From My Google Alerts- October 16, 2010

A man in Russia keeps his dog in his car instead of at his house as most normal people keep their pets. The dog is described as a “large pit bull terrier” and he lives in his owner’s old Volga car. The man says he cannot keep the dog at home. This is just so sad because no dog, especially pit bull type dogs should have to be confined to such a small space. The Russian police have stated that the man is not breaking any laws thus there is nothing they can do about the situation.

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An 11-month-old boy was bitten by the family dog, a yellow Labrador retriever named Fat Boy, in Nebraska last week. The baby, the mother, and the dog were all lying in the mother’s bed until she got up to get something. She then saw the dog bite the child, lacerating his forehead and biting his cheek. The dog will more than likely be put down; however, no breed of dog is mentioned in the article headline.

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In Hillsboro, Oregon, a man was bitten by a police search dog when they responded to a call about a possible break in at an Oregon rock museum. The man has been dubbed the “Moss Man” because he was concealed on the ground by a moss-like camouflage outfit. The “Moss Man” allegedly had secretly cut a hole in one of the building's walls days earlier and was trying to get in. Deputies who responded searched the grounds, finding a bike and a backpack.

"The K9 tracked to a wooded area and was very interested in a particular piece of ground about a half a mile away from the building," Thompson said in a release. "The dog then bit the ground that in turn cried out in pain."

The officer then realized there was a man hiding at his feet, dressed in a "ghillie" suit, Thompson said. A ghillie suit is a head-to-toe camouflage outfit used by military snipers to blend in with vegetation. The man was then arrested and is being held at the county jail.
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In Lebanon, Ohio, two women were attacked and bitten by a German shepherd dog when it approached them while walking down the street. The dog jumped on the 18-year-old woman, biting her arm. The dog turned on the mother when she came to her daughter's defense. The dog’s breed is not mentioned in the headline.
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A schnauzer was killed by a pit bull type dog last week after the pit bull attacked it for the second time in eleven days. Michael Kopynec, the 22-year-old irresponsible owner of the pit bull, was arrested Thursday and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on one count each of unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog and negligent injuring.
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Carrie Rae McKinney of San Diego will not face charges following the April incident when her 7-month-old son’s genitals were mutilated by her boyfriend’s mixed breed dog. She had left the baby unattended in his car seat on the floor when one of the dogs tore into his diaper. One week prior to this incident, her older two children were removed from the home by Child Protective Services.
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In Detroit, a pit bull was shot and killed when it bit a police officer responding to a call about gunfire between two groups of boys. Police arrived and a pit bull was released. The pit bull bit one of the police officers. That is when the officer shot and killed the dog.

  

Officials Discuss Concern After Latest Dog Attacks

Official Discusses Concern After Latest Dog Attack

Pit bulls have a nasty reputation and have been responsible for some horrific attacks, but the chief dog catcher in Pittsburgh believes that the recent attacks may not be a case of nature, but nurture.

A man was taken to the hospital Sunday evening after a dog attack in Pittsburgh's Arlington Heights section.

"The neighbor's dog went after my boyfriend and ripped his hand apart and tore his shirt, his back; he had scratches and was bleeding everywhere," said Jessica Rieber, the victim's girlfriend. "They just left him out there, just shut the door."

A few days ago, a 6-year-old Allentown boy was mauled in the face.

Pit bulls were blamed in both incidents and the perception may be that Pittsburgh is being overrun by them, but that is not the case.

According to Animal Control, only 5.2 percent of dog licenses are sold to pit bull owners in Pittsburgh.

"If you look at the bites and the context in which it happened, a majority of the time it wasn't really the dog's fault," Pittsburgh Animal Control Supervisor Gerald Akrie said.

Of the 133 animal bites reported so far in 2010, about 40 percent have been from pit bulls.

Those numbers may lead some to say the breed should be banned, but the next breed on the list are Labrador retrievers.

Pit bulls can be aggressive, but Akrie said the person holding the leash is usually responsible for the dog's behavior.

"Most of the time, animals reflect their owners. I guarantee it. As many times – I've been on this department for almost 18 years, you see an aggressive dog, you talk to an owner, you got a knucklehead owner," Akrie said.

The man attacked in Arlington Heights Sunday night was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

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 I thought this was an interesting article because so many people are quick to say “Ban pit bulls” after a dog attack. I particularly like how it states that Labrador retrievers are the second most responsible for dog bites in this city, which is ironic to me considering they are such “family dogs” by most people. BSL does not prevent dog attacks and dog bites. Responsible ownership is the only answer to dog bite prevention.

