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The Individual Dog: Each dog has their own identity. There is no breed of dog that has a make up of all good or bad individual traits. This is why some Golden Retrievers are cross trained for both search & rescue and street patrol and many Pit Bulls that are trained and make excellent service dogs. The Pit Bull has an incredible strong social drive, willingness to please and are easily trained. Did you know, these animals can respond to various health issues such as low blood sugar or oncoming seizures? In addition, they can remind you when to take your medications! Every breed or mix of that breed will be different. They have traits that are passed from generation to generation, but just like people, it is much more than great genes. Although dog breeds in general have certain temperaments that make their personality somewhat predictable, it is impossible to predict how their personality will manifest. Just as your own family, you may be brought up in the same environment, but … [Read more...]
Rates of dog bites in children up during COVID-19 pandemic
Aurora, Colo. (Aug. 11, 2020) - Greater rates of Colorado's children are going to the pediatric emergency department as a result of dog bites during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recently published commentary article in the Journal of Pediatrics. The article's authors, Cinnamon Dixon, DO, MPH/MSPH and Rakesh Mistry, MD/MS, who are attending physicians at Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) and University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty, share data revealing significant increases in dog bite rates presenting to Children's Colorado since the initiation of statewide stay-at-home orders in March. Moreover, high rates of dog bite injuries have continued even as these orders have relaxed over time. "It is well known that the number of dog bites tends to increase during the spring and summer months," said Dr. Dixon. "However this year's rates of emergency department visits due to dog bites have been startling." The incidence of visits for dog bites to … [Read more...]
Texas Ranks Second in Dog Attacks in National Study
I want to take this time to recognize postal workers from across the country for their hard work and dedication. While delivering mail through rain, sleet, hail, and even snow they are determined to make sure we have our mail delivered daily. Also, on the things postal workers have to deal with are dog attacks and they do happen often as the United States Postal Service has released information on dog attacks on their mail carriers. During the week of Sunday, (June 14), through Saturday, (June 20) is recognized as National Dog Bite Awareness Week and they released information on dog attacks on their mail carriers and the numbers are quite interesting. The study conducted revealed that the number of employees who have been bitten by dogs in 2019 are 5,302. The top five cities where dog attacks occurred in 2019 are as followed and three of them are in the state of Texas. Houston Texas (85 attacks) Los Angeles, California (74 attacks) Chicago, Illinois (54 … [Read more...]
USPS observing dog bite awareness week, asking residents to “prevent the bite”
Posted: Jun 13, 2020 / 01:24 PM CDT valleycentral.com In honor of Dog Bite Awareness Week, the United States Postal Service is calling on pet owners to help lower the number of dog bites experienced by postal workers. According to the USPS, there were 491 dog attacks on postal workers in Texas in 2019, the second-highest state total in the country. In the Rio Grande District, 127 of these attacks occurred. In total, there were 5,803 dog attacks on USPS employees in 2019. While these numbers are down from 2018, the USPS stresses that one bite is too many. The USPS is encouraging residents to “Be Alert: Prevent the Bite” and to take caution to ensure the safety of postal workers on their route. U.S. Postal Service Dog Awareness Week runs from June 14 to June 20 as the USPS stresses that aggressive dog behavior poses a threat to more than 80,000 postal workers. The following are safety tips provided by the USPS: When a carrier delivers mail or packages to your … [Read more...]
The JAPANESE TOSA…A Predatory Breed!!
It is no surprise that the Japanese Tosa is known as “The Canine Sumo Wrestler of the Orient.” This breed is one of the many known fighting breeds but with a BIG twist. This breed fights in competitions for honor, not blood. At least that was what the sport was originally about. Things have changed in the last 20 years--not in Japan, but here in the United States. So Just Who Is The Tosa??? • Like the Mastiff, the Tosa is also very large and fawn or black in color. He has a short, course coat with a long tail, a narrow body, and is taller than wide. The Mastiff’s body on the other hand is very thick and heavy with lots of substance. Despite the similarities in their heads, the Tosa has more jowls, drools a lot…not a very becoming trait, and looks narrower. Their extra jowls and very loose skin come from one of its strong ancestors, the Bloodhound. • The Tosa’s Wrestling Weight Classes are: o 75-100 pounds o 100-150 pounds o 150-200 pounds o 200-250 pounds (yes, these dogs … [Read more...]
