It's been a particularly busy and tragic week. Three dog bite-related fatalities were particularly tragic. Meanwhile, breed identification issues continue to cause problems for breed bans in Brampton, ON and in Salina, KS.
Let's look at some of the other stories for the week:
Citis and Laws
In Toledo, the city council voted this week to form a committee to discuss the city's dog ordinances and possible changes to it -- particularly getting rid of the city's breed-specific policies that are applied to 'pit bulls' that were ruled unconstitutional by a judge earlier this year.
Regent, ND is has now added German Shepherds to the list of potentially banned breeds in their city. The city began discussing banning 'pit bulls' and Rottweilers, and has added Germand Shepherds to the list. What makes this story even more bizarre is that the reason it is all being discussed is because of what appears to be a family dispute -- as a woman, Patty Robbins, started the petition to ban breeds because her grandson had recently purchased three 'pit bull' puppies. The German Shepherds were then added because the 'pit bull' owner's mother owns three German Shepherds. Sounds way more like the city allowed themselves to get involved in a family dispute vs there being any real problem that needs to be solved here.
Park Ridge, IL has set a new set of laws targeting Dangerous Dogs that focuses on the behavior of dogs and is not breed-specific.
Efforts are underway in Austin, TX to make it a no kill city.
Dog attacks in Wales have gone 60% over the past decade under the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act. This week Scotland began taking steps to get rid of the breed specific parts of the Dangerous Dogs Act - a move that is supported by the British Veterinary Association.
Dog Bites and Attacks
A Hamilton, OH woman was attacked by a dog that she said she thinks is a Black Lab mix. The description of the attack in this article makes it sound a lot worse. Hamilton has a ban on 'pit bulls' -- but obviously, bad dogs come in all shapes and forms because they are a reflection of irresponsible pet owners, not breeds.
A four year old girl was bitten by a border patrol dog during a training exercise at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC. The dog was a Belgian Malinois.
Miscellanious
A Salt Lake City Police officer shot a 'pit bull' in the city this week saying that he was protecting a couple of teen boys. The officer said that two dogs, including the one that was shot, were jumping up on the boys as they were riding their bicycles. Neither boy was injured in the incident -- but one of the dogs, showing bad, but typical dog behavior, was killed due to the over-reaction.
Speaking of police officers shooting dogs, in Niagra Falls, NY, a police officer shot a dog that bit him. The officers were responding to a call of a burglary in progress and came to the family's home. Upon arriving, they found the door ajar and stepped inside and the dog bit the officer. The officer shot the dog. So the officer, a stranger, came into the home, was bitten by the dog (who was likely freaked out by having not one, but two intruders in the home (including the burglar) -- the officer then shoots the dog -- and then cites the owner of the dead dog, who's home was broken into, for having an unlicensed dog. Sigh.
A good article from the Wassau Daily Herald noting that dog attacks are very rare, noting that the fear of dogs, particularly pit bulls, is not warranted.
In Loving Memory of Daddy - Ceasar Millan's docile 'pit bull' Daddy died this week at the ripe old age of 16. Whether you like Millan or not, Daddy was an awesome ambassador for pit bulls everywhere with his calm demeanor showing the best that is these types of dogs.
Dispelling pit bull myths - a solid article by a veterinarian in Prescott, AZ that tries to dispell myths surrounding bully breeds. What I find interesting is the picture that is included with the article that is, well, not a pit bull...thus inadvertantly showing an additional reason why breed specific regulations are intellectually ridiculous.
Video and a news story about the 200+ protesters in Brampton, ON protesting Brittney and Rambo continuing to be on death row and the dogs' owners not being allowed to visit them.
More cities and Laws (yeah, my bad)
Putnam County, WV, declined to repeal the county's breed ban that residents think was passed in haste last year and without input from experts in the community.
An article about 'pit bulls' in Ontario being shipped to eastern Provences where they can live safely from the provencial ban.
Ocean Springs, MS is planning on addressing their dangerous dog law that will focus aggressive dogs, regardless of breed, vs being breed specific.
Blog Postings
Raised By Wolves has an interesting take on "Oreo's Law". My personal opinion is that the law will help more animals who face certain death than it would be negatively impacted by the possibility of ending up in a bad environment, and that the exact situation surrounding the proposed bill is working to cloud the good that this will do, but I think RBW's post is rationally reasoned and worth the read.
Speaking of Oreo -- The Pet Connection notes that her abuser, the one who threw her off the 6th floor of a New York building, avoided jail time for his cruelty.
One Bark at a Time provides an example of how Social Media can help animals in need and open up new opportunities for animals in need.
One Bark at a Time also has a great post (I linked to it earlier this week) -- No Kill: It can't be impossible if someone's already doing it.
Bad Rap has two sad stories about a couple of the dogs from the Kay County, OK hoarding case that died this week out in Oakland. It's always sad when dogs that you work so hard to help die due to illnesses they've suffered due to the severe neglect they suffered earlier in their lives.
Scienced based dog training -- ar article from Ian Dunbar at DogStarDaily.
A great article by Animal Ark in response to an article in American Dog Magazine that promoted mandatory spay/neuter.
WTF is with the brain trust in Regent, ND? A little too much inbreeding of the humans and they're not able to think clearly?
I'm so sad to hear about Daddy's passing. I just loved that great galoot.
Thanks for these weekly roundups, B, they're great.
Posted by: SocialMange | February 21, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Usually North Dakota doesn't have that many towns with breed bans. In fact when reviewing dangerous dogs and pit bull bans recently in Fargo, North Dakota, their Mayor wisely said breed bans did nothing to improve public safety and there were better ways to manage dogs.
Regent, ND very obviously is being hoodwinked into a family feud with Grandma leading the charge.
Lots of good articles, thanks Brent.
Posted by: KC KS Kills Dogs | February 22, 2010 at 12:09 AM