Whenever there is an incident involving a dog bite within a community, people understandably respond emotionally. As a result, many communities adopt breed-specific legislation, or BSL, banning the ownership of certain breeds within the community.
BSL typically affects “pit bull-type dogs,” German shepherds, Rottweilers and a few other breeds.
Unfortunately, BSL is not an effective way of preventing dog attacks and results in unnecessary euthanasia of animals.
One reason BSL doesn’t work is that identifying dogs by breed is often not straightforward.
Many dogs come into shelters as strays with no background information, or are surrendered by owners who do not know the dog’s lineage. Usually, the breed assigned to a shelter dog is a best guess by the shelter staff, and sometimes it’s a complete mystery.
This makes BSL very tricky, as dogs with a certain “look” can be categorized as “pit bull dogs,” often mistakenly. This can lead to euthanasia of many dogs that simply “look” like they might be dangerous, which is obviously a problematic approach.
All dogs can bite, and all breeds have the potential for aggression. Understanding the risk factors present goes a long way in preventing dog attacks.
Spaying and neutering your pets is very important, as the majority of fatal dog bites are from unneutered males.
Children should always be supervised around dogs. You should not attempt to pet an unfamiliar dog without allowing it to see and smell you first, and you should never reach over its head to touch it.
Understanding dog body language is far more effective in preventing dog bites than banning certain breeds altogether.
Breed bans may not be the answer to preventing dog bites, but that is not to say that just any dog is right for your family. Certain dogs require more exercise, larger yards, more mental stimulation or a more experienced owner.
The temperament, size, age and degree to which a dog has been socialized are very important factors when considering the right dog for your family. Meeting with an adoption counselor and speaking with the staff of a shelter will help to provide you with much more valuable information than simply selecting a dog based on physical characteristics.
As a community, focusing on spaying and neutering pets is much more beneficial than BSL. Spaying/neutering reduces the number of unwanted and stray dogs in a community. Spayed and neutered pets are less likely to bite in general.
Focusing on education and prevention can ensure that all dogs in our community are healthy, happy and loved.
— Brown County Humane Society
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Dates: Oct. 22-28
What: Original artwork, vacation cabins, tickets, jewelry, specialty food, local services, and classic 280Z car and more
How: Like the humane society’s Facebook page to stay informed: Facebook.com/bchumane
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WHAT: 10th Annual Chocolate Walk
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 11
WHERE: Participating Nashville businesses
TICKETS: $20 until Nov. 1, then $25. Visit bchumane.org/chocolate-walk or call 812-327-3016.
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