What's Up With Calgary Dog Laws

[sandgrubber]

Calgarians unleash torrent of dog bite reports

Complaints have jumped fourfold in five years

By SHERRI ZICKEFOOSE, CALGARY HERALD MAY 21, 2013

http://www.calgaryhe...1084/story.html

Out of respect for copyright I've not reproduced the article. The author is careful not to say there are more bites...just that there are more reports.

Edited July 25, 2013 by sandgrubber

[melzawelza]

Interesting, although as you said there is not necessarily more bites, just that there are more being reported. This quote suggests that the City have actually been using public education to encourage more people to report bites, so that would make sense. If more are reported, they can then work to get that number even lower overall.

City officials say the increase in dog bite reports stems from improved reporting by citizens as a result of public education efforts

Even with the increased number, it's still an incredibly low number for the size of the city.

[sandgrubber]

1374713760[/url]' post='6262696']

Interesting, although as you said there is not necessarily more bites, just that there are more being reported. This quote suggests that the City have actually been using public education to encourage more people to report bites, so that would make sense. If more are reported, they can then work to get that number even lower overall.

City officials say the increase in dog bite reports stems from improved reporting by citizens as a result of public education efforts

Even with the increased number, it's still an incredibly low number for the size of the city.

What I find surprising is how drastically the dog aggression indicators dropped from 1985 to 2005 in Calgary. Ie, the new laws came in after the problem was greatly ameliorated. See http://www.calgary.ca/_layouts/cocis/DirectDownload.aspx?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.calgary.ca%2fCSPS%2fABS%2fDocuments%2fAnimal-Services%2fAnimal-statistics%2fReports%2520of%2520Dog%2520Aggression%2520Over%2520Time.pdf&noredirect=1&sf=1

[melzawelza]

1374713760[/url]' post='6262696']

Interesting, although as you said there is not necessarily more bites, just that there are more being reported. This quote suggests that the City have actually been using public education to encourage more people to report bites, so that would make sense. If more are reported, they can then work to get that number even lower overall.

City officials say the increase in dog bite reports stems from improved reporting by citizens as a result of public education efforts

Even with the increased number, it's still an incredibly low number for the size of the city.

What I find surprising is how drastically the dog aggression indicators dropped from 1985 to 2005 in Calgary. Ie, the new laws came in after the problem was greatly ameliorated. See http://www.calgary.ca/_layouts/cocis/DirectDownload.aspx?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.calgary.ca%2fCSPS%2fABS%2fDocuments%2fAnimal-Services%2fAnimal-statistics%2fReports%2520of%2520Dog%2520Aggression%2520Over%2520Time.pdf&noredirect=1&sf=1

Yes, I agree. Clearly the laws they had were having a brilliant effect on aggressive incidents, I wonder what prompted changing the laws.

[mita]

What I find surprising is how drastically the dog aggression indicators dropped from 1985 to 2005 in Calgary. Ie, the new laws came in after the problem was greatly ameliorated.

Certainly shows that the way towards public safety re dogs, doesn't lie in just hunting down breeds. A sensible conclusion that encouraging reporting would make the dog bite stats go up.

The Barristers Animal Welfare Panel is hoping to bring to Australia the ranger (now retired) who helped spearhead that approach in Calgary. They... & lots of others! ... want him to talk with dog management folk & legislators here: