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Breed isn't to blame if dog's aggressive
A few weeks ago, Monica (her new name) was hit by a car. Monica is a beautiful pit bull puppy, abandoned after she was injured. The Decatur and Macon County Humane Society stepped in, and she found her way to my office.
Monica could not put any weight on her left hind limb. X-rays revealed she had a badly fractured femur. A pin was surgically placed into her femur, and now, a few weeks later, she not only is running and jumping but she has found a new home with Zach Wicklund, a 19-year-old pre-veterinary student and an employee at my office.
Pit bulls, unfortunately, have been banned in some communities. If pit bulls were banned here, a friendly, playful little dog who loves other dogs, children and people, would have been euthanized.
Since the 1980s, breed-specific legislation or aggressive dog laws have been working their way across the United States and Canada - touted by many to be the answer to dog attacksThe majority of this legislation focus on dogs that some consider to be "dangerous" breeds, according to www.animallaw.info. These breeds include pit bulls, German shepherds, chow chows, rottweilers and dobermans. The list, however, is growing and often includes mixed breed dogs that show characteristics of these breeds.
Thirty-seven states have enacted laws or have legislation pending at some level of government. But, it is imperative that the dog population in the community be understood. To simply pull numbers of attacks does not give an accurate representation of a breed.
For example, by reviewing a study that states there have been five attacks by golden retrievers in a community and 10 attacks by pit bulls in that same community, it would appear that pit bulls are more dangerous. However, if you look at the dog populations in that community and learn that there are 50 golden retrievers and 500 pit bulls, then pit bulls are statistically the safer breed.
Opponents of these laws often use the definition of these laws as an argument against them, saying that targeting certain breeds isn't addressing the specific behavior of individual animals. Opponents also cite the difficulty and often arbitrary nature of enforcing these laws.
The American Kennel Club's position statement on breed-specific legislation says it will support dangerous dog control that is nondiscriminatory and enforceable.
But even as debates on breed-specific laws heat up, dog attacks continue to make news with regularity.
In Grant County, Ind., for instance, a story originally surfaced about a rottweiler-type dog and a pit bull entering the home of an 88-year-old woman and attacking her. After two days of frantic reports of dog sightings and cancellation of recess at a local school, the real culprits were found to be the dachshund and Labrador owned by the woman's daughter.
Because of misconceptions and stereotypes, some dogs are considered to be less dangerous than others simply due to their breed. This story illustrates how wrong that assumption can be and how ineffective breed-specific law can be in the context of these misconceptions.
All of the national dog clubs and even the American Veterinary Medical Association have position statements denouncing the wisdom of such knee-jerk laws. It is important that dog owners of any breed - including mixed breeds - pay attention to laws that may affect their right to keep their dog.
And even more important is the owner's responsibility to others. A vicious dog is often vicious because the owner has not provided appropriate socialization training. And if a person ends up owning a vicious dog, he or she has the responsibility of keeping it away from potential victims. It's time to put the blame where it belongs - with irresponsible owners not willing to socialize their dogs.
Remember, it is often an individual dog, not the breed, that is at issue. Aggressive dog laws that are not breed specific will do a better job of helping to stop the terror of dog attacks.
Speaking for Alex this week is Dr. Larry Baker, who practices small animal medicine and veterinary dentistry at 2800 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Decatur. To submit a question, write to Ask Alex, c/o Herald & Review, Box 311, Decatur, IL 62625 or e-mail jmatherly@herald-review.com.
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