental 'pit bull' owners". The story covers a lot of people who didn't go out to adopt pit bulls, but found dogs that needed rescue, or met dogs at shelters that they fell in love with and didn't necessarily realize they were 'pit bulls' at the time.
Stabbed pit bull puppy among animals waiting for adoption.
Blog Postings That You Should Read
For the Pit Bulls has a great post about 7 other dogs that were killed this week in a shelter. The dogs were among 12 that were rescued from a home in Tuscaloosa, AL and all in varying degrees of ill health and tied down with large logging chains. The 7 dogs that were put down were killed because of varying degrees of dog aggression -- which would be expected after the lack of socialization they've undoubtedly had.
YesBiscuit! has a great blog posting that asks the question, "What's so scary about not killing shelter pets?" It is a good question -- it's hard to imagine why people are so adverse to the no kill movement.
More on Oreo's Law from Winograd -- and why it is important that if there are options availble for dogs those options should be used so that euthanasia is only a last resort.
shout out to you, Brent, and well deserved!
http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?page_id=166
Posted by: EmilyS | December 06, 2009 at 06:03 PM
http://www.fox13now.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=063f443f-d308-471d-98a2-b07b5bd9db84&src=front
muttcracker sweet..not the performance though...
Posted by: EmilyS | December 07, 2009 at 06:08 PM