From My Google Alerts- October 4, 2010

In Lantana, Florida, a pit bull was shot and wounded after it charged officers responding to a call. The officers fired two shots, injuring the animal, which was taken to a veterinary emergency clinic. The dog has reportedly been a chronic problem in the neighborhood.
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A German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix aka a MUTT bit a 2-year-old Trenton boy as they were playing together on the floor. Police stated that the boy was possibly too close to the dog’s face. Gee… You think. The child was airlifted to the hospital; however, he is expected to recover. No dog breed is mentioned in the article headline.
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A Tulsa, Oklahoma girl was attacked by a pit bull type dog on Sunday. A witness said the attack was “brutal”; the girl remains in the hospital under serious condition. Police have not said what happened to the dog. The dog type, “pit bull,” is mentioned in the headline of the article.
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In Brookville, Ohio, a pit bull was seen wandering the area and AC was dispatched. The dog was found wandering a bike path. At that time, a woman happened by and she was asked if she knew the dog. Of course, she did; she had given the dog to a man a few weeks prior. She didn’t know the guy’s name, but speculated the dog returned to familiar surroundings. She also didn’t want the dog back and it was taken by AC. So who knows what the fate of this poor dog will be. Its first irresponsible owner gave it away to an even more irresponsible owner, which is exactly why some people should not own any type of dog. This irks me deeply; however, I hope that if the dog is deemed adoptable it will find its forever home.

From My Google Alerts- September 14, 2010

A bulldog has mauled a five-year-old girl southwest of Brisbane. The dog is also described as a bullmastiff cross and it was not registered. She was bitten on her face and upper arm; her lip was torn as well in the incident. The family wants the dog euthanized.
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The owner of the two pit bulls that killed a Mountain Ranch man last month will be arraigned in court today on felony charges of knowingly having a mischievous animal, letting it be at large or keeping it without ordinary care, resulting in the death of a human being. Sheryl Sellers had left her two pit bulls in a fenced yard Aug. 22 when they escaped, attacked, and killed Jerry Yates, 69, while he was working on his property. Information has since surfaced chronicling a long history of aggressive and problematic dogs owned by Sellers. This story is rather disturbing as this woman was a documented irresponsible owner since 2005; the county failed to do anything about her roaming pit bulls for six years. That is iunacceptable.
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Jasmine Bailey, 19, was sentenced to jail for a probation violation after her three pit bulls attacked six-year-old Tyah Norris. Both Bailey and her boyfriend, Brian Nace, 35, were charged with keeping a dangerous animal that caused serious injury, a felony punishable by a maximum of four years in prison, 500 hours of community service, and a $2,000 fine. Pictures taken of her face after the attack are gruesome. The first police officer to come to her aid earlier testified he could not distinguish any of her facial features. The judge sentenced her to jail for being charged with a new felony while on probation and sentenced her to 333 days in jail for violating her probation. The judge said he gave Bailey the harshest possible jail sentence because she was charged with a new felony, and there was evidence presented or testimony given at a hearing Tuesday that she had been drinking. Drinking alcohol is not allowed while on probation.
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The Denver City Council on Monday delayed a vote on whether to create an exemption to the city's pit-bull-terrier ban that would allow the disabled to use the dogs as service animals. Council members sent the issue back to committee for further discussion, saying they feared the exemption would weaken the city's ban and make it virtually impossible to enforce. The issue is scheduled to come back before the full council Oct. 25 for a vote.

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In Marion, Ohio, a 17-month-old child was bitten by a Black Lab; apparently, the dog runs lose frequently. The Health Department is seeking information about the dog. Anyone with information about the dog or its owner is asked to call the health department at 740-387-2875 or the dog warden at 740-386-6150. Interesting, but not surprising, that the title of the article says “Dog Bite Child, Owner Sought.” I am sure if the dog had been a pit bull the title would have been very nasty.

From My Google Alerts- September 12, 2010

A pit bull was shot in the shoulder by police after its owner ordered the dog to attack the police officers. The police were called because Darlene Suzette Taylor allegedly struck her mother during an altercation. Taylor faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. The report says Taylor is also charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older for striking her mother, Jonell Lazerte, 79, who told officers Taylor threw her to the ground and struck her in the face during an argument before running out of the house.

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A man could not find another home for his dog so he drugged it, suffocated it, and buried it in his backyard. The man now faces jail time for causing the animal’s death. Darron Goodwin will be sentenced for Bilbo’s, the dog, death on September 29.

