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The American Veterinary Medical Association, which compiles statistics nationwide, expects in 2005 there will be about 4.7 million dog bites in the United States. Although you are more likely to die by bees, about a dozen people die nationwide because of dog bites every year.
Some breeds of dogs seem to be especially vicious. Though dog bites do not only come from large, seemingly more aggressive dogs, some of the bigger dogs have more strength than other dogs and can inflict more injury. In other countries, dog bite laws prohibit owning certain breeds of dogs, including pit bulls. England has labeled the pit bull a “dangerous breed” and it must be muzzled in pubic, registered, insured, tattooed and sterilized. Other countries have similar dog bite laws, including Australia, Denmark and Singapore.
In the U.S., dog bite laws vary from state to state, and even county. Washington D.C. has passed local dog bite legislation branding pit bulls and Rottweilers as “dangerous,” requiring muzzles in public. From 1979 to 1996, there were 199 reported dog bite fatalities in the U.S. The most deadly breed accounting for the majority of the dog bite deaths were from pit bulls, accounting for 60 of the deaths, followed by the Rottweiler, with 29.
Some counties have dog bite laws intended to protect its communities from attacks. Of the estimated five million people that are attacked by dogs every year, most of them are children. Dog bite laws are meant to promote responsible pet owners and keep the general public safe. In order to enforce the dog bite laws, more communities are passing stricter laws and higher fines to get the message across.
Dog bite laws in some states include fines for not having their dogs properly leashed, licensed, fenced or having rabies shots. Although many state dog bite laws prevents local communities from passing ordinances prohibiting specific breeds of dogs, many communities have been pushing for steeper fines. While fines can help enforce dog bite laws and force people to take proper care of their animals, educating people about dog attacks and how to prevent and how to react in case an attack occurs is necessary.
Many large dogs have the capability of bone snapping jaw pressures of 200 to 450 pounds per square inch, with pit bull jaws exerting triple that pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said their studies show the one breed of dogs most likely to bite are pit bulls, followed by Rottweilers. Nearly one third of the dog bite victims that require emergency hospital treatment have been attacked by pit bulls.
Though these incidents can cause people to react against owners of these pets and to push for more dog bite laws, educating pet owners about different dog breeds and their different tendencies can be very effective as well. A famed veterinarian, Ian Dunbar, says prospective pit bull owners must be aware of how the dogs can suddenly develop a desire to test their strength against other dogs and humans from six months of age on, and he stressed the importance of training.
Dog bite laws are helpful but so is education. Knowing how to react if being attacked can help limit the potential injury and protect anyone else around.
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