July 2004
Volume 1 Issue 2
A non-profit organization dedicated to Dog Bite Prevention
Doggone Safe is the first federally incorporated non-profit organization in Canada dedicated to dog bite prevention education and victim support. Doggone Safe provides services in Canada, the US and around the world through its website and network of volunteers.
In This Issue
Be a Tree Teacher Kit Now Shipping
Click here to join the Dog Bite Victim Support Group - this is a forum for families of child dog bite victims to talk about their experiences and concerns, learn from and support each other.
"Hats off to the best educational package I have seen in years and a great public service that goes a long way to getting the message out about dog bite prevention and working toward eliminating dog bites to our children." Full Review
Lisa Grey - Canine Behavior Consultant and Specialist; Bite Prevention Educator with BCSPCA (former); Senior Trainer - Canines with a Cause; Senior Instructor - Adolescents at Risk and Canines Ontario; Owner Natural Bond Canine Consultants, Ontario, Canada
"Directions are clear, the guidelines accurate and user friendly. Pictures are very helpful. Every school should have a kit available."
Carolyn Clark - Teacher, Director of Center for Applied Canine Behaviour, Owner of Carolark Family Dog Training, Ottawa ON
Find out about the Be a Tree Teacher Kit (donation is made by the manufacturer to Doggone Safe for every kit sold)
Case File stories are based on actual bite incidents - names are fictitious.
Four-year-old Tommy was wandering around happily in the back yard of a family home enjoying a piece of candy. He was suddenly attacked and severely bitten by a family member's dog in the presence of supervising adults. What went wrong here?...family dog, family enjoying time outside in the back yard, adult supervision...seems like a safe situation. The dangerous element here is that the dog was TIED.
Karen Delise, author of "Fatal Dog Attacks - The Stories Behind the Statistics" states that "Chaining a dog is arguably the single most dangerous condition in which to maintain a dog". Based on statistics, chained dogs are more dangerous than free roaming packs of dogs. Chained dogs have killed at least 98 people in the US and a further 11 have been killed by dogs that broke their chains. The overwhelming majority of the victims were children. The number of children injured by tied dogs is not known.
A false sense of security is felt by those who consider a chained dog not to be a threat. According to meter reader safety officers who have spoken to Doggone Safe, dogs that break free of their restraints to attack meter readers are a serious concern. Children can inadvertently wander into the tied dog's territory, or can be close enough that the dog can reach them. Children have been hurt or killed through entanglement in the dog's chain, where there was no aggressive intent on the part of the dog. In some cases entanglement has occurred when the victim was trying to help untangle a suffering dog.
Why are tied dogs so dangerous? Dogs are naturally territorial and a tied dog is acutely aware of his territory boundaries. The inability of a tied dog to retreat causes him to be more likely to perceive threats and to stand his ground and defend his territory. The frustration of being tied and watching activities unfold can cause dogs to become stressed and even frantic, leading to aggressive actions when the opportunity arises.
What can we learn from Tommy's case? Owner and parent education are the biggest factors that can be influenced. Parents need to learn that children should not be in the same space as a tied dog, even if there is adult supervision. Dogs should be behind a secure barrier to prevent possible interaction with children. Dog owners need to understand how detrimental chaining is to the emotional well-being of the dog and to recognize that the dog that is friendly and stable when loose may become aggressive when chained.
Doggone Safe is very pleased to announce a new partnership with the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians. The two organizations will work together to promote and deliver the Doggone Safe program for elementary school children - Be a Tree. The OAVT is a highly respected organization of professional members whose contribution to dog bite prevention education will have a significant impact.
For More Information...
For more information about Doggone Safe and for useful tips about bite prevention please visit the Doggone Safe website. Any materials found at the site can be used at websites or in printed matter without permission (unless specifically noted) provided proper credit is given. A link back to the Doggone Safe site is appreciated.
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