| Subject: FATALITIES BY DOGS |
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WAF
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Date Posted: 22:06:43 10/12/02 Sat
FATALITIES BY BREEDS OF DOG
A study at the University of Washington (Bandow,1966) shows a comparison between the share of breeds in bite incidents in comparison with the recorded numbers. In this study, no statistical insurance regarding the deviation of breed dispersion resulted. The breed statistic, moreover, is according to the testimony of the author, to be viewed with reservation. Breed association is based on testimony of the victim who can not always in an accident situation correctly identify the breed of attacking dog, or based on the testimony of the owner who does not always state the correct breed.
As for statistics used to support the idea that some breeds are more dangerous, the numbers are misleading, said Anthony Pobderscek of the University of Cambridge Veterinary School. "There's a problem getting records," he said. "Golden Retrievers bite, Labrador Retrievers bite, but don't get reported." Dr Wagner presented the results of a study on the "dangerous dog" laws of Germany earlier this week at the meeting of the International Society for Anthrozoology in Davis, Calif.
Although they look different, dog "breeds" have no more scientific basis than do "races" among humans, said canine researcher James Serpell of the University of Pennsylvania.
According to RIECK (1977), the biting dog is typically male, younger than two years, and belongs to a working dog breed (e.g. Shepherd or Rottweiler), or is for instance a Cocker Spaniel, or a Chow Chow, and originates in mass breeding in which temperament or other desired qualities of a dog are not considered in breeding. The author quotes a statistic about deaths through dog bites. In 34 death cases in 1989 to 1990, 10 cases were caused by Nordic breeds like the Husky, Samoyed or Malamute, 10 further cases were caused by Pit Bull type (mix) dogs. Seven deaths were caused by German Shepherds, 3 by Dobermans, 1 by a Rottweiler, and 4 by other breeds.
To claim one breed is more responsible for human fatalities is impossible. Some would chose to single out the Pit Bull type dogs, due to the fact there are estimated statistics and the Pit Bull type dogs are such a wide variety that we find Amercian Bulldogs, Boxers, and Mastiff's labeled as Pit Bulls. It is impossible to compare different breeds of dogs versus human fatalities.
The Washington Animal Foundation did a survey on human fatalities by dogs in 2001 and came up with these figures, Rottweiler (6); Labrador (2); Pomeranian (1); German Shepherd (2); Chow (1); Wolf-Hybrid (1); Akita (1); Doberman (1); Beagle (1); Presa Canario (2); Pit Bull (1); mixed breeds (6). When comparing these figures with the human fatalities from 1975-80 by Pickney & Kennedy, Traumatic Deaths from Dog Attacks in the United States, the report identified the following as responsible for human fatalities during the study period from May, 1975 to April, 1980: German Shepherd (16); Husky (9); St. Bernard (8); Bull Terrier (6); Great Dane (6); Malamute(5); Golden Retriever (3); Boxer (2); Dachshund (2); Doberman Pinscher (2); Collie (2); Rottweiler(1); Basenji (1); Chow-Chow (1); Labrador Retriever (1); Yorkshire Terrier (1); mixed and unknown breeds (15). One would question the accuracy of human fatalities by dogs from HSUS and especially the statitics on the Pit Bull type dogs. When looked at from a more realistic point of view one would find Shepherds and other working dogs rate higher in fatalities. However, given the increasing population of dog breeds at any given time, it is impossible to compare one breed to another.
20% of deaths involve unrestrained dogs off the owners property, 70% involve unrestrained dogs on the owners property, and 10% involve restrained dogs on the owners property. Unrestrained dogs are responsible for a high number of dog bite reports and attacks to other animals. Over 30 breeds of dogs have been involved in 238 human deaths in a twenty year period.
In researching dog bite incident reports for the year 2000 in Pontiac Michigan, our Foundation found a high number of mixed breeds biting but no human fatalities. Chow Chows were the dogs biting unprovoked more than other breeds. We found a high percentage of teasing or tormenting of dogs which in turn caused them to bite. We found Sight Hounds responsible for deaths to other animals, yet the breeds you hear about in the media did not rate high. We find, because of the media attention focused on specific breeds such as the Pit Bull type dogs, that the real statistics are never brought to the attention of the general public or the politicians, which in turn does nothing to protect the safety of the public. This misinformation affects the political pressure concerning the passing of breed bans instead of focusing on passing strong dangerous dog laws that target the irresponsible owners of all breeds of dog.
COPYRIGHTWAF2001
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