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A St. Petersburg police officer shot and killed two leashed dogs on Sunday night; an unleashed, blind Labrador retriever approached the two-leashed dogs and began fighting with one, a Chesapeake Bay retriever. Chris Clark, owner of one of the dogs he was walking, said the dogs' leashes were wrapped around his legs and caused him to fall down, so he grabbed them by the collars. "While I'm still sitting on the ground, I hear, 'Mad dog,' and I've got a gun right next to my head firing and shooting Missy, the Chesapeake retriever. Then he (the cop) comes over and shoots my dog in front of me," Clark said. By that point, the dogs were not fighting anymore and the other dog had moved away, Clark said. The dogs were shot four times, killing both of the leashed dogs. Was that necessary? I have no doubt that the fight could have been easily broken up soon enough. There was no need to shoot those two dogs; in addition, if any dog was going to be shot why not shoot the one that is not on a leash. The bottom line is the use of a gun was not necessary and this cop needs to be taken off duty. He seems a little trigger-happy.
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Colerain Township, OH is considering some type of ordinance against pit bulls (despite state law that already targets pit bulls). The next regular meeting of the Colerain Township Board of Trustees is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Colerain Township administrative offices, 4200 Springdale Road, Colerain Township, Ohio 45251
Phone: (513) 385-7500
Fax: (513) 245-6503
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A 2-year-old boy is bitten by his grandparent’s sheepdog and needed 200 stitches. He was petting the dog when it suddenly jumped up and latched onto his face. The dog has been put down but the boy will remain scarred for life.
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Police shot and killed a pit bull that was in a home that they served a drug search warrant on in Waterbury.
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Terrebonne Parish woman says she shot and killed a neighbor's dog because it was about to attack her child. Police arrested her and booked her on an animal cruelty charge. Watch the video of the news broadcast. I do not know what to think because the woman that shot the dog looks a little Looney herself.
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Making Good Canine Citizens- A Letter

Letters, 9-8

Sep 08, 2010

Making good canine 'citizens'

Thanks to Al Diamon for his "Pariah Dogs" column last week. As he made clear, a call for breed bans in Maine is based on fearful imaginings rather than reality. Janis Bradley, author of "Dogs Bite But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous," combed statistics from the Centers for Disease Control to put dog bites and fatal attacks into perspective nationally.

Among her findings: One is five times more likely to be killed by lightning than by a dog. Children, more often than adults, are victims of fatal dog attacks, but a child is 82 times more likely to be killed by family or friends.

Drowning kills 208 times more children, guns 49 times more children, and bicycles 48 times more children. Let us not ignore the tragedy of any such deaths, but trying to outlaw these possibilities would be absurd.

Most dogs of "dangerous breeds" prefer not to [be aggressive] at all. Of the 51 pit bulls taken from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels in April 2007, 47 were thriving in foster or forever homes 20 months later.

In 1995, I heard veterinary behaviorist Ian Dunbar discuss research by a graduate student at UC-Berkeley. The project explored what kinds of interactions preceded dog bites to children and, accordingly, assessed traits of various breeds. The surprising conclusion was that "a well-bred, well-socialized" rottweiler is the safest dog to have in a home with young children.

As a dog trainer, I've met such outstandingly good-natured rotties (as well as sweet pit-bull types) that I adopted one: Jolly Good Fellow, who became a Canine Good Citizen, a registered therapy dog, and a welcome visitor to area schools and the library. By what reasoning should owning such a dog be illegal?

Regardless of breed, a well-socialized dog understands that there are a thousand degrees of bite and chooses not to break flesh when an air snap will do — bite inhibition that is learned via play throughout a pup's first four months. Equally important, a puppy needs to learn social confidence through positive encounters with dozens of unfamiliar people, dogs and situations before reaching 14-16 weeks of age. Otherwise, the adolescent dog is hard-wired to begin experiencing new situations as scary or suspect.

Mr. Diamon is correct that keeping the public safe from your dog (and your dog safe from the public) is easier if the dog is neutered and that it is imperative for your dog to be securely contained when you are not present. Responsible owners also exercise their dogs daily so that frustrations and excess energy do not build up in their pets.

They socialize and train so that they can guide their dogs' behavior. They do not allow dogs and children to mix without supervision. In a society that tolerates no communication with teeth, it is the owner's job to keep a dog on the right side of skin and law — and, evidently, to watch out for misguided legislative proposals, lest they bite us where it hurts.

Lane Fisher,

Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed

Belfast

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Here is the source of the statistics I was looking for regarding a previous post. This is an excellent article and I think the following is so true and I wish more people understood this no matter what type of dog they own.

“Regardless of breed, a well-socialized dog understands that there are a thousand degrees of bite and chooses not to break flesh when an air snap will do — bite inhibition that is learned via play throughout a pup's first four months. Equally important, a puppy needs to learn social confidence through positive encounters with dozens of unfamiliar people, dogs, and situations before reaching 14-16 weeks of age. Otherwise, the adolescent dog is hard-wired to begin experiencing new situations as scary or suspect.”

It all boils down to responsible ownership of one’s dog.