Dog-Bites Soar at LA Animal Services – California
ANIMAL WATCH-GM Brenda Barnette let Assistant GM Tammy Watson announce the bad news at the LA Animal Services Board of Commissioners meeting that 94 dog bites/attacks occurred in LAAS animal shelters during 2019. This was up from 59 in 2018 and is more than a 59% increase. The victims were the public, volunteers, and employees. ARE DOG ATTACKS/BITES THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ AT LA CITY SHELTERS? Following is an excerpt from the official stats compiled by Los Angeles Animal Services: In 2018, 31 employees, 16 volunteers and 12 members of the public were bitten--6 of these injuries were "severe." In 2019, 39 employees, 32 volunteers (twice as many as in 2018) and 23 members of the public were victims of dog bites at LAAS shelters--8 were "severe" injuries. … [Read more...]
BO’S STORY… Bo was an Argentine Dogo!
Mitzi Robinson Bulli Ray - 04/21/2020 As many of you know who have participated in our programs, there is barely enough time to cover course content let alone get into story telling that supports that content based on our personal experiences with the dogs selected for our programs. In the weeks ahead, I will be writing about these “stories” and why we selected the animals that we did as well as how we saved other animals from being destroyed. Below, is the story of “Bo” our most popular dog in the history of our Occupational Dog Bite Safety Training Program. BO’S STORY… Bo was an Argentine Dogo! He came to us when he was 11 months old and through the years became the most requested and feared dog in our training program even though he never growled, barked, or took any bites on the jute sleeve. He rocked the field employees to their core. Why??? He was a true predatory animal. In other words, he was the silent attacker…a true opportunist. At 140 pounds, he was light on his feet … [Read more...]
City aims to crack down on loose dogs – Cassville, MO
Cassville officials budget for catch equipment, plan to use existing facility. After months of pleas, led by Cassville resident Nadean Davis, the city of Cassville gave an answer as to what they plan to do to curb loose and aggressive dogs within city limits. Mayor Bill Shiveley said the city considered three options during budget hearings in November. Option one was to stay the course, with no action taken. Fiscally, this would be $0 for start-up and carry annual reoccurring costs of up to $250. Option two was to develop a more complete animal control program with a leash law, pet registration, a new facility, an animal control vehicle and a dedicated animal control officer. Estimated costs were $200,000 at start-up and annual costs of about $75,000. The third option was a hybrid solution, wherein the city will make a concerted effort to enforce the existing ordinances without a leash law or pet registration. “After looking at everything and discussing it at the budget … [Read more...]
Homeowners’ liability claim dollars
Dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for nearly one third of all homeowners’ liability claim dollars paid out in 2018, costing $675 million, according to the I.I.I. and State Farm, the largest writer of homeowners’ insurance in the United States. An analysis of homeowners’ insurance data by the I.I.I. found: The number of dog bite claims nationwide decreased to 17,297 in 2018, compared to 18,522 in 2017— a 6.6% decrease. The average cost per claim increased by 5.3%. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims was $39,017. in 2018, compared with $37,051 in 2017. In 2018, State Farm paid $123 million for 3,280 dog bite and injury claims. The majority of these bites, are preventable through knowledge and education. Take our online course today! … [Read more...]
2018 Dog Bite Fatality: Back-to-Back Dogo Argentino Attacks, One Fatal, Both with Similar Circumstances and Victims
https://blog.dogsbite.org/2018/06/back-to-back-near-fatal-dogo-argentino-attacks.html Police confirm the Huntingtown dog attack victim has died. Jenna Sutphin, 28, was savagely attacked by a Dogo argentino about 7:15 am this morning. She was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition with bite injuries to the back of her head and neck. Earlier today, it was reported that her family was "preparing for the worst." Sutphin and her fiance, Jason Hammer, who is a Prince George's County Correctional Center K-9 handler, breed and sell Dogo argentinos. The attack unfolded in front of the couple's home, which overlooks Route 4. A driver traveling along Route 4 called 911 about 7:00 am after seeing an animal attacking something, reports WTOP. When the trouper arrived at the overgrown area near the highway, the dog was still actively attacking her. The trouper shot the dog causing it to flee. The driver who called in this attack and this trouper will forever live with the memories of … [Read more...]
