Officials in
communities seeking to reduce serious injuries from dog bites often react
by introducing ordinances that target specific breeds of dogs for control.
In A Model Community
Approach to Dog Bite Prevention, just published in the June 1, 2001 issue
of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the AVMA
proposes a more workable alternative. Model legislation for the control
of dangerous dogs is an important component of this bite prevention program,
which was developed to assist communities in addressing a public health
problem affecting more than 4.7 million people annually.
According to
Dr. Bonnie Beaver, task force chair and board-certified veterinary behaviorist,
"Communities can respond effectively to citizen pressure for action regarding
'dangerous' dogs without introducing breed-specific ordinances. Dogs that
receive proper socialization, exercise, and attention; that are given adequate
food, water, shelter, and veterinary care; that are neutered, unless retained
for responsible breeding purposes; and that are trained humanely and confined
safely present much less risk to communities."
Dr. Gail Golab,
Assistant Director of Education and Research for the AVMA, agrees: "Reasonable
and enforceable laws that apply equally to all dogs and dog owners are
fairer to the community as a whole than ones drafted in the heat of a perceived
crisis. Dog bite reduction strategies are more likely to be effective if
they focus on reducing inappropriate dog and dog owner behaviors, regardless
of the dog's breed, instead of on banning specific breeds."
Developed by
a Task Force comprised of representatives from the AVMA, the American College
of Veterinary Behaviorists, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the
American College of Emergency Physicians, the National Animal Control Association,
humane organizations, the insurance industry, and the legal profession,
A Model Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention also includes:
Representative
national statistics
Suggestions
for mobilizing communities
A description
of the infrastructure needed to operate a successful program
Specific bite
prevention recommendations
Recommendations
for dog bite reporting
Educational
and communication approaches and targets
A model dog
and cat control ordinance
Model legislation
for the control of "dangerous" dogs.
"This is the
first time such a distinguished group of professionals has been brought
together to comprehensively address dog bite prevention, and the AVMA is
proud to have spearheaded this effort," said Dr. Gail C. Golab, Assistant
Director of Education and Research for the AVMA. "Often, communities feel
forced into knee-jerk responses to address bite prevention without a clear
understanding of the nature of their particular problem and what strategies
are likely to be effective.
The AVMA wants
to ensure that relationships between humans and animals are as beneficial
for each as possible. Reducing inappropriate interactions between people
and dogs is an important part of that effort."
--
Information Provided By
the AVMA
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