Jul 29, 2014 in News Dog Bites Claims

Dog Bites Claims: Do breed-specific bans prevent dog bites?

[caption id="attachment_6318" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Photo credit: Steph Skardal/Flickr)[/caption] We always see adorable dog photos online, but sometimes it's easy to forget the damage dogs can do when they attack or bite people or other dogs. Dog bites can land victims in emergency rooms in need of plastic surgery and if bites are left untreated, the germs from their jaws can lead to infections resulting in body amputations. In a bid to curb dog attacks, Ontario's government passed a controversial ban on pit bulls in 2005, which prevents owners from owning, importing or breeding pit bulls. This applies to pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and dogs with a similar appearance and physical characteristics to pit bulls. Since the ban was implemented, there's been lots of debate around whether it's been an effective deterrent. The National Companion Animal Coalition, which has members such as the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the Canadian Kennel Club and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada, don't support breed-specific bans. This is because there are dangerous dogs across all breeds, there's no objective way to establish a dog's lineage and that a dog's temperament and behaviour is affected than more than their breed. Instead, the organization recommends levying hefty fines on dog owners who have been involved in an attack, encouraging dog owners to spay/neuter, socialize and train their pets and creating assessments of a dog's temperament and viciousness, along with protocol on how to deal with them once they've deemed to be dangerous. Over the years, there have been many studies looking into the ban's effectiveness. Winnipeg, which was the first Canadian city to implement a pit bull ban, has had a ban in place since 1990. In a 2012 study, a researcher from the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Medicine found that cities with pit bull bans saw less dog bite hospitalizations compared to cities without it. Also, the study found that there was a drop in the number of young victims too. The study, which was published in the journal Injury Prevention, also found there was a huge drop in the number of dog attacks after the ban. The researcher warns that the study doesn't show that the bans are the reason behind the drop in attacks, she says there's a "promising link". Another study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that dog breeds that were considered to be dangerous were not anymore aggressive compared to breeds that weren't. The study found that the dog's size affected the canine's aggressiveness and fears it experienced. Also, there was a link between the pet's destructive behaviour to the canine's sex, age, size, when the owners got the dog and whether their elimination behaviour. Meanwhile, the City of Ottawa has refused to enforce the pit bull ban. Whether the ban is effective continues to be debated and some cities will continue bans. No matter the type of dog, it's important people recognize when a canine is agitated or feels threatened to avoid being bitten. Sometimes accidents happen and Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers are here for you if they do. The personal injury and accident lawyers have been handling all types of injuries for over 50 years including injuries caused by dog attacks. We understand the impacts injuries can have on you and we can help fight your case. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come chat with us.