'urban Myth' On Dog Attacks

[GeckoTree]

TASMANIANS cling to an urban myth about dangerous dogs, an expert at the front line of dog control in the state says.

Glenorchy City Council inspector Steve Rigby said many Tasmanians believed big dogs and certain breeds of dog were more likely to attack than others.

Mr Rigby has worked in the animal management area for 15 years and said no one breed had caused more trouble than another.

"What people choose not to understand is that with every incident in which a dog attacks, there is always some human intervention which facilitates the bite," he said.

The fatal mauling of a four-year-old girl by a pitbull in Victoria this week has sparked calls for pitbull crossbreeds to be banned in Tasmania.

Ayen Chol died when she was attacked by the pitbull as she clung to her mother's legs inside their Melbourne home.

The 11 reported incidents of dogs acting aggressively towards people in Glenorchy so far this year involved a little maltese terrier cross, two heeler crosses, one german shepherd cross, a german shepherd, two australian bulldogs, two bull mastiffs, one staffordshire terrier and one border collie.

"While bigger dogs can cause more injury when they do attack, they are no more likely to be aggressive," Mr Rigby said yesterday as alarm over dog attacks continued.

"You might be able to defend yourself better against a smaller dog but they can be just as aggressive or even more aggressive."

Royal Hobart Hospital head plastic surgeon Frank Kimble said his team responded to two or three major dog bite injuries each year.

These injuries, requiring extensive surgery and leading to disfigurement, mostly involved children and middle-aged women snuggling up to dogs.

Mr Kimble also deals with hundreds of cat bite injuries each year and agrees that little "yappers" are often involved in dog bite incidents.

There are about 100,000 registered dogs in Tasmania and 100, or one in every thousand, has been labelled dangerous.

The Australian Veterinary Association says more regulation will not reduce the number of dog attacks.

"Despite having some of the most restrictive rules for dog owners in the world, dog attacks still happen in Australia," the AVA's Kersti Seksel said yesterday.

Dr Seksel said all dogs had the potential to react aggressively if scared or threatened.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/08/20/254651_tasmania-news.html

Edited August 22, 2011 by -GT-

[WreckitWhippet]

Finally someone is talking some sense

[poodlefan]

Finally someone is talking some sense

The AVA has been talking this line for years.. its more like finally the media are printing something other than hysterics from folk who have no bloody idea what they're talking about. ;)

[WreckitWhippet]

Finally someone is talking some sense

The AVA has been talking this line for years.. its more like finally the media are printing something other than hysterics from folk who have no bloody idea what they're talking about. ;)

Yeah I know, there are lots of people who have some , it's just not often printed

[sandgrubber]

Sense? Poppycock!!!!

It is PC to say that 'all breeds are equal'. But it's not true. Breeds whose 'work' has involved hunting large, difficult quarry, or baiting bulls or bears, or both, are bolder and more inclined to do serious damage in the wrong hands. Gun dogs, on the other hand, are bred for soft mouths, strong bite inhibition, and low propensity to fight (a dog fight is the last thing you want when you're hunting birds). Sure, there are hard dogs in soft breeds and soft dogs in hard breeds. Soft breed breeders have a responsibility to make sure their more aggressive progeny do not pass on their more aggressive genes.

I agree, it's better to come down on bad owners than on 'game' breeds. But given a few more incidents, legislation is going to come down on all dog owners. As a gun dog breeder who will gladly cull (usually by sterilization, but in extreme by the green dream) any pup or dog who shows signs of aggression, and who will verbally attack anyone in my breed circle who tolerates HA or DA dogs/bitches, it pisses me off to hear people deny that there is a genetic component to aggression. It's there. Any breeder who sells pups into the 'burbs as pets has a responsibility to avoid setting up nasty accidents waiting to happen.

[paulni]

Still calling the Dog in question a Pit bull I see.