Is Breed Specific Legislation Coming to Seattle?

The attack of a seventy-one year old woman who was left mauled by two unneutered male pit bulls has resulted in yet another emotional debate concerning the breed.

By Lin Goodman, Best Friends Network Volunteer

Frustrated by the lack of response from Animal Care and Control, usually law-abiding citizens are talking of taking the situation into their own hands. One man has stated that he will shoot the next pit he sees, whether legal or not, no questions asked. Police state that it is lawful to shoot an attacking dog with a licensed gun. But to shoot a dog simply because it’s running loose could wind up with the shooter facing criminal charges, as that is against the law.

A spokeswoman from Animal Care and Control reported their agency receiving close to 900 calls regarding ferocious dogs and dog bites in 2008 through July. Almost a quarter of those calls involved actual bites. ACC officers are required to respond to calls about attacks in progress. However, considering there are only 45 officers employed full time, who are responsible for two shelters and animal-related episodes occurring within an area of more than 2,500 square miles, it is simply impossible for the agency to respond to countless calls just about loose animals.

The attack happened while efforts were being made to ban pit bulls, pit mixes, and other breeds considered to be fighting ones by anti pit bull activists from both Seattle and Spokane. A new group calling itself Families and Dogs Against Fighting Breeds has already suggested an amendment to the Seattle Municipal Code that would ban the purchasing of any new animals considered to be “fighting breeds”. The amendment also states that all such dogs must be spayed or neutered, micro chipped, and muzzled whenever outside of their homes.

Pit Bull supporters believe the breed has been unfairly targeted, arguing that it is the owners, not the dog’s breed that should be held responsible for vicious behavior. They believe that breed bans don’t work and are often illegal, anyway. Their feelings are that what is needed are responsible Animal Control officers who consider leash law violations more seriously.

While Seattle officials are not considering enacting any laws which target the breed, the Metropolitan King County Council President, upset about having the attack take place in her city of Seattle-Tacoma, plans to meet with council staff members to consider possible limits on pits in areas under county jurisdiction.

King County doesn’t consider bite statistics by breed. However, The Seattle Animal Shelter has stated that pit bulls are responsible for a lopsided number of bites reported within Seattle. Though pit bulls account for only four percent of licensed dogs, twenty-two percent of the bites were pit bull related. As I write, 130 dog bites have so far been reported in Seattle. While this is a decreased number from prior years, almost half of the reports are pit bull related, doubling the number of pit bites in prior years. The sounds of BSL are beginning to rumble quietly in Seattle. The top five breeds licensed in Seattle with percentage of bite incidents and licensed dogs are considered to be the following. Pit bulls make up four percent of licensed dogs with a twenty-two percent incident rate. Labrador Retrievers unbelievably are next with a twelve percent bite incident rate, while making up eighteen percent of all licensed breeds. German Shepherds follow with a five percent bite rate and make up for six percent of licensed dogs. Golden Retrievers are composed of six percent of all licensed dogs while Poodles are composed of three percent of licensed dogs. Golden Retrievers have no bite incident rate, nor do Poodles.

Here are some tips if you do encounter an aggressive dog. First and foremost, don’t run or strike. But a yawn might come in handy. Humans and dogs communicate a great deal through body language, meaning we can use our bodies to create a calm feeling. To try to calm an aggressive dog, you, yourself must appear as calm as you possibly can, stand still and do not make eye contact. Some suggest you wrap your arms around yourself, as if embraced in a hug. Arms and legs flailing can cause a dog to feel threatened. If the dog does bite, it will probably do so only once, unless you fight back. If you remain calm with no signs of panic, chances are the dog will then leave you alone. You can also keep yourself safe by getting to know the aggressive dogs in your area, especially those behind old, worn out gates and fences, and simply avoid them. Offering treats from a distance that feels safe to you is a way of changing the way the dog views you. They eventually realize that you would not harm them and encountering you can become a pleasant thing as they slowly see you as someone who is not a threat, giving them no reason to attack you.

Article posted by Brandi Bennett, Best Friends Network Staff

Photo courtesy of Best Friends Network Volunteers.